kids

After a day spent walking around Alton Towers, I was happy to be spending the night in their iconic hotel on the resort – here’s my honest review of a stay for our family of four

A day at a theme park is knackering, especially with two kids in tow who can seemingly have the best day of their lives while also complaining every single second. Nothing is worse than getting to the end of a day out and facing the drive home exhausted.

So, if you’ve got a day at a theme park planned, you may be considering staying in one of the park’s onsite hotels. Arguably, Alton Towers has one of the best selections of accommodation out of any UK theme park. It has hotels, woodland lodges, treehouses, and stargazing pods, so there’s all sorts of places to stay, and you’re right on the park’s doorstep so you’ve got somewhere to rest after a long day.

Recently, I stayed with my two kids at the Alton Towers Hotel, a three-star property that’s one of the park’s three hotels. Themed around a fictional Victorian explorer, Sir Algenon, the hotel has a sort of steampunk, historic look, although my kids thought it was pirate-y more than anything, but either way, the detail that has gone into it is impressive.

Stepping into the hotel, there’s a huge atrium with a large ship-shaped stage, and checking in late afternoon there was already entertainment and live music in full-swing. We went back later and the entertainers were playing some fun games with the kids, and it had a really joyful, slightly chaotic atmosphere around the bar.

We stayed in a Moon Voyage room, which had a similar theme to the hotel with lamps that looked like Victorian gaslights, lots of gears and levers, and explorer-themed murals. The room was clean and the beds comfy, and I liked that the kids sleeping area with bunk beds was slightly sectioned off and had their own TV. It meant we could lie in bed and watch some grown up TV while they could watch a bit of CBBC before dinner.

For dinner, we headed to the Splash Landings Hotel to try Flambo’s Jambo, an all-you-can eat buffet that had a bit of everything from peri peri to tacos, roast dinners, and Chinese dishes. The atmosphere was fun, with a giant waterwheel and the sounds of some very lively entertainment going on in the background, and the food was OK, with the kids more excited about the ice cream machine than anything else.

While we slept well and the room was comfortable, I woke up early to find the bathroom door had locked itself from the outside. I had to run down to use the loo in the lobby and find hotel staff, still in my pyjama bottoms and my hair looking even more dishevelled than usual. It did get fixed within an hour, but obviously that kind of thing is a pain when you’re up early with kids.

Breakfast was included and is served buffet style at the Secret Garden Restaurant. It had quite a basic selection of hot food, plus some cereal, pastries, and pancakes, which the kids were happy with. Again, the food wasn’t amazing, but it kept us going on the way home.

If you’re visiting Alton Towers and have a long drive, a stay at the hotel or its other accommodation is worth considering. For us, driving there and back would mean five hours in the car as well as the long day exploring the park, so it was nice to crash overnight and split the journey up.

I’ll admit, the hotel is expensive, and some parts felt more worth the price than the others. Packages include one day at the theme park, 9-hole golf, and breakfast, and there are deals on such as free child entry to the waterpark if you book an adult ticket. The hotel does have an incredibly fun style and is well-maintained, and kids are enchanted by the style.

But other things felt like they needed a little work. The themed rooms feel a little basic, and while they have nice décor it felt a little like they were missing something. I would have liked to have some bottled water in the rooms for example, as there were no refill points in the hotel and at £3 a pop, it’s expensive to rehydrate after a day in the sun. But I think most visitors know to expect theme park prices when they stay somewhere like this, and really, it’s the location that’s the main draw when you’ve spent all day on your feet in the summer.

Rooms start from £106pp for an Explorer Room at the Alton Towers Hotel this summer. You can currently book and take advantage of their Kids Swim Free offer. Find out more and book at altontowers.com.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The arrow shoots through the air, past the trunks of the towering pines and straight into the wild boar’s bottom.

My son Raffy, four, spins around with a gleeful shriek.

