Magic Isn’t Just for Kids

Before October 2022, I had never been to Disneyland. Plenty of my friends had visited as kids, however, so they had a lot to say about it, and of all the words used to describe Disneyland, “magical” had been by far the most frequent. And you know, that is a very helpful descriptor… if you’ve been to Disneyland before. However, as an adult who had never been to Disneyland and is predominantly left-brained in his thinking processes, the word magical meant, well, basically nothing to me. Magical is just how adults remember Disneyland, but Disneyland isn’t really magical.

…Right?

“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”

As I read the words etched into bronze as we entered the park, I knew my three-year-old son was in for the time of his life. After all, my visiting Disneyland was primarily for his sake. I knew he would be forming memories and experiences that could very well follow him to adulthood, and he would truly experience Disneyland as magical. I thought I would have a great time, and that I would experience the magic of Disneyland not via the rides or in the experiences, but through my son.

We started where a group always starts at Disneyland: Main Street. At the time, my son wasn’t intimately familiar with many Disney characters, so while his disposition remained neutral at the first sight of Goofy taking photos with park visitors, he was clearly entranced, as though hesitant to believe it. He usually takes a few minutes to warm up to new experiences, so this attitude continued as we strolled down Main Street. He absorbed the sights, the sounds, and the people. It was shortly after Main Street that he gave my finger a tug, pointed up, and said, “Papá, a castle!”

And this was the first time I did my best to imagine what that castle must look like from the perspective of a three-year-old. That castle makes a memorable appearance at the start of basically every movie for a kid that age, and the joy that usually follows it is consistently delightful to say the least. That castle represents not just one world of magic, but many, and it stands as the gatehouse to that world. 

Basically, to a three-year-old, that castle marks an entrance to a dreamlike, imagination-capturing world of fantasy.

And for me, a grown adult, it was a fun castle. Magical? Yeah, to a three-year-old.

We had recently watched Monsters, Inc. together as a family, and our son found parts of it pretty scary, actually. Then we watched Toy Story. Same thing. I realized while rewatching those movies that a dreamlike world of fantasy is not exclusively sunshine, rainbows, and beautiful castles. There is drama, suspense, and sometimes a sense of danger. So when we went to the Haunted Mansion as our first major Disneyland experience and we saw that sense of fear rear its head throughout the first half of the experience in the form of tears, screams, and the tightest hugs our son could manage, I was partially worried that it would serve to sour future rides we would go on that day and the next. Luckily, our son found his courage and came around for the second half of the Haunted Mansion, so the subsequent experiences consisting of spinning teacups, a mission with Buzz Lightyear, flying with Peter Pan, and searching for honey with Winnie the Pooh were naught but joy, fascination, and delight. Magical? Through the eyes of a toddler, absolutely. For me, I was just having fun.

I made sure to accompany my son throughout each of these experiences to some extent, so I got to experience Disneyland through the eyes of a child. We hurried as fast as his little legs could carry him to each ride, we couldn’t be bothered to finish our pizza before chasing after Minnie Mouse, and we were so distracted by traveling back in time to see dinosaurs that we didn’t even notice Mamá wanting to take a picture.

As we made our way through the park that first day, my son was clearly experiencing magic. He had never experienced anything like this before, and he likely wouldn’t experience anything like it again for a long time. And I was succeeding in my goals as well: I was experiencing Disneyland vicariously through my son, and it was a great time! Was it magical for me? Meh. But that was okay; I was having a blast with my family!

And then came Rise of the Resistance.

Our son was too short to go on Rise of the Resistance, and one of our family friends did not want to go on it, so the two of them went gallivanting together while the rest of our group stood in line to experience the thing I had only been told was immersive and thrilling.

I soon learned that those two words are an understatement, because Rise of the Resistance had an effect on me that I had not seen coming. It put me in Star Wars! I was a member of the resistance fighting the First Order! I was fighting evil! Resisting force-pulls and running from Kylo Ren! Dodging stormtrooper fire! Making a crash landing on the planet below! It was so immersive! It was thrilling! Terrifying! Magica–

…Oh.

I get it now.

