FIVE THINGS TO DO IN PALMA WITH KIDS

It's been a while since we were bathing under the sunny skies of Palma earlier this summer, and looking at this grey autumn drizzly day I'm feeling the need to channel some of those pastel pinks and aqua blues that line the streets of this Mediterranean Island. In truth another reason it's taken me so long to write a post about the trip was due to the unfortunate events that happened on our return making it difficult to revisit the holiday. However there's nothing better than reminiscing back on holiday snaps to act as a pick me up on a grey day, so I thought I'd share our top five things to do in Palma with kids.


Take the Old Train to Sóller

Before we even stepped onto the plane I had friends recommending this as the must do activity of our trip and one that our kiddo would love. Situated to the left of the main train station near Plaza de Espana, the Ferrocarril de Sóller is a beautiful vintage wooden train full of character and charm which has been making the historic route since 1912. A combined return train and tram ticket to Port de Sóller will cost you  around €30 per adult and take you through the scenic mountains and lemon groves that make Mallorca so special, until you reach the old station in Sóller where you can stop for a bite to eat before heading onto the white sandy beaches at the Port, perfect for sandcastles and ice-creams.



Cycle Along the Beach Promenade
One of the fab things about Palma is the mix of city streets filled with bustling shops, cafes and busy squares, all a stones throw from the beach front giving you the best of both worlds. With Palma Bike & Go you can pick up a bike and explore the promenade for €6 a day and for those needing a child bike or baby trailer try Nano Bikes. Head along the beach front cycle paths towards Portixol and pass the harbour along the street Carrer del Vicari Joaquim Fuster, which passes beautiful stretches of white sand, colourful mosaics, beach lined playgrounds and a fab interior design burger pit stop, Bigotes Bar & Brunch.

Go on a Sculpture Trail
Give kids of all ages something fun to look out for while exploring the city with the fantastic array of weird and wonderful sculptures that punctuate the winding streets of Palma, making a fun treasure hunt for little ones. Either pop into the tourist information office and mark the locations on your city map or wander the streets to see which modern pieces cross your path.

Check Out the Child Friendly City Parks
OK so these might not actually be parks so to speak, but Palma's got a great thing going for it with several of these fabulous children's playgrounds dotted across the city. With shady trees and coffee *yay* give your kiddos a break from sightseeing and enjoy a little down time as you chill by the sidelines, watching them make new friends. Our favourite was the Parque de la Feixina which is shaded and has equipment for a wide age range and Placa de les Llorenç Villalonga situated near the city wall.



Make Food Fun
Eating out with kids can be many things and not all of them fun, but with a huge range of places to stop off and enjoy three things come to mind when eating out with F. First off we tried to eat alfresco as much as possible and with most cafes and restaurant having outdoor seating, it made it easy for us to entertain him with people watching and spotting horse drawn carriages.

Secondly if you want to get your child involved with food we absolutely loved Patron Lunares, situated along a strip of tasteful bars and restaurants, this dining experience serves tasty food and fun, especially when ordering the Guacamole and chips. Let your kiddo create their own dip as the ingredients arrive in a pestle ready for them to crush together.


But most importantly is Gelato! Ice cream is everywhere in Palma and kids and adults alike will go nuts for the delicious flavours served at Giovanni L which will have you coming back for more!




Check out our family friendly stays at the Portixol Hotel and the Palau Sa Font Hotel in for a fun place to stay in Palma.

A STAY IN THE CHARMING BOUTIQUE HOTEL PALAU SA FONT IN PALMA

Think blue skies, green palms, gentle waves by the shore and you'll be conjuring visions of our recent island getaway to Mallorca, where we had the pleasure of staying at the charming boutique Hotel Palau Sa Font, tucked away in the rustic narrow streets of Palma's Medieval quarter. 



Travelling as a family we always look for unique stays with thoughtful design features and staff that go out of their way to create a wonderful experience, and Palau Sa Font ticks all those boxes. This modest former 16th century palace has been transformed into a unique blend of clean lines and candy colour, adorned with eclectic art. Perfectly located a few minutes from both the waters edge and Passeig del Born, we wandered down the crumbling back streets, vibrant with small cafes spilling onto the streets and locals whiling away the hours, until the walls become so narrow that the buildings lean inwards like long lost lovers and washing lines stretch between the ancient wooden balconies perched above.

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A STAY AT THE LUXURIOUS PORTIXOL HOTEL IN PALMA

A few weeks back we woke bleary eyed in Bristol and rolled out of bed at 3am to catch a flight to the sunny island of Mallorca nestled in the Mediterranean sea and check into the luxurious Portixol Hotel, with i-escape with Kids. As a child I used to holiday on the north-western coats of this Balearic Isle, and have fond memories exploring cobbled stone pathways shaded with beautiful palms with my parents so I was excited to return. 

Apart from the mad last minute dash for the gate I was quite impressed at how smooth it all went and how good F was during the flight considering how early it was. We arrived at Palma Airport and immediately felt our shoulders relax as the balmy 28 degrees washed over us and we managed to grab a taxi outside the airport – most of which have child booster seats in the boot – and made our way to the beautiful Portixol Hotel.

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THE PERFECT COTTON SUMMER DRESS

So a few weeks ago we flew to the sunny city of Palma, swapping the mild Bristol spring weather for a balmy 28 degrees. Just me, Paul, the boy and the perfect summer cotton dress. Oh how I love wandering around a new city bathed in beautiful light, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. As the weather in UK has a bit of catching up to do, I hadn't quite prepared a summer wardrobe and found myself on a mad shopping dash a few days before the flight.

When travelling somewhere hot I always try to pack light, but there's one must have item that I never leave without, and that's a comfortable summer cotton dress. When exploring anywhere with kids it's easy to get hot and sticky when swapping between carrying toys, child and bag full of essentials, so wearing something cool and comfortable while looking good is a must.

I loved this Jagger Stripe Summer dress from Braintree Clothing, the loose fit and cute pinstripe with lace and pin tuck details is made from Organic Hemp Cotton, which is completely breathable leaving your skin cool and it's the perfect length for letting your legs see some light – hello tan!

I loved exploring the tiny cobbled streets with its crumbling plasterwork and beautiful doorways. There's something so exotic about the peachy tones and wooden shutters, with palm trees shading narrow passages. I can't wait to share more of our Palma adventures with you next week and hopefully inspire some wanderlust in you.

Also just a quick note to say a huge thank you for all the kindness and support you've shown me over the last two weeks. All your messages have really helped lift my spirits through this particularly difficult time.

Honestly, I'm still not feeling myself, which is probably why it has stayed quiet over here. However I have a few posts to share with you and hope that you'll be patient with me as I pull myself out of this hole, and as always thanks for taking time to stop by, read and say hi. x