A few months ago, I got an email from the Copenhagen Tourism Board telling me that they were big fans of Mazzy and Harlow and wondering if we would be interested in traveling to Denmark.
Huh? What now?
Most people don’t know that Copenhagen is a very kid-friendly place, they told me, and they would love to showcase their city through a family vacation.
Ummm…like, you mean, through MY family vacation?
Yes, that is what they meant.
Mike and I traveled to Copenhagen about eight years ago and loved it, but we never considered taking our family there. To be honest, we hadn’t really considered taking our family on a European vacation at all. So far, on the very few times we’ve traveled with them, we’ve stuck to beach resorts and places with kid’s clubs or ski school.
But, obviously, we were not going to let a little thing like “fear of traveling internationally with the children” prevent us from persuing this crazy opportunity!
The next thing I knew I was sitting across a table from two lovely members of the Copenhagen Tourism Board (Rylle and Signe) looking at a slideshow presentation called “Mommy Shorts in Copenhagen.” Throughout, they referenced Mazzy and Harlow like they knew them personally (“We follow you on Instagram!”) and presented a daily itinerary of activities geared specifically with our family in mind.
After watching the slideshow Rylle and Signe put together (which you will see parts of below), I was like— Oh wow. Mazzy and Harlow would LOVE Copenhagen!
Apparently, Copenhagen is well-known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities. They suggested spending a day touring in bikes with carts for the kids and hitting their various ice cream shops. SOLD.
There is a huge amusement park called Tivoli Gardens right in the middle of the city. I remember it for the scariest ride I ever went on (basically your standard swings ride, but spinning about 200 feet in the air) but there are tons of kid-friendly attractions too, including a famous playground called “Rasmus Klump.” It also lights up brilliantly at night.
“Since Mazzy and Harlow like princesses, we can arrange for your family to spend one night in a castle that is about an hour outside the city.” SERIOUSLY?!
There’s also a big art museum called the Louisiana with interactive projects for kids, canal tours, playgrounds, waterside restaurants, the Little Mermaid, horse carriage rides in Deer Park, pedestrian-only streets for shopping, the Round Tower, the Kings Garden, Copenhagen street food, a zoo with polar bears…
And pretty popsicles!
Are you sold yet? Because I certainly was.
Now. Will all the amazing things to see and do make an overnight flight and jet lag any easier for two kids whose farthest trip thus far has been to Arizona? Probably not.
Can Mike and I spend seven days (+ 3 days in Norway just for kicks) with no additional childcare or school to send our kids off to without losing our minds? I’m not sure.
Will Mazzy and Harlow survive without any of their friends? I certainly hope so.
Will Mike immediately morph into Clark Griswold once he crosses the Atlantic? I certainly hope not.
Will my picky eating kids find something they want to eat in Copenhagen besides ice cream and breakfast pastries? I tried not to laugh when the tourism board presented me with the slide entitled “Kid-friendly Restaurants.”
Yes, that all looks delicious to me. But I can guarantee Mazzy and Harlow would not even sit at the table with that asparagus egg sandwich. I’ve heard Copenhagen has some of the best restaurants in the world, but I definitely don’t think the girls are ready for a serious dining experience.
I am guessing this trip will have it’s fair share of challenges, but it’s also an opportunity we are not about to pass up. Even if the kids starve, how can they not have fun at a castle and an amusement park?!
Make sure you follow our trip on Instagram (@mommyshorts) and Snapchat (ilanawiles) to find out! I’m sure @insta2yearold and @pinkinyc will have things to say about the trip too.
We are leaving for Copenhagen this Sunday night!!!
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This post was sponsored by the Copenhagen Tourism Board and Norwegian Airlines. You can learn more about what to see and do there here!
Wow Copenhagen. We travel extensively with our children (2 and 5) but we haven’t ventured to Denmark. The food is part of the reason. In Iceland, we did a lot of Skyr(yogurt) fresh fruits and did grocery shopping for cereals for breakfast. Try reindeer, smoked meats and charcuterie for other meals. They should have lingon berries and jams that they can try on different crusts. My kids love eggs and even roe, so that might be something that you can try. Best of luck! Maybe I’ll be inspired to try Denmark next!
Wow, that’s amazing! I’ve been to Copenhagen myself two months ago and it’s lovely, though I didn’t have kids to take with me so I’ve no idea how that would’ve worked out. The only place I’ve seen more bicycles would’ve been my hometown, Amsterdam. Have fun!
