5 Weeks, 3 Countries, Countless Memories: A Little Eaters Travel Wrap-Up
After five unforgettable weeks traveling through Ireland, France, and Spain, we're back home—bags unpacked, hearts full, and still dreaming about our favorite meals and moments.
Our adventure began in Ireland, where we spent time with family, went on a stunning hike through green hills, visited the beach, and made new friends. The kids had a blast trying new experiences—like watching a greyhound race, taking a tour of a chocolate factory, and exploring Dublin with cousins. The food in Ireland surprised and delighted all of us—some favorites were fresh mussels, Mama Lisa’s crepes, oysters, salmon, and of course, the classic fish and chips.
From there, we flew to Paris, where we dove straight into the magic of Disneyland Paris, caught the Bastille Day airplane show, and watched the Eiffel Tower light up the sky. We met up with friends to explore the city's neighborhoods, parks, and boulangeries. The food in Paris? Magnifique! The kids devoured salmon sandwiches, pastries, crêpes, steak frites, escargot (yes, really!), and cheese so good it should be illegal.
But the heart of our trip was Spain, where we spent the majority of our time. We started in Madrid, where we toured the Prado Museum (and learned about the painting of the Bearded Lady!), watched flamenco dancers stomp and swirl, played soccer in Parque del Retiro, and visited Toledo, a breathtaking medieval city. A food tour became one of the highlights—sampling everything from tapas to turrón.
Next, we road-tripped north to the Basque Country, visiting family in Biarritz, learning about the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, and swimming in the postcard-perfect beaches of San Sebastián. We continued on to Galicia, where we met up with friends to kayak, explore the coast, and hike on Isla de Cíes (after a very fun boat ride!). We wrapped up the trip with more time in Madrid—eating at delicious restaurants, visiting the Sweet Space Museum, and spending time with old and new friends.
As for the food in Spain—where do we begin? We loved tapas and pintxos, endless salmon sandwiches, tortilla de patatas, paella, Georgian cuisine, mussels, razor clams, rape a la plancha, pulpo, and calamari. We simply couldn’t get enough of the fresh seafood—and the kids amazed us with their adventurous appetites.
What We Learned About Traveling with Little Eaters:
This trip taught us so much about what it means to eat well and travel joyfully with kids. Some takeaways we’ll carry with us:
🍽 Plan a few meals ahead to avoid hangry kids.
💧 Hydration matters—especially with travel days and hot weather.
🥤 Allow one preferred drink a day (hello, Sprite!) to give kids some control.
🏠 Aim for 1–2 meals at home daily, including a mix of preferred and new foods.
🛒 Bring kids to the market—let them help pick something new to try.
🍤 Go on a food tour—they're fun, informative, and give kids language around food.
🍽 Try foods you never thought you’d order (yes, even snails).
👩🍳 Have the kids help prepare meals—they eat more when they’re part of the process.
📵 Encourage screen-free mealtimes and keep a simple routine: sit, eat, connect.
🃏 Bring games like cards or Rummikub to play while waiting at restaurants.
🗣 Talk about meals afterward—what did we eat? What did we love? What would we change?
💬 Teach them that “not every meal needs to be your favorite meal.” Trying is the win.
This trip wasn’t perfect—it was full of long travel days, jet lag, and moments of uncertainty—but what we gained was so much more: resilience, flexibility, a love for new cultures, and a deeper appreciation for food as a way to connect.
We’re so grateful for the memories and proud of our Little Eaters for rising to the occasion (and occasionally falling asleep at the table). Stay tuned for a detailed travel recap with practical tips to help you plan your own adventure with curious, capable, and flexible eaters.
