When we planned our trip to Scotland,
we intended for it to be a relaxing weekend. However, it turned into
a jam packed weekend. Scotland
has so much to offer. We were able
to pack our weekend full of fun
experiences. The fan favorite was
The Chocolatarium Tour and Tasting. Let's start there.
I booked The Chocolaterium tour via viator. They had me at "chocolate tasting." Amelia was our guide, and she was awesome! We were able to learn about how chocolate is made. We were able to sample chocolates from all over the world. The girls even helped make an Aztec drink, that included cocoa nibs. Despite how hard they worked, the drink was not a crowd pleaser. Let's just say the Aztec's had interesting tastebuds. The icing on the cake was making our own chocolate bars. Laney chose a unicorn mold, while the rest of us kept it simple. They offered a variety of add ins, for your bar - from rice cereal to mint. I highly recommend this tour, if you are traveling to Edinburgh. **Please note you need to be 6 or older to partake on this tour.**
Dynamic Earth was another awesome activity. It came recommended from a friend (Thanks Chelle!). For the price, you get a lot for your money. We have been on a lot of tours, and to our fair share of museums, but this was probably my favorite, It was so interactive and attention grabbing. My kids, never once, said they were bored. TIP: make sure you sit front row, on the very end to feel the snowfall, during the 4D show. The tour was followed by hands-on activities like lego building and hat making. With your ticket purchase you can visit the planetarium. We opted to skip it, because the kids really wanted to build an underwater machine with legos. (Travel Advice, go with the flow. On holidays, you have to be okay with pivoting, because kids are kids. It can be really hard, trust me, but it makes life easier.)
In almost every city, we visit the zoo (if there is one). Not sure whether it's more fun for the girls or me. I really love going to the zoo. The Edinburgh Zoo, itself is very large. There are exciting animals like koalas, pandas, red pandas, and wallabies. Laney had a very funny interaction with big daddy lion. Let's just say, thank goodness for the window, otherwise, she would have been sprayed. I'm not sure that early morning is the best time to go, like we did. A lot of the animals were not out, yet. I would recommend going midday. Also, wear comfy shoes, it's hilly. Fun Fact: All over the city, this summer, there are more than 40 painted giraffes. The giraffes are painted in unique ways, in honor of the Edinburgh Zoo's Giraffes About Town trail. The girls absolutely loved taking pictures with them, when we found them. We were only able to find 5 larger ones. We found 3 smaller ones at the zoo.
Now to the castle on the hill, The Edinburgh Castle. We booked our tickets directly from the website (it was the cheapest). The castle sits on top of a hill, and there are views of it, all over the city. It's really a great site. They are sticklers about entering at your ticket time, so keep that in mind. We tried to go 40 minutes early, and we were stuck sitting in the sun - not fun with kids!
A last minute addition to the calendar was My First Concert - Peppa Pig. We saw an advertisement for it on the street (lots of advertisements and crowded streets due to the Fringe Festival). The girls have talked a lot about wanting to go to a concert, so this seemed like a great, first concert. They girls absolutely loved it!! Laney tried to play cool, like she wasn't loving it, but the pictures don't lie! (Truth Bomb, they both almost lost the concert, because of their behavior. I don't ever want you to think my kids are angels. Pictures can be deceiving. Traveling with them is easy, most of the time. This trip saw some challenges.)
Accommodation:
We chose the Courtyard by Marriott, Baxter's Place. The location was fantastic! We were walking distance to shops, restaurants and most of the attractions. Breakfast was included. The room was plenty big for a family of four. We would definitely stay here, again.
Favorite Restaurants:
La Sal - Tapas - The meatball and fried queso were drool worthy. The patatas bravas and calamari were, also, great! Fernando and I, easily, handle a jug of their sangria. The girls devoured the churros. You will need a reservation.
Wanderlust - brunch - The girls and I really enjoyed their sweet crepes! Coffee passed my coffee test!
Zebra Coffee Co - brunch - Espresso Yourself | Loved this little hidden gem. The place is very tiny, but the food was delicious! We highly recommend the pancakes!
For Runners:
Fernando, generally, runs in every city that we visit. I had him share his thoughts on Edinburgh. He said the route he took was extremely tough, but so worth it! The views from the top of the hill, were breathtaking! Below is his route and the view.
Scotland proved to be a contender for one of our favorite places (we say that a lot). The city was so colorful and lively. The people were warm and friendly. Plus, it never hurts being able to speak the language. The girls kept asking why the guys were wearing skirts. I explained to them the term kilt, which they have continued to call quilt. Next time we come, Fernando is wearing a quilt!
Can you even handle how chic this pub is?! Can pubs be chic???
Either way, I love it so much! :)
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