Is this what my son had been experiencing all day? I thought I had it pinned, but I was wrong. If the feeling I had after Rise of the Resistance was what my son was feeling after every ride, then he really was having the time of his life. I made a memory that will probably follow me the rest of my life, just like his memories will. I was scared, just like he was in the Haunted Mansion, just like a fantasy movie. I found unbridled delight, just like he did on those teacups. I left reality behind me and entered a world of fantasy. If you are thinking of going to Disneyland as an adult but never went as a kid, I can tell you from firsthand experience:

Magic isn’t just for kids.

How to Visit Granada

We are lucky enough to live just one-hour from Granada, so we’ve been able to visit the historical and wonderful city on several occasions. As a result, we’ve been able to come up with a dialed-in tour of the city. If you’re planning a trip to Granada and wonder how to experience this marvelous city, then read on!

A pro-tip: we recommend downloading the Google map of Granada before your trip and marking each of the locations we link to on your map. You might find delight by how some things fit together!

Also don’t forget to check out our highlights about Granada on Instagram to see some of what we mention here!

The Alhambra is perhaps Granada’s most iconic historical landmark, and no trip to Granada would be complete without at least viewing it. After all, it is among the most beautiful castles in Europe. So let’s start our tour with a viewing! There is a neighborhood in Granada called Sacromonte, which sits on a hillside opposite of a chasm to the Alhambra, and simply wandering around the neighborhood will afford you multiple views of the castle. Our favorite view is at Mirador de San Nicolás. We recommend going at sunset to enjoy an even more breathtaking view and possibly one or two street guitarists.

Besides the incredible scenery, Sacromonte is low-key home to a series of caves in which homes, hotels, and restaurants have been built, like you do with caves. During our first visit to Granada, we stayed in an Airbnb that was itself a cave! While you’re there, don’t pass up the opportunity to book an unforgettable flamenco show at Cueva La Rocio; a free drink of your choice is included in your ticket price!

Sacromonte is roughly a 15-20 minute walk to our next destination, Calle Calderería Nueva, so you can use it to marvel at the Alhambra and find myriad photo opportunities. Don’t fill up your Google Drive full of photos just yet however, as you’ll want to take… *checks McGreene Google Drive* …thousands more, beginning with when you arrive at Calle Calderería Nueva, a narrow walking street lined with the most colorful shops and restaurants imaginable. It is easy to lose oneself dipping in and out of shops and taking a break at one of the many tea shops, but we can’t stop here forever! After you pick yourself up a new dress or sweater, make your way down the street and to the left, to yet another of Granada’s gems: Bar La Riviera.

Before now, I’ve yet to touch on one of Granada’s most delightful features: the tapas. You see, many, many places in Spain sell tapas, but there are a few cities in which it is common practice for restaurants to give you tapas. Like, for free, when you order a cold drink. Bar La Riviera is one such restaurant, which on its own probably sells you on it to visit. But the crazy part is that Bar La Riviera’s tapas are, in a word, huge. One is literally an entire hamburger, and you can even pick which tapa you would like.

Now that you have a moment to sit down and digest, it is the perfect chance to bring up Granada’s handy-for-tourists Hop-on, Hop-off Train, a set of trains that take a repeated loop around the city, stopping at or near many of the locations we’ve already touched on and will touch on! Bring your own plug-in earbuds or purchase some for about 1€ to hear the history of all the stops along the way. On our first trip to Granada, we got tickets to the train as mode of transport, which worked wonders, as the train not only stops at key historical locations, but traverses most of the city, so odds are good that you’ll be able to find a stop a reasonable distance from where you are staying!

Whether you decide to take the street train for a loop around the city or want to continue on foot, you can move on to one of the most unforgettable sites that Granada has to offer: the Basílica de San Juan de Dios. The sights you will experience there are literally stunning. Feel free to look up photos of the place beforehand, but no set of photos truly prepared me for this basilica’s tear-inducing beauty, which we learned from our audio guide is by design, as the basilica was built and decorated the way it is specifically to evoke emotion from its visitors, and even after 264 years, we can attest to its success.