The animals may be made of foam, but scrambling up the mountainside to search out our prey before taking aim is proving thrilling, and both Raffy and his seven-year-old sister Poppy have hit the target within minutes of picking up their crossbow and arrows.

Soon, even I’m becoming a half-decent Katniss Everdeen. 3D archery costs from £15 per adult, £7 for under-10s (Riarco.eu).

We’re in the Dolomites in South Tyrol, an autonomous German/Italian-speaking province of northern Italy, staying at family-owned Parkhotel Holzner.

And both archery and rock climbing are the kind of things children will try on excursions with the kids’ club, alongside tennis lessons on the clay courts.

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There’s even a mini farm with alpacas and rabbits.

With its fairy-tale-like architecture and art nouveau decor, it feels as if we’re stepping into a story book, but there’s also a sleek extension built into the mountain, which is home to contemporary suites and the Liberty spa.

One afternoon, I find myself joining a naked sauna ritual, which involves a half-nude man whipping a towel at each participant to disperse the scent of oils he’s poured over the hot coals.

It certainly leaves my skin glowing. There are also classes, such as morning yoga on the lush lawn, to join, plus guided hikes and bike rides.

Stays also include RittenCards – guest passes that give you free public transport and admission to numerous museums and cultural sights.

One morning, we take a gentle hour’s hike along Route 26. Following the remains of an old Roman road, we cross streams and amble through woodland and alpine meadows to Beekeeping Museum Plattner Bienenhof, a house dating back more than 600 years.

Downstairs, the walls are black with soot and the rooms filled with rustic furniture, showing how families once lived. It’s now also a place to buy local honey and, after tasting several, we settle on a jar of the cherry blossom variety, £8 (Museo-plattner.com).

We hop on the historic Ritten Railway, opened in 1907, which trundles us back to the gates of Parkhotel Holzner, where its glorious outdoor pool with views of the majestic surrounding peaks awaits, alongside a family sauna and numerous arcade games, an indoor hockey pitch and a foam tenpin bowling alley.

Also on our doorstep is the cable car to the historic city of Bolzano, just a 12-minute ride away.

We grab an alfresco Aperol spritz, £6, at buzzing Fischbänke, then feast on perfectly cooked beef tagliata, £25, at chic Bogen opposite (Bogen.bz), before snapping pictures of the Waltherplatz fountain and gothic 14th-century cathedral. Scoops of stracciatella gelato, £1.75, from Mary’s Ice Cream truck in Piazza del Grano are a win, too.

Back in Oberbozen, the Bauern pizza topped with local speck and pickled red garlic, £14, on Antigo’s terrace also scores top marks (@Antigoritten), while breakfast and dinner on the hotel’s flower-laden terrace are plentiful.

Evening meals are a la carte, but with a bonus salad bar and cheese buffet, while a huge ornate teapot with an eye-popping range of teas greets us at brekky.

Also on site is Restaurant 1908, which has been awarded a green Michelin star for its delicate, locally sourced creations – kids are welcome, too, and can eat from the hotel’s bistro menu.

Just over an hour’s drive away, past vineyards, apple orchards and baroque churches – and around hairpin turns on roads carved into the mountainous landscape – is Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido.

Walking into the family spa here, you’d think it was an adults’ one, with its plush double day beds, if it wasn’t for the mini cocoon swings, a baby pool and two indoor water slides, including South Tyrol’s longest, which gives you the illusion of gliding through flames.

This place is set around a lake, so errant dragonflies visit the outdoor pool, and the view from the family sauna is gorgeous, too.

On the roof, we find a trampoline park, where our bouncing selves become players on-screen competing for jewels in tombs and in slam-dunk contests.

We also battle for the highest reaction scores by jumping to hit lit-up discs.

I’m thrilled to beat a super-toned French lady in a game of the latter – though she undoubtedly leaps with a lot more grace! Finally, we toboggan down the artificial ski slope and hit the sports court for games of basketball and footie.

