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Piccolo Explorer

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USA

Diamond Head View, Moana Surfrider
Destinations, Hawaii, USA Oahu

10 Things to Do on Oahu with Kids

March 9, 2017

Oahu offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, from water sports to unique cultural experiences to hiking trails and much more. Along with its stunning coastline and laid-back countryside, there is a lot to explore on Oahu with kids and in this post, I’ll be sharing recommendations for kid-friendly activities…

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piccoloexplorer 14 Comments
Hotel Review - Moana Surfrider, Waikiki, Hawaii
Destinations, Hawaii, Hotels, USA Hotel Review, Oahu

Review: Moana Surfrider, Waikiki, HI

March 2, 2017

With its historic charm and excellent oceanfront location, the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa, is one of the most memorable places to stay on Waikiki Beach. We’ve stayed there before years ago and when we chose to return to Oahu on our 10th wedding anniversary, we knew we wanted to be back at…

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piccoloexplorer 10 Comments
New Children's Museum, San Diego, CA
California, Destinations, USA New Children's Museum, San Diego

The New Children’s Museum, San Diego

February 23, 2017

During our trip to San Diego in November, one of our favorite days out was at The New Children’s Museum, an interactive museum in Downtown offering immersive art activities and interactive art installations. There are so many great opportunities for fun, creativity and art that Little T, at 3 years old, easily spent over four…

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piccoloexplorer 20 Comments
La Jolla Shores, La Jolla, CA
California, Destinations, USA San Diego

Our Family Holiday in San Diego, CA

February 6, 2017

In early November, Little T and I spent over a week in my hometown, sunny San Diego, California. San Diego is one of the most family friendly cities in the States and has so much to offer, with 70 miles of coastline, mild weather year round, hiking trails and scenic parks and loads of museums and…

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piccoloexplorer 21 Comments
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Kelp Tank, La Jolla CA
California, Destinations, USA Birch Aquarium, San Diego

Our Visit to the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla

October 13, 2016

One of my favorite places to visit in San Diego is the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a fantastic, very family-friendly aquarium and oceanographic museum on a hilltop in La Jolla. There’s plenty to see and do for all ages, with various exhibits showcasing the diverse Pacific marine life, hands-on displays to learn…

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piccoloexplorer 5 Comments
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
California, Destinations, Snapshots, USA Balboa Park, Birch Aquarium, San Diego

Snapshots from San Diego, CA #1

February 29, 2016

San Diego has always been my family’s U.S. “home base” since we moved away from my hometown to Saudi Arabia when I was young. We returned at least once a year, often for a few weeks at a time, and eventually I moved back to San Diego for university. Years later, I’m back in San…

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piccoloexplorer 20 Comments
Hula Grill Waikiki
Destinations, Eating Out, Hawaii, USA Oahu

6 Beachfront Restaurants in Waikiki

December 2, 2015

During our stay in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu, we found most local restaurants cater well to families, offering high chairs and booster seats, changing tables in the restrooms, kid’s (keiki) menus, and often crayons and coloring sheets. There is plenty of choice in the area, everything from fast food chains to upscale dining. We…

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piccoloexplorer 7 Comments
The Mission Restaurant Mission Beach San Diego Pancakes
California, Destinations, Eating Out, USA San Diego

6 Family Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

October 22, 2015

Most restaurants in San Diego are very family friendly and in this list I’ll be sharing some favorites from our trip in November 2014, when Little T was 14 months old. We’ll be back in San Diego this November and while I’m looking forward to trying out new places, I might also be heading back to some of these great spots. Last…

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piccoloexplorer No Comments
Kailua Beach Windward Oahu Hawaii
Destinations, Hawaii, Snapshots, USA Oahu

Snapshots from Kailua Beach Park, Oahu

October 4, 2015

The tranquil town of Kailua on Oahu’s Windward coast is only a 30 minute drive from Honolulu across the scenic Koolau mountain range, yet it feels a world away from the bustling city. During our 2009 trip to Oahu, we were enamored with Kailua’s beaches and we headed back to Kailua Beach Park again the day after…

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Waikiki Aquarium
Destinations, Hawaii, USA Oahu

Our Visit to the Waikiki Aquarium

September 30, 2015

If you’re looking to take a break from the beach or pool, the Waikiki Aquarium is only a short walk away from Kuhio Beach and offers an educational experience showcasing the diverse marine life of the Pacific. Little T has always enjoyed observing the marine life at aquariums we’ve visited – the one at the…

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Trips100 - Travel Blogs
Trips100

piccoloexplorer

🍃 Outdoor adventures | Days out
🇺🇸 American expat in SW London
📍 London 🇬🇧

Cindy 🌺 London | Family Travel
Sightseeing in Westminster ✨ Hope you’re havin Sightseeing in Westminster ✨ Hope you’re having a great weekend! This photo is from the beginning of the Easter holidays when we headed into central London for some sightseeing. This week Little T spent a few days at an activity camp with school friends and we have one more day out planned tomorrow at a farm park before he’s back at school on Tuesday 🐄 Looking forward to more outdoor attractions re-opening from tomorrow along with shops and outdoor dining 🎉 Any exciting plans for next week?

(In case you’re wondering, the Elizabeth Tower restoration project will now be finished in 2022, instead of this year, due to delays caused by the pandemic.)

