Tania McCartney
Beachside Fun
Crab Island
The Crab Island resort reportedly sprawls over 1 million square meters. What's not in question is the wealth of family fun that if offers: a lake with paddle boats, fishing ponds, go-karting, grassland carting, a zoo, and an "organic" farm complete with egg picking. There are two amusement parks: one with a carousel and bumper cars, the other with a big playground, aqua bumper boats and a swinging boat. The zoo features ostriches, camels, llamas, bunnies, exotic birds and deer.
Get Cookin'
A hands-on culinary journey in the capital
Bake Away
Exquisite Bakery in Shunyi is your one-stop baking shop. You can pick up all the supplies you need to bake your own homemade creations, or sample some of their yummy in-house treats (we recommend the cupcakes). If you’re looking for an afternoon activity to occupy the children, book the kids into a cooking class, where they’ll decorate their own cakes and cupcakes. Ask them to bring some of their creations home to share with the family. Closed Jun 15-23. From Jul 10-Aug 10, open 9am-5pm. Shop 7, Riverville Square, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. (6450 9838) 南炉, 顺义区天竺温榆广场07店
San Antonio, Texas
Lone Star adventures
Travelers: Steve and Sally McDonald, and kids Jenna (7) and Zack (5).
The Plan: This American family loves living in Beijing, but their hearts belong back home in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s a summer vacation trip to the McDonalds’ favorite spots in cowboy country.
Sauntering with the Schroeders
Nils-Arne Schroeder and Renate Lee-Schroeder know all about making homes in new places. The German and South Korean couple moves every few years as part of Nils’ work in the hospitality industry. After living in Malaysia and Namhae, South Korea, today Nils, Renate, and their kids Kyla, 5, and Kaden, 18 months, love their new life in Wangfujing.
Place for weekend fun
We go to the parks if weather permits. We find Chaoyang Park the easiest one for walking around with a baby stroller. Plus the kids love to run around on the grass, which is difficult to find in Beijing.
Outdoor play space
Since we live so close to the Forbidden City, we like to stroll around the old hutongs by Wangfujing on the way to Tian’anmen Square.
Easy getaway
Singapore. It’s warm year-round and they’ve got a great zoo, night safari, aquarium, toy stores and bookstores for the kids, as well as fantastic shopping and restaurants for mom and dad.
Bonjour to the Denis Family
The Denis family moved to Beijing from Toulouse, France, more than a year and a half ago and loves the cultural melting pot that is Beijing. Sebastien works for Airbus China and Salina looks after Elena, 5 and Erwan, 3. This French-Malay family lives in Dongzhimen.
When Feeling Homesick
We go to La Mansarde for dinner since we like the cozy environment, then we lunch at Café Peranakan, opposite the Russian Market.
Weekend Ritual
We have lunch at Matsuko Japanese
restaurant because our kids can’t get enough sashimi and sushi. Then we go cycling or read at Alliance Française.
Berlin
Whimsical castles and world-class museums
The travelers: Australians Andrew and Eleanor Flowers, and kids Grace (11), Celeste (8) and Jasper (6).
The Perfect Itinerary: Berlin is a great city for families with kids of all ages, with attractions ranging from its numerous parks, playgrounds and delicious chocolatiers, to fun museums and fascinating war paraphernalia. As seasoned Berliners who spent three years in the capital, the Flowers family has many suggestions for the ideal trip to Berlin. Germany can be expensive, but with a little local know-how, you’ll save enough euros to splurge on local delicacies and treasures.
Party Time
Soiree for sleeping beauties & games for rambunctious boys
Sleeping Beauties
What better fun than a sleepover? All girls love a good giggle and a round of Truth or Dare. Combine luxurious facials and glam nails, and you’ll have the slumber party of little girls’ dreams.
The Invitations
Moms and dads, don’t stress out over an entire classroom of invitees. Keep your numbers low enough to fit your daughter’s friends on a cake (confused? see “The Cake”below). For the invitation, trace a sleeping mask onto cardboard and cut out with decorative scissors. Next, cut a smaller mask shape from pretty paper and glue on top. Cut two 10cm pieces of ribbon and glue to the edges of your cardboard mask. On the blank side of the invitation, handwrite or glue on your party details.
Hocus Pocus
Easy steps to creepy costumes
Chicken
There’s nothing wrong with being a little, er, chicken, during Halloween. Smaller kids will love dressing up as this adorable clucker.
How to do it: Cut a red glove about an inch from the fingers, stuff it with tissues and stitch it to the crown of an oversized hooded top. Stuff the hood with a cushion and tack-stitch yellow feather boas all over the top (stitches can later be removed). You’ll need about five boas for a costume that will fit a 5-year-old. Put on a pair of tights and then carefully slip on the top, stuffing it with cushions or towels to fatten it up. Stuff the ends of a pair of yellow gloves with tissues and then slip the gloves onto your feet. Cluck!
Destination: India
Travelers: Ronni (Ranjeev) and Isabelle Krishana and their daughter Maya (4). The Plan: The Krishana family traveled to India for 18 days to visit family and cruise the “Golden Triangle” of northern India – New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. On this trip, Isabelle and Maya’s first to India, the family flew into New Delhi, then hired a driver to take them to Agra (the city of the Taj Mahal), then on to Jaipur (the land of Rajput kings) and back to New Delhi.
The Roaming Rahmans
Canadians Tariq Rahman, Sylvie Boulay and their kids Tabatha (10) and Adam (7) certainly get around, having already lived in Canada, the US, Sweden and the UK. Next on the agenda: a family-friendly life in Shunyi. Here are a few of their Beijing favorites. Would you like to share your Beijing Favorites? E-mail editor@beijing-kids.com. Toy Shop
Kid Plus at Pinnacle Plaza is definitely Adam’s favorite. Second best is the little toy shop in Jenny Lou’s. Saturday Night
We always eat out. Our favorite restaurants are Piazza Café because it has Chinese, Thai and Western, and Baan Chokdee which is Thai but has the best hamburgers in town, according to the kids. Lunch Spot
Wine and Dine in front of the Canadian Embassy is great value for lunch – the menu includes great food, a glass of wine, dessert and coffee.