Despite enjoying the serenity of the adults’ spa tucked into the hillside, we book a family spa experience, £24 per person, where for 90 minutes we indulge with a private steam room, whirlpool bath, massage beds and dishes of natural scrub, clay and lotion to smother over ourselves.

Chocolates, cookies, prosecco and juices, plus various pirate and princess toys, make it both decadent and fun.

At the classy buffet-style restaurant, chefs serve beautifully crafted mains.

The memory of a truffle, parmesan and lime linguine will make my mouth water for months to come, and home-made bakes, including apple strudel, are served at afternoon tea. Soft drinks are included at meals, but the hotel also has an impressive prosecco spritz menu – our fave being the Marlene, with its delicious apricot twist, £6.50.

The resort sits on the 110km Val Pusteria Cycleway, so we hop on ebikes with kids’ trailers, £60 for four hours, and cruise alongside the Rienza river to Rio di Pusteria.

At first, the village seems deserted – it is a Sunday, after all – but, once we roll into the market square, we find Olivia Dean’s Man I Need blasting out and crowds of fellow cyclists soaking up the sunshine.

We join them with bottles of Sanbittèr, £3.50, and speck and gorgonzola pizzettes, £6.50, from Weisse Lilie cafe, and it feels like stumbling across a secret party.

South Tyrol may have only become part of Italy in 1919, but it is very much la dolce vita.

For more than a quarter-century, a lawsuit settlement from a case brought in Los Angeles federal court has dictated conditions for children held in immigration detention.

But now, the long-standing settlement — which set minimum standards for housing, education and medical care for migrant kids in federal custody, while strictly limiting how long they can remain there — hangs in the balance in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after a challenge by the Trump administration.

At the same time, the federal judge in L.A. who presides over the agreement appears poised to appoint a powerful new enforcer to uphold it.

President Trump has long sought to scrap the Flores settlement, which dates back to the Clinton era. In recent months, the Trump administration has waged a legal battle to cancel the agreement, while also pleading with the district court not to order an independent monitor to boost its compliance.

“[Flores] is the only thing standing between them and indefinite detention of families,” said Leecia Welch, chief legal director at Children’s Rights, a plaintiff in the case.

Last month, Assistant Atty. Gen. Brett A. Shumate pressed the 9th Circuit court to give the administration “the thumbs-up or thumbs-down” on its bid to tear up the settlement and end what he called “judicial micromanagement” of federal immigration policy.

“The Flores consent decree is an agreement which goes well above the constitutional floor,” Shumate told the court during oral arguments in June. “We’re asking that [the Department of Homeland Security’s] compliance with the law be assessed based on the law, not a 30-year-old settlement agreement.”

The three-judge panel sharply questioned the Justice Department’s legal claims, saying little had changed since the government last petitioned the court to have the agreement dissolved in 2020 — a request that was rejected.

The judges also pressed Trump administration lawyers to respond to evidence from scores of declarations filed in district court since last summer, in which detainees describe struggling to sleep in freezing, brightly lit rooms, vomiting from eating spoiled food, and begging for diapers, baby formula and asthma inhalers.

“You’ve said a lot of the reason you’re doing this is to discourage families from coming in the first place, so you’re basically punishing children because their parents brought them here,” Judge Marsha S. Berzon said.

Berzon, a Clinton appointee who issued a fiery dissent last year in a case that challenged the administration’s use of armed troops in immigration enforcement operations, asked: “You’re saying there’s no constitutional problem there?”

“I understand the detention of children at the border is a controversial policy issue, but that’s a policy decision,” Shumate said.

Just a day earlier, Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee scolded a pair of government attorneys from her bench in Los Angeles, signaling she would probably appoint a new special master to force compliance with the settlement agreement.

“We’re talking about 11 years of this,” Gee said during the June 1 status conference. “None of these issues are new to me. These are all issues on which I have issued orders. I am very displeased about the fact that my orders are being disregarded and are not being complied with, not in good faith.”