#londonbylondoners #londonwithkids #exploringlondon #secretlondon #mydarlinglondon
Easter trail at Painshill Park 🐣 The other day Easter trail at Painshill Park 🐣 The other day we visited this beautiful landscape garden in Cobham, Surrey, to follow the trail spotting giant painted Easter egg statues which is a fun way to explore the garden. It’s a wonderful place with scenic views, a small vineyard, woodland, waterside paths around the lake and intriguing follies across the 158 acre site. There is also a natural play area that’s great for little ones (swipe left for more photos) 🌳

Fun fact: Painshill Park is a popular filming location for TV drama and feature films. Some scenes from the Netflix show Bridgerton were filmed here by the lake with the iconic bridges in the background 🌿

The Crystal Grotto is one of the most popular features but is currently closed; hopefully the grotto will be re-opened in the coming weeks once more restrictions are eased ✨

#hellofrom #painshillpark #surreylife #scenicbritain
Easter trail at Ham House and Garden 🐣 We spent Easter trail at Ham House and Garden 🐣 We spent the chilly morning visiting our nearby National Trust site in Richmond to follow the Easter trail that’s on until 18 April.  Activity trail packs are £3 each and contain a map and activity sheet, pencil and a chocolate egg (entry must be booked in advance)🍫 It’s a fun way to explore the beautiful gardens and enjoy some time outdoors🌿 Have you been on any Easter trails during the break? 🐣 

#LondonwithKids #BecauseImaLondoner #NationalTrust #RichmonduponThames #PrettyLittleLondon
Sightseeing in Westminster ✨ We headed into cent Sightseeing in Westminster ✨ We headed into central London for our first day out now that lockdown restrictions have started to be eased. It was great to get out and enjoy the sunny weather in St James’s Park and then along the South Bank - also stopping by the playgrounds in both areas - before heading back to pick up Miss A from nursery ☀️ I’ve posted some more photos in my stories 🦢 (Reminder: currently there is no Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, that will start again once it’s safe to do so 💂🏻‍♂️)

#londonwithkids #becauseimalondoner #buckinghampalace #prettylittlelondon
Blossoms at St James’s Park 🌸 You can just ab Blossoms at St James’s Park 🌸 You can just about see the Blue Bridge which offers beautiful views across the lake, of Buckingham Palace on one side and of the London Eye and Horse Guards Parade on the other 🌿 Throwback to this day two years ago 🌸
Happy first day of spring 🌸 Starting to see the Happy first day of spring 🌸 Starting to see the magnolias in bloom around our area. This is a throwback to a Kew Gardens visit, 2019, of the beautiful magnolia tree by the Hive. The magnolia grove near the Children’s Garden is one of my favourite spots to visit during spring 💕🌿
Gorgeous day ☀️ Back at Isabella Plantation in Gorgeous day ☀️ Back at Isabella Plantation in the afternoon for a walk, spotting some flowering rhododendrons and the beautiful Mandarin ducks and Egyptian geese in the pond along the way (swipe left) 🌺 Have a great weekend everyone! 

#rhododendron #richmondpark #richmondparkphotography #lovegreatbritain #underthefloralspell
Inside Hampton Court Palace 🌷 Looking forward t Inside Hampton Court Palace 🌷 Looking forward to visiting this spring! Hampton Court Palace will be hosting an Easter Lindt Gold Bunny hunt around their gardens from 1 April plus the Magic Garden playground is re-opening on 31 March! 🐰 Swipe left for photos of the gardens, the Magic Garden playground and a look inside the palace itself (no update yet on when the palace interiors will be re-opening) - some interesting facts about the areas shown;

The Pond Garden🐟 during the 16th century, the sunken compartments were stocked with fish for the palace kitchens 

The Great Vine 🍇 is the largest grapevine in the world and was planted here in 1768 

The Chapel Royal 🌟 the chapel’s ornate vaulted ceiling was installed by Henry VIII in the 1530s 

The Great Hall 🍽 Henry VIII chose the hammer beam style of the ceiling to evoke great halls of his medieval predecessors 

Henry VIII’s Kitchens 🍖 A large kitchen staff of 200 people prepared over 800 meals a day for the King and his court 

#hamptoncourtpalace #historicroyalpalaces #becauseimalondoner #londonwithkids #visitengland
Happy Friday everyone! 🌺 We went for a walk in Happy Friday everyone! 🌺 We went for a walk in enchanting Isabella Plantation today, where you can see a variety of beautiful camellias. This woodland garden is one of my favourite places to go to in Richmond Park, especially later on in spring when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom 💕 What is your favourite place to visit in spring? Have a great weekend everyone! 🌸

#richmondpark #richmondparkphotography #camellia #becauseimalondoner
Hello March 🌼 Spring is in the air here in Lond Hello March 🌼 Spring is in the air here in London! We’ve had some gorgeous weather lately, daffodils are blooming in the parks and starting to see the blossom trees blooming too 🌸 Hope you’re having a great start to the week, last one of home school for us with kids returning to the classroom next Monday. Photo from exploring Richmond Park over half term 🌿

#londonwithkids #dowtkdaysout #becauseimalondoner #richmondpark
Snowy Richmond Park views ☃️ Continuing with t Snowy Richmond Park views ☃️ Continuing with the snow theme with another one from Sunday ❄️ Fingers crossed for more snow! 
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#richmondpark #richmondparkphotography #londonsnow #snowinlondon #snowsnowsnow
Snowy walk in Richmond Park ❄️ So much fun enj Snowy walk in Richmond Park ❄️ So much fun enjoying the snow in London yesterday! ⛄️ 
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#thebeautyinwinter #snowinlondon #snowsnowsnow #capturingbritain #winterwalks #exploringlondon
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