Since you may need a few moments to emotionally reset after the Basílica de San Juan de Dios, why not go to a park? You can walk, bus, taxi, or take the Hop-on, Hop-off Train to the Parque Federico García Lorca, a beautiful outdoor space complete with a café and playground space for the kids, the perfect place to unwind and take a break from your busy day.

So there you have it! Granada has a lot to offer visitors. As a final note, some of these locations are discoveries we ourselves made by simply wandering the city and letting ourselves get a certain measure of lost. In short, follow your curiosity. You might find delight and be able to share some kindness in the end!

must-have packing list

Here’s our list of tried and true favorites. We’ve read countless articles comparing specs, and these are the go-to luggage pieces that we have used that work best for our family. This is good for international travel; the kind of trip you’d be leaving for a few weeks on and packing a variety of things for different weather and activities. These are things we wouldn’t leave without that enable our family to travel easier and more successfully. It takes more than just luggage to be prepared! We hope these recommendations help you out. 

amazon packing list

You'd Better Belize It

To think, we almost didn't go to Belize for our honeymoon at all. Our list of “maybes” didn't even fly over central America, but for one reason or another, it seemed like there wasn't a destination that suited our desires for a honeymoon. But then as Evangel was getting her bridal henna done, the henna artist made an intriguing suggestion: "You could go to Belize." So, we looked into it and subsequently learned about beaches, snorkeling, mysteries, history, cave-tubing, and more, and flights with Alaska were affordable, even on such short notice.

So, we packed some bags, our bathing suits, (not enough) sunscreen, and a healthy dose of spontaneity, and took flight to a country of 400,000 people on the Eastern edge of the Mexican Peninsula. And boy did we regret it... The sunscreen part, I mean. Belize was awesome.

Days 1 & 2

Our first two nights were spent at the lovely River Bend Resort B&B, a bed and breakfast that usually caters to people coming and going from the airport, due to its proximity. We spent a bit more time there though, because, well, honestly we had to spend a day planning our trip. And that serendipitously meant we got introduced to Sherley, who worked at the resort and recommended so many sights to see, places to go, and things to do that we were able to plan our entire trip that first day. She was remarkably friendly, a trait I only learned later is shared by virtually everyone we met.

So, what did we plan, you ask? Well, we decided to... visit a rum factory, sightsee in Belize City, take a ferry to a stay three nights at Caye Caulker (pronounced like Key Cawker), go snorkeling, visit ancient ruins, inner tube down a cave river, and eat as much seafood as we could.

And so, the next day we woke up, took a $5 BZD bus ride into Belize City proper (the exchange rate is exactly 2:1, Belize dollars to US dollars), and bought some rum at Travellers Liquors. I have to admit that I'm not much of a rum connoisseur. It tastes good, it's made from sugar cane, but honestly I thought that is about the extent of the complexity of rum.

So young, so naïve.

We tasted no less than 8 distinct types of rum, each of which with its own unique flavors, aromas, and character. I was floored, and not just because I drank so much rum; the variety and intriguing flavors were incredible. Liquor connoisseurs could do worse than exploring what Belize’s rum scene has to offer. We intended on buying a single bottle when we entered, but we left with four, because we were so excited about all of them that we genuinely couldn't narrow it down.

From there we went sightseeing in Belize City, which we felt safe doing because we didn't know any better. Still, we found incredible ceviche, great rum drinks, and friendly locals everywhere we went. Smokeez Seaside Restaurant & Bar was where we ate dinner. It is situated on a pier on the ocean, providing a refreshing breeze while we sipped our iconic “panty rippers,” a coconut rum and pineapple juice cocktail that had been advertised to us by several locals. They were unironically terrific: sweet, juicy, easy to drink. A wonderful experience on a hot Belizean afternoon.

Day 3

The ferry to Caye Caulker left early the next morning... and later on too, so we slept in before heading back into town for the hour-long ferry ride between cayes, over salty waves, and through ocean spray. It is worth noting at this point that Belize in June is.... *looks a thesaurus for synonyms for hot* ... hot. However, Belize's geography is interesting. It is situated such that there is a nearly constant wind coming off the ocean, giving the air a salty, cool feel even in the heat of the day. So while temperatures can soar well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it never felt a degree above 80 the entire time we were there, particularly on Caye Caulker.