“Both sides seem to be operating in different planes of reality,” Gee said.

The disputed settlement emerged from a 1985 lawsuit over the fate of 15-year-old Jenny Flores, a Salvadoran refugee who was picked up by federal immigration enforcement and left to languish in detention in Pasadena. At the time, there was little awareness that children were among the tens of thousands of migrants fleeing civil war and state collapse in Central America — with virtually no U.S. government infrastructure to protect them.

“It was a surprise,” said Benjamin Roth, a professor at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work and an expert on the agreement. “There was no thought then that there were kids in this mix.”

The current court fight centers on an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, run by the private prison company CoreCivic, where the vast majority of children and families in immigration custody are held.

In court filings earlier this month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it has “maintained core Flores-related services” at Dilley and argued its length-of-stay numbers were skewed by a small number of families it was forced to keep because they are considered “national security risks.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection likewise boasted its July 1 report “shows our highest level of compliance to date.”

Immigrant rights advocates called those claims “a fiction.”

“We see the same sorts of problems and concerns and misery that we’ve been seeing for the last 15 months,” said Welch, the Children’s Rights attorney.

In dozens of declarations collected as part of the court record, detainees recounted broccoli full of worms, diapers doled out one at a time, and staff tearing up children’s drawings.

One mother said medical staff laughed off her 8-year-old’s broken arm. Another said she was denied treatment for hepatitis B, even after doctors told her she could develop liver cancer and pass the infection on to her unborn daughter.

Still others described unexplained rashes, outbreaks of diarrhea and infestations of lice, among a host of other maladies for which many said they were offered only Tylenol or allergy medication. Even Christmas brought misery in the form of an ICE agent dressed up as Santa, who shoved away children trying to hug him, according to the detainee declarations submitted to the court.

“What happened on Christmas Day can only be described as an atrocity,” one mother recalled. Children “dropped everything, ran up to him, begged for candy and wanted to take pictures. Some children even cried and begged him for their freedom. Santa himself acted very indifferent.”

The Department of Justice argued that immigrant kids could still sue over poor conditions if the Flores settlement is unwound. But experts say existing protections would collapse without the legal architecture of the consent decree to support them.

“[Under the settlement], the federal government has built out a very efficient system to provide temporary care for kids,” Roth said. “If Flores is dissolved, it’s not going to be easy to stand up this same set of programs.”

If the Trump administration loses before the 9th Circuit, the fight over Flores could soon escalate to the Supreme Court.

“I’d be shocked if the 9th Circuit rules for the government, and I’d be shocked if the Trump administration doesn’t appeal,” said Eric J. Segall, a law professor at Georgia State University and an expert on the high court.

But consent decrees are legally and politically complicated, and the treatment of migrant children further tangles the situation. Given the legal and political complexity, the Supreme Court could rule to keep the settlement in place, or decline to take the case at all, experts said.

“It’s more likely than not the court would stay away from this,” Segall said.

For now, both the district judge and the 9th Circuit panel appear fed up.

“I think my patience has come to an end,” Gee said during the recent hearing in her Los Angeles courtroom.

It began as a whimsical idea that occurred to Daniel Leigh after an idyllic trip to the United States: Sell his family’s five-bedroom home in England and travel the world with his wife, Lauren Vaknine, and their two children.

So he was surprised when, a few months later, Vaknine and their children, Braxton, 10, and Viva, 7, agreed to go along with the plan.

“We’re not really travelers,” Leigh said. “We’ve always watched others travel.”

When they got back from their trip to America in March, they noticed that others had successfully raffled their homes on the British website Raffall. The online platform raffles everything from cars to homes, including one man who promoted his house to Americans last year as a “safe haven from Trump.” The couple decided to try it too.

The home is located just 20 minutes outside of London in Elstree.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

In June, they put their house in Elstree, about 20 minutes from London, up as a sweepstakes prize online and began selling tickets for five British pounds each, or $6.75.

