Travel for Kids April 2025
Feria in Seville, Easter cake recipe, children’s books, national parks update, Rome Appian Way in spring
Seasonal events
Easter cake recipe
Korea children’s books
National parks update
Rome Appian Way in spring
Seasonal events
San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival
April 12 & 13, 2025
Cherry trees in bloom, children's games and crafts, music, taiko drumming, fun food.
Read more - San Francisco Japantown
Lexington and Concord 250
Coming up - April 19, 2025 Boston area
Celebrate 250th anniversary of Battles of Lexington and Concord that launched the American War of Independence.
Living history events at Minute Man National Historical Park, and Lexington and Concord, MA.
Read full story: Lexington and Concord 250
Feria in Seville
Two weeks after Easter is Feria - a six day outdoor celebration in Seville, Spain.
This year, Feria is May 6 – 11, 2025.
City is packed with visitors and locals, women and girls wear colorful ruffled dresses, there is a parade and exhibition of horse-drawn carriages, at the huge fairground families and friends gather in brightly painted casetas, kids happily enjoy amusement park rides, thousands of lights twinkle and glow in the darkness at night.
There’s nothing like Feria, and it’s a family friendly event for kids of all ages, from babies carried in parents’ arms, to teens way up on thrilling rides, even little kids stay up late at Feria.
Read full story: Vamos a Feria
Easter cake recipe
This sunny, lemony cake is perfect for Easter. Kids will have fun decorating with powdered sugar and sprinkles.
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
12 oz whole milk ricotta cheese (drained well)
3 large eggs
1 large lemon zested
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups cake flour
Powdered sugar and sprinkles for dusting cake.
Set out butter to soften.
Put ricotta in strainer, drain well.
Sift together flour, salt, baking soda in a bowl.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease 9 inch springform pan using butter and powdered sugar. Set aside.
In stand up mixer, put sugar in the mixing bowl. Zest whole lemon directly into the bowl, lightly mix with fingers to make lemon sugar.
Add softened butter, mix on medium speed until sugar butter mixture is fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Pour in lemon juice, mix, then add in ricotta, mix well.
Add flour mixture, beat on lowest speed until incorporated.
Pour batter into springform pan, bake at 325 degrees for 45 – 50 minutes. Rotate pan midway through cooking.
When cake is done, top should be lightly browned, toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.
Cool cake on rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan.
Dust cake with powdered sugar, decorate with colored sprinkles.
Korea new and favorite children’s books
Fun traditional tales and contemporary stories, fiction and non-fiction children’s books about people, history and culture of Korea.
Books about a greedy tiger and thousand year old fox, favorite Korean dish bibimbap with recipe, easy reader about living in South Korea today, women deep divers in the ocean, novel of 12th century celadon pottery, folk tales, religions, games, sports, food, dance and music, festivals, songs, crafts to make.
Read full story: Korea childrens books
US national parks update
Thousands of national parks and national forest workers were illegally fired in January. Currently there is no sign these workers will be back.
As a result, it will be very difficult to provide services and keep people safe in national parks and national forests this summer.
Even worse, Department of the Interior cruelly notified national parks they must keep all campgrounds and trails open, despite significantly reduced staff.
This is a public safety hazard. Without personnel to clean restrooms, take care of trash, people will get sick, bears and other wildlife will romp through the campgrounds where kids are playing.
Trails with downed logs and debris also present safety issues and trail degradation. Good luck with sprained ankles or worse, miles from any roads. National park and forest rangers will not available to help you.
In the national forests, instead of closing roads to unmaintained campgrounds, people will camp illegally. This is a recipe for wild fires, due to unattended campfires.
Tips for summer 2025
2024 was highest record for number of people visiting national parks. With increased visitors and lack of personnel, this doesn’t look good for a positive experience in the parks and national forests.
Our best advice:
Before visiting a specific national park, try to find out current conditions NPS.GOV. Tip: National parks website may not have most current information.
Call or email the park with questions about campgrounds, trails, restrooms, parking, wait times to get through entrance kiosks, roads closed due to lack of maintenance, ferries not running, and more.
Consider visiting or camping in state parks. State parks may not be as badly affected as national parks and national forests.
Rome Appian Way in spring
Spring in Rome, spend the day at the Appian Way.
The Appian Way is an ancient Roman road that extended from here in Rome to coast of Italy. Today kids can walk on the ancient stones of this road.
Along the Appian Way are splendid monuments and tombs, and catacombs to explore.
Flowers are blooming, grass is green, bring a picnic, rent bikes, enjoy a gelato at Appia Antica Caffe.
Read full story: Appian Way Park Rome