Speaking of Caye Caulker, our first two nights there were at Tropical Paradise Hotel & Restaurant, a wonderful hotel on the eastern beach of the island, which mostly runs North and South in length. We took it easy that first night... and the next night... and the night after that, because the entirety of Caye Caulker, from the attitudes of the people, to the breeze coming off the ocean, to the fresh coconut juice drunk straight out of the coconut, perpetually sang into our ears, our skin, and our minds, "Relax." Our room, just like the other rooms at the hotel, was its own self-contained building, which felt just like home after a long day in the sun.

Day 4

But what, I ask you, is a tropical vacation without snorkeling? If your answer is, "whatever you want it to be, it's your vacation," then you're right. 

And we wanted to go snorkeling, so we slapped on (not enough) reef-friendly sunscreen, signed up for an all-day snorkeling tour with Salt Life Eco Tours, grabbed sets of snorkel gear for ourselves and saw.... well, all of the animals, including...

Reef sharks, a small sea turtle, a sea cucumber, a manatee (!!), a medium sea turtle, barracudas, manta rays, parrot fish, sea stars, a large sea turtle, all kinds of coral, jellies, and more types of fish than I could previously fathom seeing in the span of four hours.

We had magnificent guides who seemed to know everything about every animal we encountered. They made the tour fun and engaging, even between stops, and they even let me drive the boat for a while!

Being on a boat together for that long means we made friends with our fellow tourists, so after the tour we met back up with them at Sip-n-Dip, a particularly memorable bar, seeing as the tables were all partly submerged in the water a short wade from the shore. The water is consistently waist deep thanks to Belize's barrier reef, enabling such a unique experience.

For our Northern eyes and sensibilities, one of the more interesting observations I personally made were the black kites that people flew all along the shore. Except they weren’t kites. They were frigate birds that use the constant wind coming off the ocean to hover in one place, wings spread, eyes open for food below. It was so interesting seeing them float there, barely moving.

Day 5

The fifth day of our trip was spent recovering from our skin being nearly charred to a crisp by the sun the day before. I look back on it with both a groan of searing memories as well as a sigh of contentment, because as much as our skin screamed with every brush against the backs of our shirts, it afforded us the opportunity to sit back, relax, nap, eat, laugh, and later in the evening, enjoy some live music on the patio of the restaurant we ate at. It could be the mixed feeling of heat from the sun and coolness from the ocean breeze, or the peoples’ relentlessly surfer-like, “tohtally, Dude” attitudes, or it could be the fact that we were exhausted by the amount of swimming we did the day before, but day 5 of our trip was spent taking it easy, enjoying each others’ company, and the little things like Bananas Foster and a chlorophyll-infused iced green tea.

We stayed our final night at Caye Caulker at Bella’s Backpackers Hostel, the most chilled-out hostel I think I’ve ever visited. We spent a little extra cash to get a small, cabin-like room to ourselves, located on the top floor of the highest tower on their premises. This proved to be a smart move. The ocean breeze gusted through the open windows with the most heavenly woosh imaginable, and there was a beautiful view of the ocean and some palm trees out every window. It was checkmate for our sunburns, as the breeze continued into the night and provided a soft, cool touch throughout our sleep.

Day 6

The next day was another day on the ferry, back to the mainland. Remember Sherley? The wonderful host at River Bend Resort? Well, her sister knew a highly rated tour guide who agreed to take us on a tour of Xunantunich and a perfect cave-tubing locale. We met him and his wife at the ferry landing, piled into their car, and drove the next few hours across the countryside to a ruin of an ancient people.

And it is here I need to take a pause, because it is most common to refer to these ruins as belonging to the “ancient Mayan” people, but I’m not fully clear on whether that is an accurate term to describe the people who built Xunantunich and the other ancient cities dotting Belize’s countryside. What I do know is that the ongoing narrative that “those ancient peoples mysteriously disappeared and nobody knows how” is complete hogwash. They were killed and forcibly assimilated into British culture when they were taken over in the 16th and 17th century. I feel it is important not to gloss over this fact, because much like the story of the Native Americans of the Northern Americas, the “ancient” people who lived in Belize at that time are still around. Their descendents make up a significant portion of the Belizean population, so to call them ancient is inaccurate at best and misleading at worst. Feel free to do your own fact-checking here; far be it from me to willfully misrepresent the unique history of Belize.