I’m so excited to hear and read about this trip. We travel with our little ones and never considered Copenhagen. Looking forward to seeing what the girls loved. When traveling we always pack instant oatmeal and cereal for breakfast so we know the kids have at least have one meal. Good luck and safe travels
What an amazing opportunity!!!! I hope they sell eggo waffles and muffins there…if so you will be just fine!!! Can’t wait to see your trip!!!
I may have just snorted my tea from that comment!!! LOL
Wow!! I can’t wait to follow your adventure!!
This is such an awesome opportunity – but I do not blame you for being a bit apprehensive about the long flight (there is a reason our family has not taken the flight to the Philippines, where I was born and grew up, because this mommy is not ready to take that on for a visit quite yet…). Glad you decided to throw caution to the wind and just do it! It should be a wonderful experience, one the kids will remember! I cannot wait to see all the fun you will have on instagram and snapchat. My son and I love to watch your feed on snapchat- it feels like we are right there with you! 🙂 Have a safe trip and a fantastic time!
Well they are right, I would never have thought of Copenhagen as a child friendly destination. But we’re in London so that’s an easier flight straight off. Look forward to reading all about it – could be one to add to a travel bucket list. We just spent a week in Germany in vineyards nowhere near a beach with three kids and had a great time. And everywhere has fries, the great international staple food for children on vacation. Enjoy!
Aaahhhhh!!! I am so very excited for you all! I am American and have been living in Copenhagen for the past 13 years and have two girls ages almost 3 and almost 5. It is the most wonderful city and I cannot wait to follow your adventure. Should you at all be interested in a local play date or local experience – we would love to show you part of this glorious city. From reading your article, sounds to me like you have a great week planned.
Louisiana is a favorite and your girls will love their kids area. The post office museum (sounds random, I know) has a great kids section as well. Be sure to get some Danish kids clothes for the girls – the clothing for kids here is to die for.
The Christiania bikes and ice cream will surely be a hit. And of course Tivoli.
God tur! (have a great trip ?)
Lauren
Oh my!! What fun! I can’t wait to see the adventures – good and more challenging – on the blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat! Don’t forget to record anything!
Amazing opportunity. We have friends living there and they send their children to a forest preschool. The kids meet up on a corner each morning and head out on adventures and basically live in the forest for the day (year round)!! Be on the lookout for these little adventurers
We JUST returned from a two week trip to Germany and France with our kids (okay, 7 and 13, but still)…
While the travel was tough, the trip itself was amazing! We only had to break down and get McDonalds once on the whole trip and that was more because I was tired from the day and didn’t want to try to find a restaurant, not because the kids wanted it. 🙂
I was surprised at how much they enjoyed the castles that seemed more like homes than the fanciful, decked out castles like Neuschwanstein and Versailles.
Good luck and have fun!!! It is such a fabulous experience to be able to share it with your kids! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
What an amazing opportunity! I doubt we will ever get the chance to travel internationally in our lives so I can enjoy it thru you!
I am super curious to find out how you steer one of those bicycles with the carts in the front?!
Mommy Shorts to Copenhagen!! yayy!!! I really hope you enjoy your vacation and have a fun time there!!!! And definitely waiting for pictures and updates from the trip….
Wow! This sounds like the trip of a lifetime! If Mazzy or Harlow, for whatever reason, aren’t interested, I’d gladly fill in for them 🙂 have a great time!
I’m so jealous! I hope when my kids are at least 6 and 8 that we can do a family trip to Iceland, Sweden and Norway. They’re all super beautiful, kid-friendly and places I personally want to visit. Maybe we’ll have to add Copenhagen to the trip!
Sounds like the girl are in for a real treat. cant wait to follow the trip on Instagram!!!!
Have fun!!!!!
*girls
What a fantastic opportunity! I can’t wait to follow along on your adventures. I’m sure some parts will be tough but travel for me always reminds me of childbirth…you just end up forgetting how bad the bad parts were once you’re back home looking at all the vacation photos. Bon voyage!!
Copenhagen is so smart.
We lived in Copenhagen for 15 months, just before our move to the US. Loved it! It was before our daughter (who is 4 now) was born, and we’d definitely go back with her. Enjoy it, you will!! Skål?
I can’t believe you’re coming to Copenhagen! Most tourists here are large groups of people from China and Japan. You honestly chose an amazing week to be here, the weather is great and its graduation week for the danish version of high school (a little older than american high schoolers). So if you se people in weird white hats or large open trucks with drunk teenager in, thats why. I think its the happiest week of the year! Hope you enjoy your time here.
Inspired! We have been trying to get the nerve up to travel internationally with our 2 and 5 year old. Cant wait to see more about your trip. Have such a great time!
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Wow! We have traveled a lot with our girls, but never considered Copenhagen. I can’t wait to read the full report.