With the gateway to the Alsatian region of France just two hours from our doorstep, we’ve loved visiting the area famous for it’s wine route and charming villages that inspired Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. We’ve done Strasbourg and Colmar with no children (while I was pregnant), just Olivia as a baby, Olivia as a growing toddler, and finally on this last trip, with both girls in tow (two toddlers!). On each trip we make to the area we find something new to explore, and our final European adventure before heading back Stateside was no exception. We found our favorite Airbnb yet, had some of the best steak *ever*, and explored new villages filled with charm and culture.

Where To Stay // The Most Family Friendly Airbnb…Ever!

Check out a tour of this Airbnb on my Instagram stories here –> www.instagram.com/alexandria_fairchild

When I say I loved this Airbnb…I Loooovvvved this Airbnb! When traveling as a family, there are things you may have never considered as a solo traveler, that can make a huge difference when traveling with children. Right off the bat I noticed the baby gate and doors that blocked off the stairs, which is huge for my adventurous and insanely clumsy toddlers. In the gated off area (which included the kitchen, dining room, and upstairs living room) there was a small play area with coloring books, blocks, and other toys that our girls had a ball with, and in addition to having a high chair on hand, there was also a child size table which was great for Olivia.

In addition to the open concept and safe play area upstairs, the lower level housed all three bedrooms (having all bedrooms on one level is also a plus for us when selecting an Airbnb), as well as a master bath with bathtub and shower, and guest bath with shower. *They also included child size bathrobes which I thought was the cutest thing ever. The washer/dryer was another great amenity as we were traveling with a newly potty trained little one, and we had been living in a hotel for over a week…so needless to say this was a major bonus.

All of these features were so wonderful to have, but the real gem was the location – just outside of Petite Venice, on the main thoroughfare were we could also find Starbucks *winning*.

If you’re not yet sold, the apartment has an elevator that actually fit our double Bob stroller, and it was air conditioned 🙌

Sign up with Airbnb via this link –> https://abnb.me/e/AHrLO2M3s8 and save $39 off your first stay!

What to Do // Colmar

Colmar is such a charming town, and has so much potential for a full action packed day of exploring, or more leisurely strolling broken up into two days. As we have visited Colmar previously, and wanted to adventure out to two smaller villages we hadn’t yet been to, we decided on the former.

As with most of our trips, our itinerary is very flexible and includes a handful of must-see’s, but leaves plenty of room for wandering and stumbling upon hidden treasures.

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A must-see in Colmar is the Petite Venice area, which aside from the canal looks very little like actual Venice – but is uber charming nonetheless! The lush floral arrangements against the colorful houses are awe inspiring and make for gorgeous photos. On this trip to Colmar we took a boat tour through the canal, which is something I would highly recommend! We opted for the Sweet Narcisse tour which is just off the beaten path and allowed us a spot to fold up and stash our stroller. The tour took maybe 30 minutes but was a great experience as the tour guide shared lots of information about the area (in English) and it was a good break from walking all day. There was a spot where we had to crouch down very low to duck under a low bridge, but other than that this tour was very accessible and fine with children.

After our canal boat ride, we stopped for lunch at Bistrot des Lavandières – a great spot with outdoor seating and delicious food (I had the duck…one of my favorites!).

After lunch, we found our way to a park on the edge of town, which was perfect for our little ones who were eager to burn off some energy. The park had a splash pad, a wide open lawn, and a restaurant on the edge which looked to be the perfect spot for an Aperol Spritz! Our girls were particularly interested in the park’s beautiful carousel, and we spent what felt like five hours riding in circles….oh so cute, but not for those of us who get dizzy easily!

Another spot we always hit is the Marche Couvert (indoor market), which is the perfect place to pickup everything you need to make the most delicious charcuterie board, local wines, and some delicious fresh baked treats for dessert.

Related Post: Strasbourg, Colmar, Ribeauville

*Tip: Outside of the market, overlooking the canal and multi-colored timber frame houses, is our favorite spot for photos!

Interested in learning more about the surrounding towns in the Alsatian region? Stay tuned for my next post coming soon, where I’ll share about our travels to Kaysersberg and Riquewihr!