“While someone new makes memories in our home, we get to go and make some of our own,” said Leigh, who has worked in educational recruitment in London for more than 20 years.

Leigh got the idea after reading a New York Times article about Imelda Collins, who raised about $1.4 million last year by raffling her two-bedroom cottage in Ireland. She sold 206,815 tickets at $6.70 each, and in October, Collins sold her cottage to Kathleen Spangler, a 29-year-old U.S. Marine Corps officer from Dayton, Ohio, who had bought three tickets on a whim and promptly forgot about them.

Leigh and Vaknine, both 42, grew up in the same village and went to high school together.

But after their family trip to New Orleans; Asheville, N.C.; and South Carolina spots Charleston, Folly Beach and Lake Keowee, they began to wonder if they wanted to stay in the same town forever. Kayaking and seeing the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains made them rethink their life.

The couple’s open kitchen was renovated in 2021.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

The living room.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

“Living on a lake was the most peaceful life I’ve ever had,” Leigh said. “It was perfect. In England, the kids spend most of their time indoors because of the weather, and we have to keep them busy with things like trampolines or indoor parks. Every family outing costs about $300. You can’t just go to the lake, the beach or hike in the mountains.”

Leigh said they have worked hard to build the life they thought they wanted, with two kids, their dog and a home. But after achieving professional success, they realized it was not the future they hoped for.

“We keep chasing goals that always seem just out of reach, simply because we feel we have to keep going,” he said. “There’s so much life to live. We’re seeing many of our parents and our friends’ parents pass away, and it makes you realize that life can feel like a conveyor belt. You either live or you just keep moving along.”

For Vaknine, a holistic wellness coach who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 2, selling their home and traveling the world carries even deeper meaning.

“I have been on a long journey,” said Vaknine, who has been in remission for the past decade. “From being head-to-toe disabled to being fully able-bodied, you don’t come through that without realizing that there is so much more to life than working, taking the kids to school and making dinner in the same house every day. For me, the extraordinary life isn’t about mansions, yachts or extravagance. It’s about experiencing life fully, finding deep inner joy, and I can’t do that if I stay within the same four walls in the same town I grew up in.”

Her husband added, “She lives a life of gratitude for everything. That’s what this is about: Let’s live life in the moment and do what we can when we are fully able.”

Their five-bedroom home, which is estimated at about $2 million, is on a quiet cul-de-sac with just five other houses in Hertfordshire, England. It has 2,226 square feet of living space, a south-facing garden, an open-plan kitchen, a dining and living room renovated in 2021, plus a home office and gym.

Leigh said they are not trying to make a profit, but they need to sell 550,000 tickets to cover the property’s costs, legal fees, taxes, prize money and raffle expenses.

“The ticket target has been set to cover all of the associated costs, so it’s unlikely there will be much left over,” he said. “If ticket sales exceed the target, then certainly, but that’s not the goal.”

If they don’t reach the ticket target, a winner will still be chosen and will get 50% of the money raised. They hope the winner gets the house.

One of the home’s bathrooms.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

One of the five bedrooms in the couple’s home.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

One reason homes aren’t auctioned often on the site, he said, is that you have to promote them yourself. Leigh estimates they’ve spent about $17,000 so far and are about to spend another $15,000 on Meta advertising. They also have to pay for their own legal advice.

The raffle has become a family project, and their children have helped with promotion. In one video, Braxton asks what might be the most important question about their move: “Are we bringing the dog?”

“We may have to leave him with family for a while,” Leigh said of their dog Story. “He’s the size of a small pony, so traveling with him could be a challenge. He’d definitely be missed, though.”

Working together to promote their home has been a valuable lesson for their children, Leigh said, showing them “that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. I want them to see hard work. It’s not just fun to do videos. It’s staying up till midnight, getting up early, running two jobs and making sure you don’t miss an interview. And in the end, the kids will see that life can change, and there’s a world out there if you make it happen.”