Our tour guide Richard is one such individual, and it was clear that he had done his homework about the people who built these incredible structures. There was a lot of history to learn, and being able to climb to the top of the highest buildings, look out over the landscape, and imagine what it all used to look like was quite literally breathtaking. I don’t think we’d experienced anything quite like it.

…Speaking of things we hadn’t quite experienced before, we had experienced caves, and we had experienced floating a river, but we had never experienced what it was like to inner tube down a river cave. Richard was knowledgeable about cave formations and the environment, and in the darkest parts of the cave, I was thankful someone was with us who had done it before. I don’t want to go into too much detail here, as it truly is a one-of-a-kind experience that one should experience for one’s self.

Day 6 was a big day, so when we finally got to our wrap-around destination we were to stay at for our final night in Belize, we really just wanted to relax and eat not just good food, but lots of food. So to cap off our honeymoon in Belize, we visited Belize’s premier brewery, Belikan. It was a lot like visiting an American craft brewery and restaurant. There was good food, good beer, and a patio where kids could play. It made a good capstone to our time in Belize, a fitting way to transition ourselves back to United States culture.

And so, the burning question: should you visit Belize? Yes. Should you pack sunscreen? Especially yes. Visiting Belize will be the best decision you can make if you want to experience a country filled with history, caring people, or lots. And lots. Of sun. It was the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for our honeymoon, and I couldn’t be happier that we made it happen.

48 hours in Dublin

Dublin is known throughout Europe for its fairytale charm, its greenery, and for its expense. And understandable so! The ancient myths and legends of Ireland are delightfully evocative. The drizzly weather throughout the year produces a deep green landscape with layers beyond the clovers. And Dublin really is notably more expensive than many other European cities. It’s a great place to visit and there is so much ground you can cover, even in just a few days. Check out our must-see list!

Top 10 things to do in Dublin on a budget- with or without kids!

• Icon Walk & Icon Factory

• This is one of our primary recommendations! It’s an alleyway with an art installation which ranges from hanging flags to bright shadow art to quirky photos and quotes of famous people from around Ireland. The plaques along the way are explanatory and interesting and it leads right to the Icon Factory—a collaborative art studio supporting local creatives in their passions. You may even get to see them in action!

• Irish Whiskey Museum

• You can fulfill the Irish experience of drinking Guinness at any bar and save yourself from going to read some history plaques at the Guinness Factory, and instead spend your 30 Euro on an interactive and educational walk-through museum experience about Whiskey in Ireland–which even includes the tasting. For a few more dollars you get a commemorative glass as a souvenir. Tours leave every half hour throughout the day and last 90 minutes or longer. Earlier morning tours can often be purchased at a discounted price through Groupon. Highly Recommend! It kept our three-year-old entertained with short movies, interactive conversations and questions, and alert and aware guides. Remember to tip your guide :) 

• Dublin Castle

• This is only open during daylight hours, basically and is a nice thing to walk around and take a look at. You can pay admission for a tour of the inside but it’s a nice enough sight from the outside too!

• Visit the Library

• The building itself is absolutely beautiful. The main part of the library is for patrons only, but once you are recognized as a tourist, you’ll be redirected from the lobby into a free museum and interactive art exhibit. It was great to hear poetry being read, learn about local celebrities and see portrayals of pieces of History that we had not learned about before. Plus it’s right next to the National Museum of Ireland, which is also free!

• Temple Bar 

• Unlike the Guinness Factory, this popular tourist location really is “all that”. There’s something inherently special about being in a bright red building with lights all around surrounded by strangers while listening to someone sing a cover song that’s super catchy. If the music isn’t your thing, it’s easy to wander around the maze of little courtyard spaces and find somewhere where you can’t really hear the music. There will be wandering waiters to take your drink orders. We recommend an Irish Coffee, Whiskey, or Guinness. Because why not! Drinks are 12-15 Euros which are comparable to prices at other bars. They also have Hot Chocolate if you have your little ones with you (and they're totally welcome!). Just be aware that the kitchen closes pretty early –before 8 on weeknights, so don’t come hungry. 

