Hotel review: The Blackcomb Lodge, Whistler

If you're looking for an affordable, family friendly hotel in the centre of Whistler, The Blackcomb Lodge ticks these boxes. Located in the Village Square, the hotel is about five minutes' walk along the pedestrianised Village Stroll to the main lift base. Make that 10 minutes if you have young kids carrying skis.

Our family of four (kids aged 4 and 2) checked in for four nights in December 2012. It was the week before the Christmas holidays, so we found a reduced early-season deal on Tourism Whistler's website for around C$114 per night (including tax). We booked a studio room, which included a super comfy huge king-size bed (with ample room for a moany 2-year-old on the second night), a sofa bed and a kitchen along one wall (comprising full cooker/oven, fridge, dishwasher and microwave plus all utensils, crockery and pans).

Our room was at the back of the hotel and was quiet, but I imagine it could be noisy if your room is at the front, as the lodge overlooks Whistler's main thoroughfare with various bars and restaurants close by. (Speaking of which, if you do fancy treating yourself, fine-dining restaurant Araxi is in the same building.)

The kids loved hanging out in the hotel room and made good use of Whistler's only indoor hotel pool in the basement. However, if you're not keen on reading in the bathroom while your kids are dropping off to sleep (or not, as the case may be), a studio might not be the best choice for you. It would also be on the small side if you have older kids. The hotel has loft suites available too if you need more space. Downstairs, there's a handy on-site ski hire shop, which stores skis for all guests.

A fourth dining-room chair would have been handy and the housekeeping service was a bit hit and miss (they didn't clean our room at all one day after we'd asked them to come back in 10 minutes), but in terms of location and value, The Blackcomb Lodge is a good budget option for a family trip to Whistler.

South London: five rainy day activities for kids

Orange fin anemone fish © Horniman Museum

It's tipping it down, parks are saturated and playgrounds are off limits. Tiny Tots Travel has lined up five things to do with kids in South London on a rainy day.

1. Escape to the tropics and gaze at kaleidoscopic anemone fish in the Horniman Museum's Fijian coral reef.

2. Discover what life was like for the Allpress family during the Second World War at the new 'A Family in Wartime' exhibition, which runs until 31 December 2012 at the Imperial War Museum.

3. Hop on a bus, boat, train or DLR to Greenwich and climb aboard the beautifully restored Cutty Sark (opens 26 April), then battle pirates in the newly renovated Children's Gallery at the National Maritime Museum. (OK, you might get a little wet on the Cutty Sark, but there's a fantastic indoor gallery beneath the ship itself.)

4. Rummage for favourite books in snazzy libraries: Peckham Library won the Stirling Prize in 2000, and the eye-catching Canada Water Library and striking Deptford Lounge opened in late 2011 and early 2012 respectively.

5. Run like loons up and down the Tate Modern's sloping Turbine Hall, take the lift up to the under 5s play zone on the fifth floor, and choose cool and arty pocket-money toys in the gallery shops.

Victoria, BC for kids

Market Square, Victoria

British Columbia's capital city, Victoria, lies on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island. Downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot, with plenty of child-friendly attractions. Kids will love pottering around the harbour, peeking into shops in Chinatown's narrow Fan Tan Alley or munching snacks in historic Market Square. Here are a few highlights:

Royal BC Museum
This outstanding museum offers an intriguing insight into British Columbia's people, history and nature. You can step inside a First Nations house, wander along a turn-of-the-century street, or find yourself face-to-face with a grizzly bear. There's a fun kids' zone with magnifying glasses, books and dressing-up outfits. Outside, gaze up at a collection of intricately carved totem poles in Thunderbird Park. The museum boasts an IMAX cinema too.

Cost: C$16 for adults; C$10.15 for children aged 6 to 18; free for children under 6.
More info: www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Victoria Bug Zoo
Encounter the world of insects and spiders in probably the smallest zoo you've ever visited. Specialist and genuinely passionate bug guides divulge the secrets of the zoo's residents, introducing you to millipedes, scorpions and cockroaches as well as Canada's largest ant farm. If you're feeling brave, you can allow a stick insect to saunter up your arm or a tarantula to tickle your palm.