The family recently spent time in North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana. “We’re huge fans of America,” Leigh said. The couple hope to visit all 50 states after their home is raffled on Dec. 7.

(Daniel Leigh)

The kids aren’t worried about losing their home, Leigh said. “They are excited about going on a holiday, which we hope will include Australia, India and every state in America.”

With a record number of Americans applying for British citizenship, the couple’s raffle may be well-timed. The winner, chosen randomly by Raffall on Dec. 7, will get a mortgage-free home with all legal fees and taxes paid, plus $45,000 for household bills. The property transfer may take up to 60 days or longer according to Raffall’s terms and conditions.

Part of every ticket sale will go to Solace Women’s Aid, a British charity supporting women and children affected by domestic violence. Leigh notes that not every state can take part in Raffall competitions because of different state gambling, lottery and consumer protection laws.

At a time when many people are trying to choose between traveling or saving for a house, the couple is offering raffle entrants a chance to do both.

That’s the point, Leigh said: “If not now, when? That question changed everything.”

Airports have warned that kids could be forced to leave the items behind

Parents are being told to leave certain children’s toys at home. If kids bring them to the airport, they may be taken from them at security. There is a high chance that items like NeeDoh cubes and other popular ‘squishy’ toys could be flagged and confiscated.

Even at airports using advanced scanners, gel-filled toys look highly unusual on security screens. This frequently triggers a manual bag check, causing travel delays, and some staff will not take the risk with these items going any further into the airport.

Travel specialist Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnelllyedit) said: “From my own personal experience, [squishy toys] do tend to come under closer scrutiny when passing through airport security. My top tip for parents this summer, pack these items in your whole luggage.

“There is a high chance that if you put these in your hand luggage, they will get confiscated. There are absolutely no markings on them to let you know exactly how much liquid is contained within them, and therefore, they are very easily removed.

“This means that you have upset children and you will have to pay out for a whole new load of toys when you get to your destination.” She suggested that the best thing to do is to pack toys safely in your main suitcase that gets checked into the hold, as this allows more liquids than hand luggage does, helping you avoid delays and reduce the risk of them being confiscated.

Posting online, Luton Airport confirms that any squishy toys, including NeeDoh cubes, that contain a gel or liquid must comply with the strict liquid rule when packed in hand luggage. The airport said: “As the quantity of gel contained within these items cannot be accurately verified during the screening process, they are not permitted through security in hand luggage.”

Manchester Airport also said: “Things like squishy toys contain liquid – this includes NeeDohs, which use malt syrup. Smaller versions of the toy are under 100mls, but larger versions are not.

“The problem is that, as they don’t have measurements printed on them, security staff have to estimate their size. Our advice is that all but very small squishy toys should be placed in hold baggage.”

As a result, kids could be forced to bin their favourite toys before going on holiday. The issue is that there is often no way to verify exactly how much ‘liquid’ is inside one of these objects.

Not all UK airports follow the same rules about liquids in 2026 due to a staggered rollout of new high-tech 3D CT security scanners that allow the 100ml rule to be relaxed. Different locations are at different stages of upgrading, with a pause currently in effect this summer to avoid disruption over peak travel times.

Below is a list of what airports are following the new (2000ml) rules. At the airports accepting two litres in hand luggage, the scanners also mean people do not need to empty their bags, as scanners are powerful enough to detect these items, as well as electronics:

• Belfast City
• Belfast International
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• London Gatwick
• London Heathrow (All terminals)
• Teesside International

These airports are still following the original (100ml) rule:

• Aberdeen
• Bournemouth
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Glasgow International
• Glasgow Prestwick
• Inverness
• Isle of Man
• Leeds Bradford
• Liverpool
• London City
• London Luton
• London Stansted
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Norwich
• Southampton

THE SCHOOL summer holidays have finally started and if you have kids, you’ll definitely be looking for things to do.

