KID TESTED TRAVEL TIPS TO STOCKHOLM

6 March 2012

Happy Monday. The kids are back in school today, activities begin and I am back at the drawing board. The wonderful visit we’ve had with my parents and three nephews is still fueling us.

Before I hit my overwhelming Monday to-do list,  I wanted to share something from their visit with you. This morning, an email arrived, from my sister-in-law, with highlights from the boys. If you’ve ever considered traveling to Stockholm in the Winter, with 10, 12, and 14 year old boys, this is what they had to say:

march31kidstravel2

Stockholm highlights pictured above:  Gustavbergsbadet (swimming), the Wasa Museum, The Royal Palace,  Old Town (Gamla Stan), Skansen, Hellasgården, Commuter Ferries,  Semla at Rosendalsträgård, Östermalms Saluhall (a great market), Sledding hills and ski hills in the city.

I asked the boys for 5 highlights and 5 things that surprised them and any tips.
This is what they shared with me:
Five Highlights:
Outdoor Swimming,Gustavsbergbadet with NO LIFE GUARDS
Old Town, Gamla Stan.
Trying Handball, for the first time on their cousin’s team
Visiting the Wasa Ship, The Wasa Museum
Pizzeria at a Train Station: STAZIONE

Five Surprises:
Hellasgården: Witnessing “polar bear” saunas: step 1: sauna step 2: run outside and down the hill, over the pier and splash into the swimming hole in a frozen lake to cool down; then, repeat! at Hellasgården
US Sports: Lack of American sports knowledge
The Swedish Royal Family: The fact that Sweden had a King, queen, princesses…. I would also throw in that they were floored that the kids study Swedish Vikings as a part of their history, too. They’re conversations comparing school were so entertaining!
High Taxes (“Oh man: does candy really cost this much?”) (25% VAT in Sweden)
European Bathrooms and showers 

Tips:
Dress warm.
Dress, really, really,  really warm.
(The came prepared to dress “nice – really, really nice and realized quickly that warmth is a necessity here.)
Bring Mt. Dew.
Hidden Internet Fees: “Turn your phones and Internet off, so you won’t be charged huge, hidden fees.”
Life Guards: “No life guards makes swimming so much more fun….”
Other, Aunt-Approved, Stockholm kid destinations:The new Globen Sky View
Rosendalsträgård for a “Bulle” (Swedish cinnamon bun)
Skansen
Something you might like:
new GUIDE — Stockholm with Kids: What to do with kids
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