Thursday Travel Treat: Tunisia to the South Pacific

I am in need of sunshine this morning (or sleep). So in place of a lounger, I’ve dug up some sunny memories of Tunisia for today’s  Thursday Travel Treat on Instagram.

It’s almost 10 years since I visited this slice of North Africa (where did that time go?!), haggling in the medina in Tunis for a leather bag that had to stay on the balcony until the camel smell died down, visiting the ruins at Dougga and Carthage, snapping madly in the fabulously picturesque white and blue Sidi Bou Said…

Tunisia

For more ideas of things to do in Tunisia, check out this post

Since getting onto Instagram  – find me here – I very quickly became addicted to the photo-sharing site. There’s the chance to upload some of the many pictures I take on my travels, but it’s also inspiring me to keep my eyes open day to day, spotting everything from glossy conkers to a patch of sunlight on a brick wall. 

So I decided started the #thursdaytraveltreat hashtag on Instagram and Twitter to enjoy a few travel memories and cheer up any grey Thursdays with a slice of sunshine (or other travel treat).

I’ve collected some of the ones I posted together in this post, for one bumper Thursday Travel Treat.

Miami

After looking through some old shots of Miami and its art deco buildings in the sun, I added a few to brighten up Thursday. And it seemed to go down pretty well… So much so, that I’ve decided to make it a regular thing using the hashtag #thursdaytraveltreat.

It might be a beach. It might be a fantastic temple. It might be a gorgeous landscape. But whatever it is, hopefully it’ll put a smile on your face and get you dreaming of travel throughout the winter.

And that’s before we get on to the food – my food tour in Miami with a toddler as well as more things to do in Miami with kids

Laos

Week two’s Thursday Travel Treat came from Laos.

A less explored part of South East Asia, you’ll find plenty of things Laos is famous for. I’ve since been to Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar) and Langkawi in Malaysia with my daughter

South Africa

With the fabulous candy colours of Bo Kaap, week three’s travel treat on Instagram is from South Africa. 

It’s somewhere I’d love to go back to with my daughter – there’s so much to do in South Africa with kids, but so far the closest she’s got is the Cape Verde islands, although I’ve also been to The Gambia since.

Mexico

A blissful New Year break (pre-baby) staying in a fishing village between Cancun and Tulum.

Incredible turquoise and blues of the Caribbean, ancient ruins and temples, some very very fine margaritas and guacamole and sun sun sun. I also dyed my hair an ill-advised blonde (don’t worry, that’s not one of the ways I’m trying to brighten up today).

Basilicata, Italy

I’ve been thinking about my most memorable travel experiences for a feature this week, and zip-wiring across a mountain valley in Italy is definitely up there at the top.

So this week’s #ThursdayTravelTreat has to be Basilicata, where I tried the Volo dell’Angelo, or Flight of the Angel, as well as exploring the cave dwellings of Matera and the gorgeous mountain scenery.

And yes, that’s me in the picture.

Still one of my most unusual travel experiences…

Lisbon

This picture always sums up wanderlust for me – Prince Henry the Navigator, immortalised in the Monument to the Discoveries, forever gazing out to the ocean and the adventures and undiscovered lands ahead.

On the waterfront at Belem, it’s somewhere I always try to visit when I go to Lisbon – itself one of my favourite cities. Followed, needless to say, by some pasteis de nata, the original flaky custard tarts that Portugal is famous for.

Iceland

Winter is here… But today is one of those fantastic bright clear blue days where I’m embracing the frost and cold.

So as part of that, today’s #ThursdayTravelTreat on Instagram is Iceland. I visited for a long weekend at around this time of year in 2010, during which I think I wore every piece of thermal clothing I possess. And bought a new fleece.

As well as chasing the Northern Lights (unsuccessfully), luxuriating in the Blue Lagoon and taking the classic Golden Circle tour of Thingvellir, Gulfoss and the geysers, we also tried a bike tour of Reykjavik. Wrapped up toasty warm, it was a fantastic way to see the city and chat about life in Iceland with our guide Stefan.

Elves, trolls, dramatic landscapes and fabulous fresh fish (with an equally spectacular price tag) – it might be time to buy a snowsuit for Minnie and plan a return trip.

For more ideas of things to do in Iceland with kids, check out this post, as well as a guide to an Iceland road trip with kids

Jordan

After last week’s celebration of the cold, I need some sun again.

So this week’s Thursday Travel Treat comes from Jordan where I floated in the Dead Sea, marvelled at breath-taking Petra, explored the desert of Wadi Rum with Bedouin Mzied, climbed/swam a river canyon and discovered green wooded walking trails, an ancient mosaic map and locations straight from the Bible.

And there were camels, of course. I do love a camel.

