We were supposed to go to Disneyland. Just a quick flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles. No real planning or creative packing required. But when a ticket search in the wee hours of the morning turned up an incredible deal to Europe, L.A. went out the window. In one hour and the click of a mouse, my family of four was headed to Madrid, Spain.

When most people think of Madrid, they don’t think of kids. It’s one of those grown-up cities. There’s no tower to climb, no big ferris wheel. Its big ticket item is a museum, but don’t let that fool you. My girls, ages 8 and 11, go everywhere with my husband and me. We’ve gone canoeing in the Dordogne, discovered incredible playgrounds in Ireland and chased ravens in Britain. We all agree family-friendly Madrid doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

Read the full article on Ciao Bambino! (photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann)