SPAIN

SEE

We've traveled to Spain twice; first to Southern Spain and more recently, Barcelona. In Southern Spain, we loved visiting the Alhambra and the famous bridge in Ronda. However, if you only have a short time in Spain, I would definitely recommend visiting Barcelona. It's such a beautiful European city full of culture, unique sites, and delicious food. A few of our favorite places in Barcelona: 

Park Güell: A UNESCO World Heritage site, this park was designed by Gaudi and is covered in beautiful mosaic tile work. Gorgeous views on Barcelona and the gift shop near the entrance is nice, too. Purchase tickets online in advance as this Park gets quite busy. Also, don't forget to snap a photo with the giant lizard who often makes appearances in Barcelona souvenirs. 

Sagrada Família: Perhaps the most famous building in all of Spain, this church is breathtaking and surprisingly modern inside, looking nothing like most historic churches in Europe. Another work by Gaudi, take the life up the tower to get a closer view of the spires. 

Palau de la Música: We visited the Palau on a whim and it ended up being a highlight of our trip! Gorgeous music hall and unlike anything I've seen in our travels. You must purchase tickets for a tour if you want to see more than the lobby and cafe. The tour includes a short introductory video explaining the history of the building and then the docent takes groups around to see the mosaic pillars and music hall. Definitely worth a visit. 

CosmaCaixa Science Museum: Gorgeous new children's museum that costs pennies to visit. Especially a great stop for science-loving kids. The gift shop here is well-curated and offers books in several languages. 

SHOP

Grey Street: Great shop located in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, full of locally made home decor, clothing, and art items. 

STAY 

Marriott Vacation Club Marbella: This resort is so great for families with their large rooms, kids club, and kids splash pad! 

Hilton Barcelona Del Mar: One of our most favorite Hilton properties, this hotel is located about a ten minute taxi ride to the tourist sites, and a five minute walk to a nice beach. Also, right across the street is a large mall with several restaurants...perfect for a quick bite to eat or a late night treat! The hotel itself is quite beautiful with modern decor and nice, clean rooms. The breakfast buffet featured a fresh smoothie bar with super friendly staff. 

SAVOR

Restaurant Somorrostro: Located near the Port, this restaurant had the most incredible seafood paella I've ever had in my LIFE. In fact, we dined here twice during our week in Barcelona just to have the paella again! Since most of the menu items may be a bit more on the exotic side, this restaurant offers to bring in hamburgers from a nearby bar to satisfy the kid crowd. Great food, great prices, and a great staff, this restaurant is not to be missed! 

chök: Perfect spot for a sweet treat, like cronuts, cake balls, and cookie! 

Churrería Laietana: Best churros con chocolate in all of Barcelona! Unlike most churro spots, these churros are crispy and not at all greasy. The portion sizes are generous and they offer to go packs as well. 

Mercado de la Boqueria: Incredible market with stands of fresh fruit juices, meats and cheeses, a fresh seafood section, and empanadas. A must see!