Perhaps on our next trip to the Middle East, I can persuade Minnie onto one – she flatly refused in Oman and while she briefly climbed aboard in Gran Canaria, I couldn’t persuade her to stay on…

Japan

Japan might not be the first winter destination that springs to mind, but my visit in January 2007 was amazing – clear blue skies, few tourists and so much to see, even in Kyoto and Tokyo alone. So that’s today’s #thursdaytraveltreat.

Temples and a glimpse of a geisha in Gion, discovering quirky Harajuku and exploring Tokyo with a local on a free Greeter walk, incredible sushi and mysterious snacks where we were never quite sure what we were going to get. I loved it.

And while speeding between cities on the bullet train and seeing Tokyo’s futuristic skyline is part of the experience, it’s the history and culture I remember best. I could gaze for hours at Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto’s golden pavilion temple, reflected in the water.

Provincetown, USA

On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower anchored at Provincetown Harbor. There’s plenty of debate about when the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony but it seems the appropriate subject of the Thursday Travel Treat published on November 27, 2014.

One of my last pre-pregnancy trips, I visited the Cape Cod harbour town along with Boston and Philadelphia in 2011. The sun was still shining in October as we took a dune tour, wandered the unfeasibly picturesque streets, climbed the tower and ate saltwater taffy and lobster.

Time your visit right and you can take a ferry straight from Boston, which has to be the most enjoyable way to travel there (and often them quickest).

Lanzarote

For once, I was actually on my travels for #thursdaytraveltreat. And while I haven’t any new photos of the island’s sights – from Timanfaya to Cesar Manrique – sometimes it’s the little things that say ‘holiday’.

A palm tree against a blue sky. Relaxing on a sun lounger. A glass of wine with lunch. OK, one and a half.

Throw in a walk by the sea, a swim most days with Minnie and some souvenir shopping and I haven’t had chance to miss exploring so far.

There is plenty to do in Lanzarote with kids though – these are my top picks.

Tenerife

This time last week, I was relaxing in the sun. Today the skies are blue but it’s about 20 degrees colder… For Thursday Travel Treat, I’d thought of finding something suitably festive such as a Christmas market in Germany or snowy slopes, but I need warming up too. So I thought I’d compromise a bit.

I can’t manage the festive twinkly lights but I have got both snow and sunshine courtesy of Tenerife plus a rather atmospheric shot of the island’s green north.

And here are more ideas of my top things to do in Tenerife with kids…

(Christmas) Turkey

As I make a start on my own turkey, where else to pick for a festive Thursday Travel Treat than Turkey itself? Not the beach for once – although Bodrum would be tempting.

The beautiful blue mosque in Istanbul to be precise. Merry Christmas to one and all!

South Pacific

Happy New Year! Of course, if you’re in Kiribati, it’s practically January 2 and 2015 was well underway when I first posted this. While I haven’t quite made it that far east, I did have one wonderful trip to the South Pacific in 2002.

So today’s Thursday Travel Treat comes from that visit to Fiji, Tahiti and Bora Bora, plus two of the Cook Islands – stunning Aitutaki and Rarotonga (via a stopover in New Zealand).

Hopping across the date line, plus some fairly hefty time zone changes meant I barely recall Auckland as I alternated between very strong coffee and falling asleep on the spot. But I doubt I could ever forget the stunning islands of Polynesia and Melanesia.

Visiting in their midwinter, the islanders kept warning us of the cold as we splashed in the 25C waves, the sea an unbelievably clear turquoise lapping against ludicrously idyllic palm fringed beaches.

I climbed a waterfall, took seaplanes between the islands to retrace the famous Coral Route, discovered crushed basil works wonders on the world’s itchiest mozzie bites thanks to a walk in the rainforest, and watched graceful dancers swaying by torchlight on the sands. I also tried kava (bleurch) and swam with rays, snorkelled and scuba dived.

I’m not sure I have ever been so relaxed again in my life.

Which is one reason Hawaii is high on my family travel wishlist…

Sri Lanka

I couldn’t decide where to pick for today’s Thursday Travel Treat after the last few themed weeks – so grabbed a photo album and opened it at random.

Only to be reminded of my fabulous trip to Sri Lanka in 2006, just over a year after the tsunami. With tourism rebuilding, I discovered a wonderful island with so much history, heritage and culture packed into a country half the size of England.

At the time, the civil war meant the north and east were still out of bounds, but we saw the Cultural Triangle centred around the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, plus the cave temples of Dambulla and incredible rock citadel of Sigiriya.

Stopping at Kandy, home to the famous temple of the tooth, we headed into the hills of Nuwara Eliya to discover the remnants of British colonial life among the tea plantations, before a stop by the sea at Galle in the south.