Cost: C$9 for adults; C$7 for children aged 12 to 18; C$6 for children aged 3 to 11; free for children under 3.
More info: www.bugzoo.bc.ca

Beacon Hill Children's Farm

Beacon Hill Children's Farm
The wonderful Beacon Hill Park is a short walk from Victoria's harbour and a great spot for little travellers to run off steam. The park's petting zoo is a toddler's dream, with goats, pigs, miniature horses, alpacas and hens among its inhabitants. The baby animals in particular are a big hit - on our visit, our kids could barely contain their excitement when they spotted 11-day-old piglets.

Cost: By donation.
More info: www.beaconhillchildrensfarm.ca

Whale watching
Float on the ocean with resident orcas J-pod, K-pod and L-pod. The Prince of Whales Ocean Magic Cruiser boat travels as fast as a zodiac, but offers a nice heated indoor cabin to keep your kids toasty (and safe). On-board naturalists fill you in on who's who, including a 100-year-old granny whale. We spotted J-pod and L-pod splashing along the shore of San Juan Island, across the water in the USA.

Cost: C$100 for adults; C$90 for children aged 13 to 17; C$80 for children aged 5 to 12; free for children under 5.
More info: www.princeofwhales.com

Victoria International Buskers Festival

Victoria International Buskers Festival
Over 10 days in July, Victoria welcomes a quirky selection of the world's best busking acts, including contortionists, comedians, acrobats and jugglers. Performers rotate across multiple stages dotted around the harbour and Downtown. Our kids were entranced and especially loved it when Daddy was roped in as an assistant during one show. The next festival takes place from 20-29 July 2012.

Cost: Free, but buskers welcome tips.
More info: www.victoriabuskers.com

Where to stay: The Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa has modern, stylish suites with full kitchens, plus indoor pool, spa, rooftop gardens and its own cinema showing kids' films.

Galiano Island kayaking

British Columbia's beautiful coastline and multitude of islands make it ideal for sea kayaking. I left the kids with Daddy and took to the water in the summer. Read my article on the World Travel Guide.

Review: Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver

Bedroom at Rosewood Hotel Georgia © Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

In early August, I spent four nights at the gorgeous Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver with the kids. The hotel has just reopened following a four-and-a-half-year renovation. We thought we better check it out. Read my review on the World Travel Guide.

Tiny tots visit: London Transport Museum

London in the 1920s and 1930s © London Transport Museum

Being a Scot, I'm normally averse to paying for a museum visit, but the London Transport Museum now gives you unlimited entry for a year. With a bus-obsessed three-year-old, I know I'll get my money's worth, so we headed there last week.

Mum liked: Having a peek inside the brand new London Routemaster bus, although disappointingly, there's a pole in the way of one of the buggy spaces, so squeezing two prams in could be tricky.

Dad liked: Spotting a horse-drawn number 12 bus, which followed the same basic route as it does today.

Tiny tot 1 liked: Getting behind the wheel of a bus and climbing to the top deck of an old Routemaster.

Tiny tot 2 liked: Playing with wooden trains in the All Aboard kiddie zone.

Sum it up: The museum guides you chronologically through London's public transport history, from the first bus and boat services to the building of the world's oldest underground railway to 21st-century interactive bus stops. An impressive collection of objects and vehicles is beautifully laid out and you can actually climb aboard many of the buses, trains and trams in the main hall. Will we see the soon-to-be-defunct bendy buses next year?

Facilities: Both kids loved the All Aboard area for children under 6. As well as toy trains, it has miniature buses and taxis which kids can drive. Thankfully, the bus has a steering wheel at every seat to avoid a mini riot over the driver's position. Right by this area is a simple cafe selling mini sandwiches and treats (and larger portions too). There are also tables where you can eat your own packed lunch. Baby change and loos are upstairs, along with a fun space for 6-to-11-year-olds with activities and costumes. Once you leave the exhibition, you'll find yourself in a shop full of books, posters, postcards, toys and souvenirs - well worth visiting for that tricky-to-buy-for relative at Christmas. There's a more interesting-looking cafe above the shop, which we'll save for another visit.

And if you've not seen enough: The Museum Depot in Acton, which holds most of collection, houses over 370,000 objects. It opens for monthly guided tours and occasional weekends.

Cost: £13.50 for adults (ticket valid for a year); free for children under 16.
More info: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Interview with KidsTravel2

KidsTravel2 interviewed me this week on my experiences travelling with children.

Read the interview and check out their lovely range of children's luggage and travel accessories.