One of the best ways to keep kids entertained – and in gloriously cool air-con – is a theatre show, and many cost less than the cost of a cinema ticket.

According to research conducted by SeatPlan, families can still see some of London’s biggest productions from as little as £12 this summer – less than the price of a medium Domino’s pizza.

So here are the best they’ve found for all ages, ranging from two to 13.

Age two and older

Be Like Blippi – from £24 per ticket

Blippi is a well-known children’s TV character and this summer, in London, you can catch them on stage with a new interactive show.

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The show boasts music, learning and audience participation.

Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show – from £12 per ticket

What kid doesn’t love Peppa Pig?

Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show features the TV show’s most-loved characters including Peppa themself.

The show is also interactive.

Ages three to four

The Tiger Who Came to Tea – from £12 per ticket

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a much-loved children’s book, so what better way to enjoy it more than seeing the theatre adaptation?

You can expect songs and audience interaction throughout.

The Gruffalo – from £12 per ticket

Another show based on a children’s book is The Gruffalo.

Bring Julia Donaldson’s character to life, the 55-minute show features three characters that the audience interacts with including singing songs.

SeatPlan recommends for the smaller shows, including plays and dramas, it is better to sit closer to the stage so you can see all the performers.

Ages five to six

Matilda The Musical – from £24 per ticket

For kids a little older, Matilda is a great option – with a powerful story about imagination and courage, it remains one of the capital’s most popular family shows for a reason.

Travel reporter Cyann Fielding, who recently saw the show, said: “I have to admit – while I loved Rah Dahl growing up, Matilda was not my favourite story of his.

“But, any excuse to see one of his stories on stage, and I’ll be there.

“And now I take everything back – the stage show is better than the film and does the book justice, with an amazing stage set and catchy songs that will get your hips moving in your seat.

“The fact that most the performers in this show are children just make it all the more impressive.

“Definitely will be loved by both parents and children alike.”

For bigger productions, SeatPlan advises sitting further back so you can fully take in the stage and sets.

The Lion King – from £40 per ticket

The Lion King is consistently dubbed one of the best stage shows in London and follows the classic story you know and love from the Disney movie.

And it isn’t one just for the kids, adults who grew up with the films will love it just as much.

Cyann also recently saw the show and said: “Mindblowing is the first thought that comes to mind when I think of The Lion King stage show.

“The costumes, the songs, the dancing, the sets – are all simply breathtaking.

“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be inspired and you’ll leave wanting to immediately watch it again.”

Despite being the most expensive show on this list, the team at SeatPlan states: “The cheapest seats aren’t always the worst seats.

“In many West End theatres, moving back just a few rows can save £30-£60 per ticket with very little difference in the overall view.”

Ages seven to eight

Wicked – from £25 per ticket

Thanks to the recent films, there is no better time to go and see Wicked on stage.

The show has amazing visuals, memorable songs and a story which both kids and adults can enjoy.

Cyann said: “Wicked was the very first West End I ever watched and it did not disappoint.

“Not knowing what to expect from a West End show, Wicked blew me away with its breathtaking sets, detailed costumes, emotional and inspiring songs and dramatic effects that will leave your mind blown.

“To date, it is still one of the best West End shows I’ve seen.”

Disney’s Hercules – from £29 per ticket

Full of humour, known songs and outgoing characters, Hercules is perfect for children ready for bigger productions.

Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill said: “Zero to Hero, Go the Distance, I Won’t Say I’m in Love – I was hit with a wave of nostalgia when I went to see Hercules at Royal Drury Lane.

“The production of the Disney film has everything you want from a musical, fabulous dance routines, comedy, tragedy and a bit of cheese too.

“The highlight has to be The Muses, a group of five goddesses, and they have the voices of them too.

“Their incredible outfits dazzled with every number – and each time they took to the stage, they were met with rapturous applause.