That’s not forgetting the elephants at the orphanage in Pinnawela. The leopards of Yala National Park are high up my list for my eventual return…

Here’s why to consider Sri Lanka with kids – and four places to visit in Sri Lanka

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Morocco

Blue skies are here – in photo form, at least. I love the fact that arriving in Morocco is like being transported into a completely different world, all the colours, sounds, smells, the fabulous decorations on the buildings, the history… 

And even better, it’s only a few hours away. I’ve been to Morocco a couple of times, to Marrakech, my own favourite Fes and the less visited Meknes. High up the wishlist for the future is Essaouira, especially thanks to the new flights.

I’ve yet to take Minnie, although the country has a reputation for being very family-friendly – let me know if you’ve taken your kids?

Malta

In London today it’s 3C (and that seems warm compared to the snowy landscapes across the country). A few hours away in Malta, it’s 17C. If it wasn’t for the looming tax bill, I’d be tempted to book a flight this minute.

Instead I’ve dug through my photos from two trips to the island for today’s #thursdaytraveltreat.

I’ve never quite understood why Malta has a bit of a dated image – there’s temples older than the pyramids, great diving and the stunning blue lagoon on sister island Comino, historic walled cities, fantastic seafood and lots of quirky touches.

That’s before you even consider laid-back Gozo, a ferry ride away from Mellieha in the north where I’ve stayed both times. And it’s very family-friendly.

Here are my top things to do in Malta with kids – and a few things you never knew about Malta

Arizona, USA

With deserts and canyons, and places high enough to give me the mild headrush of altitude sickness, I know logically that Arizona must get cold from time to time.

In my mind, after a scorching autumn visit in 2009, it’s forever blue skies, shimmering heat and frozen cocktails. The perfect ThursdayTravelTreat then.

Staying among the red rocks of Sedona, where the New Age influences came a distinct second to the incredible rock landscapes, climbing and exploring on a Pink Jeep tour, it doesn’t feel like five years since I visited.

Throw in a day at the Grand Canyon and it’s the kind of place I’ve tentatively pencilled in for a possible road trip when Minnie’s older. For now, I’ll have to make do with the memory.

Toronto, Canada

Something slightly different for #ThursdayTravelTreat – a city break (although still one with a beach).

Because although Toronto currently has minus temperatures to make the UK look tropical, my only visit was in August, so in my head it’s hot and sunny – the perfect weather for wandering along the sand and discovering the islands in Lake Ontario.

Between that, discovering the city’s museums (including a shoe museum!), the art and food scenes, the different districts, the chilled-out atmosphere and wandering round the outside of the CN Tower 356m up (1,168ft if you prefer – high, for sure), I had a fantastic long weekend.

And the rest of Canada? Definitely on my family travel wishlist – here’s why…

Lebanon

Lebanon’s terrible civil war ended almost 25 years ago, but when you think of the country, it can be hard to forget the images plastered across the news of my childhood.

Unsurprisingly, the reality is rather different. Although Beirut still bears some scars, when I visited this gorgeous country in 2011, I found a buzzing capital as well as centuries of history to discover. The perfect unexpected Thursday Travel Treat.

From the incredible ruins and temples of Baalbeck, ancient Heliopolis, to the vineyards of the Beqaa valley and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities at Byblos, we could have spent far longer exploring.

And that’s before you even begin to discover Beirut, its fantastic museum, the mix of cultures, historic twisting streets with their potholes and lack of signposts, the glitzy bars and restaurants, the glam designer malls, boutiques and art scene.

Time instead to remember its earlier reputation, as the Paris of the Middle East.

China

Kung Hei Fat Choi! It’s Chinese New Year today – the Year of the Sheep (or goat, depending which version you want) has started so where else for #ThursdayTravelTreat than China?

I did an amazing trip in 2007 with one of my best friends, just over two weeks travelling round and seeing some of the key cities and sights – from Hong Kong to Beijing, via Xi’an and Shanghai, Yangshuo and the Li River and a cruise along the Yangtze.

Of course that still barely scratches the surface of this huge and fascinating country, something which became very clear when I looked at a map of our travels afterwards.

We had some amazing experiences though, walking the Great Wall – although hiking/climbing/scrambling might be a better description. On a stretch a little way outside Beijing, from Jinshaling to Simatai, our group had the wall practically to ourselves so we could see it snaking over the hills into the distance.

Add in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an with a mosque in a pagoda, plus the Terracotta Warriors (and a woman with a large feather duster giving them a clean), a cycle tour around Yangshuo out in the tranquil countryside (once we got off a hugely scary road) and a cookery class, the fantastic scenery of the gorges along the Yangtze, the temples of Beijing… I could go on.

Hopefully, at least, one day I’ll go back.

