We spent our last day in Barcelona doing a lot of walking. Still, we didn’t get around to exploring all the nooks and crannies that this fabulous, old city has to offer. Unless you are still a member of the stroller-pushing crew, walking with kids can be tricky. After much debate about the double-decker tourist buses, we opted to ramble down La Rambla and stroll along the waterfront instead. Barcelona has a great metro system and taxi service. We used both for crossing longer distances.
A note for family travel writers and bloggers: Don’t tell me about amusement parks, aquariums and zoos. Show me the way to strategically placed playgrounds, ice cream parlors, cafés, pigeon-filled plazas and street artists. Maybe one day I will write that travel guide. Until then, we are usually lucky enough to stumble upon spots like these, which energize and refuel the kids (and the adults).
Las Ramblas, the tree-lined pedestrian mall that runs down the center of Barcelona, is perfect for a day of wandering. There is something for everyone…tiny baby bunnies to pet, artists to watch, street performers to interact with and of course, some of the best people watching around.
An evening on the beach was just what we all needed. It had been a while since we witnessed such a beautiful sunset. Just when you think the colors are amazing, they get deeper and more intense.
Ending the day with that sunset, paella, sangria and kids who happily made it through a late dinner, and you have the recipe for a pretty perfect day in Spain.
But there was more to come! The following day we were headed into cava country – the Penedès. Stay tuned…