• George’s Street Arcade

• We stumbled upon this indoor/outdoor marketplace while wandering through downtown and it was delightful. There is a mix of local artisans and souvenir stands along with permanent restaurants, cafes and stores filled with clothing and other practical knick-knacks. Good prices for souvenirs and very centrally located. Window shopping is also fun and free :) 

• National Museum of Ireland

• A free attraction with rave reviews that we didn’t make it to because we had to get to the Irish Whiskey museum and we had a squirmy toddler who preferred running in the park earlier. But still totally recommend. 

• A walk around the city

• This is the best! We love to learn about history by searching for it as we feel so inspired–when we pass plaques or see monuments with names we recognize. Then we read the history outloud to learn together. There was an Airbnb Experience we wanted to take that was fully booked at the time we were in town, so we marked some of the sights they walked through on the tour and just learned about them ourselves! Sometimes the downside of traveling somewhere during the holidays is funky availability, but luckily Evangel had taken the tour before and had some firsthand insights. Another fun way to save money if you don’t want to splurge for a tour guide. 

• St Patrick’s Green

• This is a huge and beautiful park, known for the duck ponds and greenery. We love parks–especially when they are huge and central and involve animals and people watching. Plus, this one is named after St Patrick. Iconic! Protip: the park closes before dark in the Wintertime which was around 5PM when we were visiting–so early! 

Other things to know about Dublin and Ireland in General

• Bars and Restaurants close fairly early on weeknights. 

• Tipping is not required, but it is expected from tourists. 

• There are so many local stories and century old traditions–it's a good place to consider investing in a tour. If you get a chance to follow a guide around and hear about history from their perspective, you’re certain to learn something that you couldn’t find in a book. You can find them on airbnb experiences as well as through walking tour companies.

• The buses to and from the airport really do sell out and are best purchased in advance–but it’s important to consider which stop you get on at! We got on a bus at a stop in the beginning of its loop and it took a long time to collect people and get their luggage situated. If we had known, we could’ve just walked across the bridge and boarded the bus that was later in the loop and gotten to the airport an hour earlier. It was stressful since we were cutting it close on timing for our flight!

tips for traveling with toddlers

These are some of our favorite things that we always make sure to bring with us on longer trips–if we will be on a plane, train or bus for a few hours or more. It's great to have things to pull out when you're in a waiting room or on transportation and need to stay seated. Traveling is full of unfamiliar environments and experiences. At times all of the sounds, smells and spaces can lead to sensory overload and it can be uncomfortable, so we’ve put this toolkit so that you can rest knowing that you’re prepared. 

amazon packing list

Recommendations:

-Withhold toys in the weeks leading up to your trip! Then when you pull it out it's something new and exciting and holds their attention for longer.

-Putting each activity in a different bag or container can make it more exciting to open when you pull it out, especially if your kiddo doesn’t know about all of the things you’ve packed. 

-Think about what you bring. Avoid anything with multiple small unattached pieces. You’ll be in a moving vehicle of some sort and once a small part falls on the ground it can roll anywhere. Speaking from experience…..you don’t want to have to deal with that. 

-You can bring food on airplanes! This is a great way to save money and all pull out something familiar and predictable for your child in a pinch. That includes liquids or puree snacks like applesauce pouches (see below). So bring their favorites!

-We prefer to have a dedicated bag for our child–an opportunity to practice responsibility and autonomy. But it’s a good idea to keep a couple things in other bags too! You never know when you’ll need it most, so put a snack and activity in each carry-on you bring. 

**There are special regulations in place for families traveling with small children and the TSA (within the US) has recommendations for things like putting milk in clear, plastic bottles but you ARE allowed to bring them. Check the website for the latest protocol and look into regulations for the countries you’ll be traveling through if you have an international itinerary. Some airlines also have limits on how much liquid you can bring, but most defer to security guidelines.