🚗 From Pamplona to Galicia: 10 Hours, 9 Bags, and 2 Brave Bites of Pulpo
What we thought would be a 7.5-hour drive from Pamplona to Galicia turned into a 10-hour family road trip adventure—complete with food detours, bag-stuffing miracles, and little eaters stepping outside their comfort zones.
Let’s start with the logistics miracle: 9 people, 9 carry-ons, and 9 backpacks— all in one car. If that’s not a family travel award, I don’t know what is.
We took the scenic route through Northern Spain, thinking we might make a few stops along the way, but between traffic and timing, we mostly admired Bilbao and Santander from the windows.
As tummies started to rumble, we pulled off near a beautiful beach—La Playa de la Rabia—and tried to grab lunch at a popular restaurant, El Pájaro Amarillo. Unfortunately, everyone else in Spain had the same beach-and-lunch idea, and the crowd was overwhelming. So we moved on and stumbled upon the charming coastal town of San Vicente de la Barquera.
Parking spot found. Restaurant with space for nine? Check. Kids’ table? Double check.
Lunch was a mix of familiar and new:
Some kids ordered spaghetti with meat sauce, a reliable favorite.
But we also encouraged the kids to try something more adventurous: arroz con mariscos (shellfish rice) and fried pulpo (octopus).
One child loved the rice dish, the other—not so much. But they both tried it. And that, in our house, is a win.
I often remind parents:
👉 “It’s okay if your child doesn’t love something. The goal is trying, not liking. And three bites gives them a real chance to explore the food before they say no.”
After lunch, it was another four hours in the car, and I have to say—the kids did amazing. We finally arrived at our destination in Vilanova de Arousa, Galicia, ready to unpack, stretch, and settle in for the next part of our journey.
🍽️ Little Eaters Takeaways
Trying is more important than liking. Encouraging a few bites of new foods (like pulpo!) helps kids expand their palate over time, even if the love comes later.
Mix familiar and new. A safe food on the plate helps kids feel secure enough to try something different.
Celebrate travel wins. From fitting the bags to navigating detours, road trips with kids require flexibility—and snacks. Always snacks.
Let kids eat together. Giving kids their own table fosters independence and creates a relaxed environment where they can learn from each other’s eating.
