We recently returned from a nine-day trip to Europe, spending five days in Bordeaux, France, and four days in Lisbon, Portugal.
It was an adventure with my wife and kids, and honestly, one of the most rewarding trips we’ve taken as a family.
Below are my trip highlights. If you enjoyed this, you might also like my other article where I took my kids to Japan, Indonesia, and New Zealand.
Table of Contents
Bordeaux, France
We spent our first five days exploring Bordeaux, a city that proved surprisingly family-friendly.
The compact downtown is extremely walkable, and the trams easily accommodate strollers.
We did a Bordeaux river cruise with wine tasting, wandered through Christmas markets, and soaked up the festive atmosphere
The Vineyard Experience
The biggest highlight was visiting the Troplong Mondot family estate, a stunning chateau in the French countryside.
During our wine tour, my son and daughter drove a little electric jeep around the vineyard while we tasted wines. They got to explore the farm and stay entertained while we enjoyed the estate. It was the perfect balance.
Then came the part where I was stressed out of my mind: dining at their Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Belles Perdrix.
I checked with them beforehand about bringing the kids, and they were incredible. They catered the experience toward our children, and somehow, my kids actually behaved.
The whole experience at the vineyard was beautiful and felt like the heart of what French countryside living is all about.
Saint Émilion
On our way back to Bordeaux, we stopped in Saint Émilion, a medieval town dating back to the 1300s. This UNESCO World Heritage site is still fully functioning, and walking through those ancient streets was the highlight of the entire trip.
The preservation is remarkable. You feel like you’ve stepped back in time, but there are cafes and shops woven into the old stone buildings.
Where We Ate in Bordeaux
- La Tupina – Rustic comfort food like confit de canard
- Symbiose – Refined, seasonal plates
- Le Table de Hôtes – Michelin-starred restaurant run by a Top Chef France judge (though day-to-day food in Bordeaux didn’t wow us as much as we expected)
We also visited the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s impressive wine museum, on our last day there.
France Gallery
I took way too many pictures on this trip. I will only upload my top 12 below.
Lisbon, Portugal
After five days in France, we flew to Lisbon on a Friday evening. We landed around 6 PM and headed straight to the hotel.
My wife and I have a system when we travel with kids: we each get one night to ourselves. Mine was that first night, and I went to Prado, a modern restaurant focusing on local Portuguese ingredients and natural wine. It was exactly what I needed after a long travel day.
Pastéis, Monasteries, and Making Friends
The next morning, we visited the Jerónimos Monastery, one of Lisbon’s famous UNESCO sites. We kept it quick with the kids, then headed to Pastéis de Belém, the legendary bakery where we ate fresh pastel de nata. If you know, you know.
I also met up with a friend who’s an entrepreneur living in Lisbon. He’s originally from Russia, lived in Germany and London, and landed in Lisbon after having kids. We talked about Portugal’s tax incentives (10 years tax-free if you move there) and what life is like raising a family in the city. It gave me real insight into why so many people are relocating there.
The Aquarium and Coastal Escape
We spent one day at the Oceanário de Lisboa, one of the largest aquariums in Europe. My kids absolutely loved it. The scale and variety of marine life kept them mesmerized.
Another day, we took a trip to Cascais, a relaxed coastal town about 30 minutes from Lisbon. It reminded me of Malibu’s relationship to LA: a beautiful, laid-back beach escape from the city. The weather was perfect at 60 degrees. We went to the park, grabbed food, and just enjoyed the slower pace.
On our last night, we ate at Time Out Market, a massive food hall with tons of different cuisines and live music. It was lively and fun, the perfect way to cap off the trip.
Portugal Gallery
Below are my favorite pictures from my Portugal folder.
Traveling with Kids
Traveling with young children comes with inevitable challenges. My daughter Remy caught a fever during the trip, which was stressful. But navigating the local healthcare system in France was surprisingly easy. A doctor came directly to our hotel, examined her, and provided medicine for about 80 euros total. If we’d done that in the US, it would have cost an insane amount of money. The experience was a reminder of how different healthcare systems can be.
Final Thoughts
Our time in France and Portugal reminded us why we prioritize these trips. Whether we were watching our kids drive a jeep through a vineyard or eating pastéis in a centuries-old bakery, these are the moments that stick with you.
Lisbon, in particular, left a huge impression on me. The weather in December was incredible (60 degrees the whole time), the food scene is thriving, and the city has this welcoming energy that makes you want to return. While Japan remains my number one travel destination, Lisbon is now high on my list for a return visit.
Family travel isn’t always relaxing, but the rewards are always worth the effort. We’re already looking forward to our next adventure.