Isle of Wight, UK

I’ve been having so much fun going through old photo albums digging out photos of sunny beaches, exotic destinations and fantastic trips for #ThursdayTravelTreat.

But there’s no reason to fly half-way round the world to have a travel treat (although if I could teleport to Australia this morning, I wouldn’t object).

So for a taste of island life, with some sun and blue skies, this week’s treat is from our weekend on the Isle of Wight.

Exotic animals, especially if you consider the dinosaurs in that list, fascinating history and the tempting thought of beaches… although the closest we came to deckchairs on the sand was a postcard in one of the shops, sadly.

But the best part is that it’s only a short ferry ride away, so when summer finally arrives, I can add sandcastles and ice cream to my tally of attractions, including these great things to do in the Isle of Wight with kids.

Prague

Spring hasn’t quite sprung… but there’s definitely something in the air which suggests it might be along before I hibernate from lack of sunshine. And so for #ThursdayTravelTreat, I’ve started to cast my eyes a bit closer to home.

I’m mentally plotting a trip to Amsterdam later in the year, and have already featured one of my favourite European cities, Lisbon, so today I’ve dug out some photos from another gorgeous capital, Prague.

I’ve visited several times – the first as one of the last stops on an interrailing trip where we seemed to live on bread, hard-boiled eggs and local beer, which turned out to be cheaper than bottled water.

Most recently (although still far too long ago – another city that is overdue a return visit), I had a long weekend away with my husband, wandering the streets of the old Jewish quarter Josefov and learning its legends, eating rather more impressive food, staying in the more peaceful Mala Strana and wandering across the Charles Bridge with its famous statues to the Stare Mesto, or Old Town.

So I’ve done budget backpacker, I’ve done romantic city break… is it time to discover if Prague has a family-friendly side?

I went back and discovered Prague with kids is a great idea!

The Azores

Out in the Atlantic, almost a thousand miles west of Lisbon, sit the Azores. The most westerly point of Europe, they’re also one of its most overlooked spots – but with whale watching, tea and pineapple plantations and an incredible volcanic landscape, they’re well worth paying attention to.

So where better for today’s #thursdaytraveltreat? I visited the island of Sao Miguel for a babymoon almost three years ago, my last pre-baby flight and loved it.

It would be a great trip with older kids as well, with thermal pools, boiling calderas, steam spurting from volcanic vents – you can even have a meal cooked in the heat of the earth.

Then there’s the whale watching, one of the best places to see these incredible creatures year-round, as well as from the viewpoints on land if you’re lucky.

And picturesque volcanic lakes, Portuguese architecture, little towns and some fascinating traditions mean you’ll have plenty do discover on just one island as you drive around – you can see a bit more in the piece I wrote for Metro here.

As a bit of a bonus for adults, those pineapples make a rather fab liqueur…

Greece

The view from my window seems to contradict it, but it’s the official start of Spring tomorrow. So after 25 weeks of #Thursdaytraveltreat, we’ve made it through winter.

This will be the last weekly Thursday travel treat, although hopefully the hashtag will live on whenever a travel-treat is needed to brighten up the day.

And to finish, the ever lovely Greece. I spent the summer after my finals island-hopping here with my best friend, exploring, relaxing, renting rooms from little old Greek men who’d meet the ferries (regardless of how late they arrived) and whiling away hours and hours in tavernas by the sea.

A few years ago, I headed back for a different kind of island-hop on my first cruise with my husband and two friends from America, starting in Athens and heading through the Aegean to Mykonos and Chios – as well as a few stops in Turkey and round to Italy.

With its white-washed buildings, Mykonos always looks a bit like the classic picture of a Greek island I carry in my head, with the bonus of chic little boutiques and bars, plus the ancient ruins on Delos nearby.

Chios, meanwhile, was somewhere totally new to me. Ditching the cruise ship excursions, the four of us hired a car on the quayside and set off armed with just a map and my slightly erratic navigational skills. We never did make it to the famous monastery of Nea Moni in the end.

But we did stumble across Pyrgi with its historic churches and houses decorated in black and white geometric patterns, find a deserted cove where the sea was an unbelievable shade of turquoise and eat mastic ice cream – Chios is known for its mastic trees.

Over the years, I’ve also been to Thessaloniki, Greece’s often – and unfairly – overlooked second city and a school trip to Rhodes, among others. I’ve still got my heart set on seeing Santorini, and Greece has some wonderful family resorts as well as generally being a fabulous place to go with kids.

With so many islands yet to see, I think I need to start planning a new trip before long…

For more inspiration, so far we’ve made it to Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Symi, Corfu and Skiathos

The Thursday Travel Treat series was first published in 2014 and 2015. For more travel inspiration, you can also see some of the best of the City Tripping linky here and an Instagram walk along London’s South Bank.

Image copyright MummyTravels

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