OMGaudi! A week in Barcelona

One of my favorite cities to visit with kids is Barcelona. It’s got great weather, interesting architecture, good museums, a beach and Gaudi! And the people who live there actually LIKE kids. Instead of being relegated to the back of a restaurant at the bad table, they give families the best table in the house.

We took the kids last year and had such a blast that we consider going back again every summer (we then reluctantly opt to explore the rest of the world first). We stayed in an AirBNB casa in the El Born barrio of the city – filled with authentic shops, a café on every corner and the Picasso Museum. With murals EVERYWHERE, I came home with over 35 photos of the kids in front of different brightly painted graphic murals spread across Barcelona (#muralobsession).

And the architecture – OMGaudi! Of course we toured Sagrada Familia – and yes, they are still renovating it! We spent a full day in Parc Guell hiking and ogling Gaudi’s sculptures, tile work and magical buildings. And Casa Batllo did not disappoint either. Just like Picasso’s art, Gaudi’s architecture is so appealing to kids – it’s whimsical and fantastical and unlike anything they’ve seen in the US.

And these days, it seems like every 10-year old boy I know is obsessed with soccer, the Futbol Club Barcelona, and the man known as Messi. I'm not a sports fanatic but the soccer vibe is strong in the city and very empowering for young kids. Mine insisted on faux-hawking his hair and taking his soccer ball every where we went but that was fine by me - the impromptu games of keepie-uppie with the local kids was worth it!

Keep in mind: It’s a walker’s city though so be prepared for those little legs to walk a bit – we took a taxi sometimes and lots of gelato breaks as incentive to walk another mile.