Author: Natassa

Our trip to Damnoni in South Crete With the minor equipment as dictated in short relaxing breaks, we headed to South Crete to Plakias, and the idea came by a friend in Damnoni, who owns the very cosy hotel where we spent the night. Damnoni Paradise. The drive was smooth, just half hour heading South Crete, we passed picturesque villages and the fantastic gorge of Kourtalioti, a gorge of exquisite beauty and importance as it is the water provider of the area. Its one of the most beautiful and important gorges of South Crete and I will take you on…

Today we’ll take you to the east part of Crete. We’re taking a small break from our base in Chania, and we are visiting the eastern prefecture of our island called Lassithi, where magnificent pictures are going to unfold before our eyes. Our trip to Lassithi A friend of mine invited us to the Blue Marine Hotel. It took us a good while to get to our destination since we live in the exact opposite side of the island so no wonder after our 3 1/2 hour drive the kids didn’t want to leave the hotel. You see the pool…

Visiting Knossos with Kids is like embarking on a family adventure to ancient Crete. It is like stepping into a mythical labyrinth where history and legend intertwine. This storied palace, once the heart of Minoan civilization, offers a captivating journey for visitors of all ages. With its grand staircases, vibrant frescoes, and tales of the Minotaur, Knossos is a place where children can ignite their imaginations and adults can marvel at the wonders of a bygone era. There are some fascinating facts about Knossos and you should not leave it out of your itinerary once you’re visiting Crete. Join us as…

In 2019, Elafonissi Beach in Crete received international fame because of its place on CNN’s 25 World’s Best Beaches list. But the Cretan gem has a long history of enchanting travellers and locals alike. In this story, Natassa guides us around her paradise model. Elafonissi Beach in Crete Today I’ll take you to the place of my childhood memories: Elafonissi Beach. Back then I was dreading the trip because the place was hardly visited and the roads were narrow and rocky. We often visited Elafonissi, it was a place for locals who spent the weekends fishing and enjoying nature.   …

Balos (together with Elafonissi beach) is one of the most famous and most photographed beaches in Greece. In fact, it has been named by Tripadvisor Best of Best Beaches 2023 and CNN in the list of most beautiful beaches in the world for consecutive years. I couldn’t wait to take my children and see their expressions when they would see these colors. Balos and Gramvousa island in Crete with Kids I was also looking forward to sharing this experience since I know this place so well, and there is one thing I can say for sure. No matter how well…

Have you ever thought your overnight stay would turn into be a cultural experience? During our recent Heraklion tour, we found our selves checking in Arolithos Traditional Village. I was totally taken by surprise. Because I remembered that I had been to this place many years ago when I was a child when my father was filming his movie on Crete. This time I returned with my own kids. Read on about experiences at this unique family hotel in Crete. Family Hotel in Crete: Arolithos Village I was there now with my children and I was completely taken by surprise as…

Archaeology for Kids in Crete Archaeology for kids doesn’t have to be boring. We visited a special place in Crete where we tried to become archaeologists for a day. Read on about our exciting experience in Archaeolab! We went to Kissamos, a small town just a half-hour easy drive from Chania in Crete. Our first is the archaeological museum featuring findings from the western part of Crete, mostly Polyrenia, Falasarna, and other smaller ancient towns in the area. Archaeological Museum of Kissamos The museum was founded in 2005, and it is housed in a two-floor Venetian monument that once hosted the…

Countless hours of sunbathing, swimming, and watching the sunset; Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Awards for 2023 has announced its winning beaches! On the list: 2 beaches in Crete with white sands, turquoise waters, cliffside gems, and even some black-pebble shores. This article takes you to the first winner, called Falassarna Beach. Falassarna Beach “Crystal clear waters, pink sand, sun beds for rent. Travel down the beach a bit to the hidden cove and experience blue waters and sand dunes. Stunning!” Falassarna Beach is one of our favorite excursions. It is repeated a few times every summer, simply because it’s…

Ancient Aptera Today we’ll take you to Ancient Aptera, located on the outskirts of Chania. I have always wanted to travel my kids through the riches of our history and make it appealing to them before they start their school classes.  Such excursions may build a background to understanding history, time frames, and locations. Our island is ideal for this task and this particular place. Not only is it perfect for a spring break outdoors, but, the ruins date back to different historical times all in one place! Ideal for a history lesson! Getting there is really easy, as you…

Kournas Lake One of our favorite excursions is a combination of lake and beach! Although we live on an island with amazing coastline and sandy beaches, the lake of Kournas is a must for every visitor. Kournas lake is located between Chania and Rethymno and it is very easy to access, as you can rely on the signs you will meet on the National Road which connects the four major cities of Crete. This is good news, as kids love to reach their destinations easily! The place blows your mind with the view, the colors the smells and…the playgrounds which…

Agii Apostoli Chania I live in Agii. Apostoli Chania. We are blessed to be living in such a beautiful and big place, as we never get bored, and kids start to get familiar with traveling and distances. Throughout the year, there’s a vast amount of choices to make as our island is very big but first things first! Our neighborhood Agii Apostoli Chania is within a short distance of 4km from the town of Chania. It lies in the beautiful area of Ag.Apostoloi. Nature in Agii Apostoli Chania is unique. A beautiful complex of sandy beaches where people tend to…

Before the summer breaks in for good, making us think only of the beach and the ice-cream flavors, some visits are worth it for many reasons! Douliana in Chania, West Crete is one of our favorites and I will tell you why! Douliana in Chania Douliana in Chania prefecture is only a half hour drive from Chania town, and very easy to get to. From the national road, you only take the turn to Kalyves and then you keep going until you reach the signs that take you to Gavalochori. For safety reasons I would recommend you always have Google…