Which European cities are good for family trips?

Which European cities do you think are kid-friendly? We're daydreaming about pinching our pennies and possibly taking Toby to Europe this summer (he'll be two!), and I'd love to find a city that would be great with a little rascal in tow.

Which cities in Europe would you recommend for a family trip? Yolanda wrote a brilliant guide to Paris with kids, and Louisa Kamps wrote a beautiful essay on a family trip to Amsterdam. Thank you SO much for any insights! xoxo

(Photo of Berlin by Travel & Leisure)

A genius tip for packing for your honeymoon

My friend Susan Cernek (who also happens to be the Fashion Development Director at Glamour) shared the best tip with me the other day: Pack in a single color scheme. "For my two-week honeymoon around Italy, I packed all blue and white pieces," she told me. "That way, I could pack more efficiently, and mix and match."
A bonus tip? "Pack a red dress," she says. "Red always looks dramatic in photos, even if you're lost, like I was here."

(Via Conde Nast Traveler; and here's another romantic post)

Motherhood Mondays: Family travel

Since 2005, English photographer Tom Robinson has photographed his and his girlfriend's feet as they've traveled the world. (Remember this post?) Well, in 2011, they added a third set of feet: their daughter Matilda. How adorable and adventurous are these photos?

P.S. Tom's other genius project, I'm Going to Be a Dad.

(Via Double Takes)

Paris vs. New York

Graphic designer Vahram Muratyan founded the rad website Paris vs. New York, where he compares the two cities in a cheeky way. Well, this week he came out with a book! I'd love to see all 100 illustrations.

Whose side are you on--Paris or New York? :)

Rainboots for everyday adventures (and traveling)

Two weeks ago, we talked about the five best shoes for traveling. But! A few readers pointed out that Hunter boots are tough squeeze into a suitcase (true). Happily, I was able to find two easy-to-wear-pack boots, which I love...
Loeffler Randall makes the chicest rain boots. (I always spot gorgeous women wearing these around downtown Manhattan.) The bonus is, they look like cool booties even when it's not raining. So you don't have to switch your shoes when you get to dinner or work. They're a splurge, but you could keep them your whole life! I'm saving my pennies for these:)
Redfoot makes foldable rain boots! How genius is that?! You could just pop them in your suitcase. They're lightweight and waterproof, and have a fleece lining for warmth.

Which would you choose? Which suits your personality best? xoxo

Travel backpack

This BAGGU backpack looks genius for traveling. It folds up into its own tiny pocket. So, you can use it for picnics, beaches or exploring; and when you buy too many souvenirs, gifts, clothes and snacks on your trip--poof!--you have an extra bag to carry everything home on the plane. (You always need an extra bag, don't you find?) I just ordered a neon one for future trips.

What are your travel essentials? Red lipstick? Wool socks? A flashlight?
P.S. My #1 beauty product on vacation, five shoes for traveling, and 10 trips for traveling with a baby.

5 weekend getaways near NYC

New York is an awesome place to live, but sometimes you want to escape the crowds. Luckily, there are five amazing destinations less than 2 1/2 hours from the city, so you can treat yourself to a weekend getaway...
Read more »

Five best shoes for traveling

What shoes do you bring when you travel? I used to get stumped, but over the past few years, I've thankfully come across five options that work really well.
For walking around big cities, like Paris, tan ballet flats are chic, comfy and won't make you look like a tourist.
For swimming at the beach, red-and-white striped espadrilles are fresh and pretty (and more grown-up than rubber flip flops).
For canoeing, camping and drinking beers with friends, Bensimon sneakers are adorable, tomboyish and last forever.
For exploring rainy towns and eating your weight in fish and chips, Hunter boots are the obvious classic. Your jeans will stay clean, and you'll look lanky and beautiful. Even the Queen wears them! (P.S. These short boots are cute, too, and might be easier to pack.)
For road trips with your crush, Minnetonka moccasins are my favorite. They're effortlessly cool (I spot them all over downtown NYC) and sturdy enough for whatever the day brings--and you feel like you're wearing bedroom slippers. I'll admit, I wear these everyday. :)

Which of these five shoes would you wear? What are your go-to travel shoes?

(Photos via Pinterest; top photo by Real Simple, beer girls photo by Brian Ferry)

Pretty hair while traveling

Have you guys ever tried dry shampoo? It's a lifesaver when traveling. You just spray the shampoo on, and it instantly makes your hair look clean and full of volume. So, if you have an overnight flight, or can't check into your hotel right away, or explore a big city all day, you can still look fresh and gorgeous.

My friend Caroline (of hair tutorial fame) first told me about it. "I swear by it," says Caroline, who travels all the time for work. "After being touristy all day, I hit my hair with the dry shampoo, and it looks clean and pretty at night."

Caroline's favorite is Klorane. "Every magazine editor and stylist uses this one," she says. "You'll see it on all their tables." Bonus: It's very gentle with natural, non-toxic ingredients.

Have you used dry shampoo? Any favorite beauty products when traveling? I'd love to hear!

(Thanks, Caroline)

Travel fantasy: Haven in Paris

Have you seen the beautiful Parisian apartments from Haven in Paris? On vacation, I love staying in apartments versus hotels, since you feel like an insider (and can pretend that you live there:). You could have adventures around town, eat stinky cheeses on your balcony, have dinner at a neighborhood restaurant, then read books and curl up in your own comfy bed. Who's in?!

P.S. Look at the views from the windows, yowza!
Bonus for Cup of Jo readers: Get 20% off most Haven in Paris rentals if you visit this January or February by mentioning CUP OF JO.

Travel-themed week

This week, I'd love to do a fun little travel-themed week. (We actually started yesterday:) After the excitement of the holidays, aren't you feeling wanderlusty and itching to go somewhere beautiful?
I'm curious: Where would you go today, if you could beam yourself anywhere?

(Photos via Pinterest; canoe photo by Emily Chidester)

Elizabeth Street iPad app

Have you heard of the new iPad app Elizabeth Street? I'm excited about it. Written by a group of super chic moms (designers, museum curators, etc.(, the app is a travel and lifestyle guide to the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London and Milan (with more to come), where real moms share their favorite daily routines and feature restaurants, shops, activities and daytrips. I love that the stylish moms find things that are great for both parents and children, so the whole family has a good time.

I'm looking forward to using this when we travel, as well as here in New York. (I've already learned about the best black eyeliner and where you can pet goats and sheep at nearby farms.) Always amazing to get insider tips! Find the app here.
(Images from Vogue and the L.A. Times)