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England

Visiting Blenheim Palace with kids

Where is Blenheim Palace? Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Oxford City Center and 2 hours via public transportation. What is Blenheim Palace famous for? Blenheim Palace the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874.  …

Mums Night Out: Henley Festival

  Yay! July marks the end of exams, the end of homework, the end of dragging kids out of bed and stuffing them into school uniforms.  By the end of the school year everyone needs a Mums Night Out and I found the glamorous Henley Festival on the riverbanks in Henley-on-Thames to be …

Cornwall: St Moritz Hotel in Polzeath

Every family needs a little indulgence in their life and ours is the St Moritz Hotel in North Cornwall. Located high above Daymer Bay overlooking the River Camel estuary, the St Moritz is a totally re-done rendition of popular 1930s hotel located by the surfing beach of Polzeath. Many families return year after year and …

Norfolk: Sykes Sandy Loft in Hunstanton

  I often joke that my children are ruining my holidays! If you have kids in senior school, you’ll understand what I mean. I’m referring to the English education system that revolves around a strict testing regime – which usually takes place right after a school break! Our May half …

10 reasons I like to travel by ferry

  When the girls were small, the thought of flying with the family sent me into a mild panic. I’d try to separate out our “must take” items with the “nice to haves”. The problem was everything was in the must take pile! Not able to make a definitive decision on what …

Royal Garden Hotel: Exploring London with the family

  Have I told you about how Mr. and Mrs. Modern started dating? Back in the height of the dotcom boom when we were mid-level executives living on separate continents and working for Silicon Valley startups? Well … I was in San Francisco in corporate marketing at a software company. Mr. …

Henley Festival: Not just for grownups!

  I’ve been a fan of the Henley Festival for years. After the rowers and crowds leave Henley Regatta, the grounds turn into a spectacular art and music festival. Adults don their finest (it’s a black tie event) and around every corner their is something magical to explore. There’s always a headline …

Cornwall: The Residence at Gwel an Mor

    The first thing you notice when you reach Gwel an Mor in Cornwall is the views. They stretch above high above Portreath and go deep into the wild blue Atlantic. The resort has been charming visitors for years, but this is our first time here and we’re guests to check out their …