View from Ravello. Copyright Gretta Schifano
2013 has been a busy, brilliant year and it’s hard to choose the best bits but I’ll have a try.
Driving on ice is one of my biggest fears but this year I drove a rally car around an ice-driving track in the Italian Alps and loved it. Now I just need Omar, my instructor, to come with me on the school run on icy days and I’ll be fine.
It was lovely touring the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy with my teenage daughter at Easter. I took her to see a beautiful hotel in Ravello where we stayed with my husband when she was a few months old. I got very sentimental telling her about our first ever family holiday.
In May I went to Florida for the first time. My trip was for a travel feature for the FT about SeaWorld and I had a fab time meeting the penguins, feeding giraffes and swimming with dolphins.
Meeting a SeaWorld penguin. Copyright Gretta Schifano
On a trip to the beautiful Costa Brava I went indoor skydiving for the first time and really enjoyed it. Apparently, the secret is to relax and pretend you’re a banana.
Back in Florida, we had a fun and busy time at Walt Disney World and SeaWorld on our our family summer holiday. We also saw a rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center:
Rocket Launch at Kennedy Space Center. Copyright Gretta Schifano
My ten-year old son took me to my very first football match. It was at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and I was extremely nervous but enjoyed the experience apart from when the home crowd chanted: ’If you hate Tottenham stand up’. The opposing team was Stoke. I didn’t stand up.
I drove a car which parked itself. This was marvellous and my husband and I felt the need to practice this move. A lot.
I went to 10 Downing Street with a group of Mumsnet bloggers for a reception for the fantastic Railway Children charity. It was thrilling to be inside the famous building and to walk up the staircase flanked by portraits of our Prime Ministers.
A real highlight of the year for me has been meeting and getting to know some lovely bloggers especially on the BritMums Travel Perspective family blogger trip to the Costa Brava in June.
Finally, I’m honoured that Mums do travel was a finalist in the travel category of both the MADs and the BiBs awards for UK parent bloggers.
Thank you for reading Mums do travel in 2013. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in 2014 and I wish you a very Happy New Year. What was the highlight of your year?
I’m with you on the ice driving – I hate it when it’s icy at this time of year! Sounds like a great course to do though.
Christine recently posted…Comment on Things to do with the family in January 2014 by Christine
It was fun and really good for me. Roll on Spring!
The Ravello photo is absolutely gorgeous – what is would be like to jump into that water right now 😀
Jenny @ The Brick Castle recently posted…Goodbye 2013……
It’s so beautiful there at any time of year, but it may be a bit cold for swimming now!
It sounds like 2013 has been an amazingly diverse year. Returning to places with babyhood memories is really special. Looking forward to reading about your travels in 2014 already!
Janie recently posted…The Magic Circle
It’s been a great year, I’m very lucky.
Indoor skydiving? Fab. What an amazing year!
Anya from Older Single Mum and The Healer recently posted…Who Rocks Your Socks?
Indoor skydiving was really fun, but I didn’t like watching my daughter do it!
Why am I not a travel blogger? That all sounds fantastic, super jealous, and can’t wait to hear about your future trips 🙂
Niki recently posted…Happy New Year!
It was all lovely and travel blogging is great!
what amazing things you’ve done this year!! looking forward to reading your adventures in 2014! x
Fritha recently posted…Christmas 2013
We’ve had a great year of travelling, it’s been really fun.
Brilliant round up and a travel-packed year. Look forward to more in 2014. But what was your favourite, if you had to pick one? Could you?
Sarah Ebner recently posted…Travelling times: our “bests” of 2013
It’s very hard to choose but it would be either ice driving, because I’m proud that I overcame my fear and managed to do it, or the Costa Brava trip, because it completely overturned my preconceptions of this beautiful area.
Kennedy Space Center is definitely on my wish list of places to visit. And I’d love to explore Italy some more too! Will follow your blog and indulge in some armchair travel x
Ruthy Williams (nyssapod) recently posted…A Year of Ethical Fashion
Brilliant, thank you, and I’m really interested to see how your year of ethical fashion goes.
Oh Gretta what a wonderful year you’ve had! I wish you more wonderful travels in 2014 x
Actually Mummy… recently posted…Actually rather good: companies of the year 2013
Thank you Helen x
Wow you have had such a busy busy year – but what a fab one. I look forward to seeing what 2014 holds x
Mammasaurus recently posted…“They don’t stay babies for long”
It’s been amazing and I feel very, very lucky to have such opportunities.
sounds like a great year for you!
and I love the penguin picture 🙂
anna recently posted…Giveaway: The Taming of the Tights by Louise Rennison
It was lovely meeting the penguins and I couldn’t believe how friendly they were.
Oh my! How did you fit it all in! I love travelling too. I have bookmarked your blog to read through your posts.
I adore Florida and I would love to go to the Bay of Naples, I really want to got to Sorrento too/
mellissa williams recently posted…Top Ten Tips – Planning A Holiday To Orlando
We travel during the school holidays and sometimes I have trips on my own during term time. It does get busy but I love it!