Balcony at Wagners Aparthotel 2

Special Stay: Hotel Wagnerhof and Wagners Aparthotel

Hotel Wagnerhof and its sister property Wagners Aparthotel on Lake Achensee describe themselves as a “wellness hotel where couples feel just as comfortable as families”. A description like that couldn’t be more on brand for what we look for at Bridges and Balloons. But did the reality live up to the promise? The short answer … Read more

Horses outside 11th Street cowboy bar in Bandera.

Texas Road Trip: How to spend 10 Days in Texas

Texas Hill Country and the surrounding area has become one of my favourite places to recommend for a USA road trip. Politically, we’re not aligned, but connection goes beyond beliefs, and in Texas, I found a warm and charming hospitality. In fact, if I had to describe this part of Texas in one word, it’d … Read more

Vegetarian burgers and fries from Pool Burger in Austin, Texas.

17 cool kid-friendly restaurants in Austin, TX

Food should be at the forefront of any trip to Austin, and there’s no need to compromise too hard even if you have kids in tow. Sure, some of the more fancy, refined options might be off the menu, both in terms of the food and how welcoming they are to kids – but most … Read more

Wonderspaces in Austin, Texas.

12+ things to do in Austin (with kids or without)

Austin has to be one of the coolest cities in the USA if not the world. There’screativity on every corner, from innovative food trucks to indy shops and cool murals.And that’s not to mention the live music scene that it’s best known for. Our most recent trip to Austin was as a family, and it … Read more

Arlo and Otis walking on Main Street, Fredericksburg.

The best things to do in Fredericksburg TX (with kids or without)

Fredericksburg had me at first sight. It’s not what I expected from Texas, and I mean that in more ways than one. First, there’s the wine – who knew Texas had a wine region? And then there’s the German heritage, the Stars Hollow style downtown, and the countryside that sometimes feels like the savannahs of … Read more

Bandera street.

Things to do in Bandera, Texas (with kids or without)

With the incredible title of “Cowboy Capital of the World”, you know Bandera Texas is going to be something special. But what to expect? And what to do in Bandera? I had no idea before I arrived. I didn’t even know cowboys still existed! In my mind, they were a thing of the past. But … Read more

Pink boat on San Antonio River Walk

A San Antonio vacation guide: The USA’s most underrated city?

Truth be told, before visiting San Antonio, Texas, it wasn’t even on my radar as a vacation destination, let alone on my bucket list. But this charming, culture-filled city ended up becoming one of my favourite places in the USA. It’s unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been before – a distinctly American city but with … Read more

Kids at the DoSeum in San Antonio.

19 Unmissable San Antonio kids activities and family attractions

San Antonio has become one of our favourite cities in the USA. It’s among the most unique, and certainly one of the most underrated, U.S. destinations. And it’s also great for families. From experiencing Tex-Mex culture to visiting world class galleries and exciting theme parks, there are plenty of San Antonio kids activities and family … Read more

Universal Studios for toddlers - Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios: Harry Potter World Tips

Steve and I are huge Harry Potter fans, and now Otis and Arlo have joined the family obsession. So of course our trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando was a huge highlight of the trip. And before that, Steve and I had been to the California edition at Universal Studios … Read more

Steve, Arlo and Otis walking around San Sebastian Old Town.

Things to Do in San Sebastian With Kids: Family-Friendly City Break

Sitting on La Concha beach while the kids play happily in the waves with the Old Town as their backdrop, I wondered if this might be Europe’s most family-friendly city break. San Sebastian/Donostia has long been a bucket list destination for foodies, but its compact size, beachside location and Spanish welcome for kids, means it … Read more