Taking Stock(holm)
Here’s a fun travel tip: If you really want to get to know a city, accidentally leave your stroller at home. Even if your 3-year-old gamely keeps up the pace for a while, he’s bound to lose it completely and demand a place to rest eventually.
When this happens, you can frantically search online for local stroller dealers, try to bridge the language barrier via phone (slowly speaking English with a heavy fake Swedish accent is less-than-effective, for the record), and then navigate the city’s subway system and side streets in search of an inexpensive (ha!) buggy.
By the time you’ve wheeled your “wait, we just paid how much and the wheels aren’t even steady?” purchase out of that darling, overpriced baby shop and back through the “isn’t this charming… I could totally live here if only I were tall and blond and skinny and capable of pronouncing 82 consonants at once” area, you will definitely have a feel for the city beyond the usual tourist perspective.
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Fortunately, there is more to Stockholm than its overpriced stroller trade. Small enough that it can easily be learned in a short period of time, yet big enough that there’s plenty to see and do, Stockholm is an ideal family destination. Everything is incredibly kid-friendly and the proximity to all that water gives the city a relaxed, laid back feeling which our family loved.
I could feel myself instantly unwind in the archipelago, but then quickly adapted back into the faster pace of the city as soon as we hit dry land. Definitely a “something for everyone” destination, but unlike many European hot spots, Stockholm is not too crowded or crazed.
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I must confess, Sweden was never especially high on my mental “must see” itinerary before I started researching and planning this trip. But there is more to Sweden than Ikea and I am now one of Stockholm’s biggest proponents. Pippi Longstocking fans should not miss Junibacken, nature fans should visit Rosendahl’s Garden, maritime history buffs should check out the Vasa museum and everybody should spend some time cruising the archipelago.
But no one, and I repeat no one, should buy an umbrella stroller in Stockholm (talk about your pricey souvenirs). Alas, such is the cost of traveling with young kids.
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Need a family friendly place to stay in Stockholm?
Try the Scandic Hasselbacken.
September 21st, 2008 | by Rebecca Tompkins 10 comments
1. Jane on September 21st, 2008
I lOVE Stockholm but have only visited without kids. OOOh this blog takes me back to my days of being an au pair in Oslo! Weekend trips to Stockholm were a favorite among us au pairs.
2. Kayt Sukel on September 22nd, 2008
We loved Stockholm. A great city to go one-on-one with your kids, too — though I never could have done it without the stroller. =)
3. soultravelers3 on September 23rd, 2008
Funny! Sorry about your stroller fiasco!
We just spent a month in Sweden and just loooved it! I fell in love with Stockholm the first time I saw it many years ago and was thrilled to share it with my family.
My daughter celebrated her birthday at Junibacken and we bought six great books there that can’t be bought in the States. Little did my kidlet know that she was learning more about the culture as she read them while we roamed around Sweden! ;)
Did you know there is also a cool theme park called Astrid Lingrins world in Sweden? http://www.astridlindgrensworld.com/
We also loved the Ice Bar in Stockholm… as a surprisingly fantastic family stop! I’ve gotten more views on my twitpic there than any others!
We enjoyed Oslo ( plus the fjords!) and Copenhagen, but I must confess Stockholm and Sweden stole our hearts!
4. Anil on September 24th, 2008
The fake Swedish accent is hard to get down right, mine always ends up sounding like German or Russian.
5. MudslideMama on September 25th, 2008
I use the Swedish Chef from the Muppets as my guide. :)
This was a great post, although I must admit – I’m having a hard time taking your “travel tip” seriously. So funny!
6. Jet Set Life on September 25th, 2008
Stockholm appears to be an amazing place for a family vacation. Thanks for the post. I’ll be sure to pass it along to our readers.
7. Ric Garrido on September 25th, 2008
In 1993 I spent two weeks in Stockholm in late January.
Observations:
Fresh fruit was in the market square outside my hotel every morning that appeared to be better quality than what I had seen in northern California the few weeks before.
Purpose in Stockholm was for an educators conference and with sunrise around 9am and sunset before 4pm, I walked around the streets of Stockholm during the lunch hour to see all I could see in the daylight hour.
Concern during my walks under the typically six story urban buildings was the repeated occurrences of long, heavy icicles falling from heights of 60 to 80 feet down to the sidewalk around me. It only happened about 4 or 5 times, but I had to wonder how many people in Stockholm get hit by falling icicles during the few sunny hours of rooftop heating during winter.
A beautiful city anytime of year I am sure.
8. Rebecca on September 28th, 2008
Thanks for the comments, all!
Jane: how about Stockholm for Thanksgiving? :)
Kayt: IS there a city that can be done sans stroller?
soultravelers3: We missed the Astrid Lindgren theme park on our trip and I was so bummed. A reason to go back!
Anil: I think mine sounds pretty Russian, too. Maybe if I’d used MudslideMama’s Swedish Chef approach I’d have had better luck? Too funny!
Jet Set Life: Thanks for the pass along. I do highly recommend the trip!
Ric Garrido: Those icicles sound hazardous! I think I’m glad we were there in August. :)
9. Abbey on September 30th, 2008
Glad you had a great trip to Stockholm! What made you guys decide to head over there? I’m so jealous you went around the archipelago. My husband has been talking about us doing that every time we’re in Sweden but we just haven’t yet!
10. Rebecca on October 1st, 2008
Abbey, we went on the advice of a friend who is half Swedish and was kind enough to help us to plan the perfect trip. There’s a lot to be said for taking advantage of others’ expertise. (Oh, wait. That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?!)
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