“I’d go back purely to see them sing A Star is Born.”

Ages nine to 10

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – from £31 per ticket

For younger Harry Potter fans, this magical stage production has spectacular effects, surprises and adventure throughout.

Cyann said: “As a massive Harry Potter fan, I had been wanting to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for years.

“I eventually then won the lottery for cheap tickets and saw both parts – though it is soon being merged into one performance.

“It is a must for Potterheads and will leave you smiling, crying and feel inspired.

“The onstage tricks also help to make it feel as if you are one of the students at Hogwarts.”

Horrible Histories – from £19 per ticket

What kid didn’t watch Horrible Histories when growing up?

And now kid can re-live it through its stage performance, complete with jokes, song and educational moments.

When it comes to picking a show, the bigger names might be tempting but SeatPlan advises: “Look beyond the biggest show – everyone heads straight for the biggest blockbuster musicals, but many newer productions offer outstanding entertainment with much lower ticket prices.”

Ages 11 to 13

Hamilton – from £24 per ticket

One of the biggest theatre phenomena in the world. Older children and teenagers studying history or interested in music will be completely hooked by its unique blend of storytelling, rap and musical theatre.

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens said: “There’s a reason the Hamilton soundtrack is the most streamed musical theatre soundtrack of all time.

“Watching the show on the West End will have you uncontrollably moving to its 90’s R&B and Hip Hop-inspired songs, plus the harmonies of the Schuyler sisters really scratch that itch in your brain.

“It’s the history class you wish you had been taught: fast, funny, and heart-wrenching all at once.”

Mamma Mia! – from £18 per ticket

Perfect for families wanting a theatre trip that everyone can enjoy. Older children and teenagers will love the ABBA soundtrack, while parents get the nostalgia factor.

Cyann said: “Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good film and the show is the same.

“You can expect all the iconic songs to sing along too, as well as vibrant sets and costumes that transport you to Greece.”

AS a travel writer and a mum of a seven-year-old boy who frequently solo parents on trips abroad, there is no gadget or toy that makes my life easier when travelling than the Yoto player. 

From plane journeys to passport control queues, coach transfers to quiet moments by the pool that allow me to read a few pages of my long-ignored book, the little machine is worth its weight in gold. 

But let’s face it, they aren’t cheap. The Mini Yoto Player costs £59.99 and then you have to pay around £7.99 to £9.99 for every story card.

Still well worth it, in my opinion, but a pain on the purse strings nonetheless. 

So it’s music to my ears, and doubtless millions of other parents to learn that Yoto have released seven hours of free audiobooks for kids this summer holidays, which they’re calling their ‘summer travel audio collections.’ 

Created for kids ages 3-14 and divided into two themed listening experiences – On the Road and A World of Adventure – the collection blends stories, music and educational content curated specifically for travel days.

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The On the Road collection includes: Journey Jams – upbeat music for family singalongs and long drives for kids aged 3-10, Biggest Ideas: Garrett Morgan, Inventor of the Traffic Signal – that introduces kids to the inventor behind traffic lights for kids aged 6-10, and Yoto Classics: The Wind in the Willows  for kids aged 8-14. 

The A World of Adventure collection includes: 5-Minute Stories from Around the World – bite-sized global tales for kids aged 4-7, Songs for Little Explorers – playful music and discovery-themed songs for kids aged 3-10, and Yoto Classics: Treasure Island – the classic pirate adventure reworked for younger listeners, for kids aged 8-14.

Yoto Content Director, Jess Tarrant said: “Travelling with kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also be overwhelming. We know parents are constantly looking for ways to keep kids entertained while reducing screen fatigue during long travel days. 

“Yoto was built for moments exactly like this: helping kids stay engaged, curious, and independent whether they’re in the backseat, at the airport gate, or winding down after a busy day of adventure.”

Yoto’s free summer travel playlist collections are available until September 1 through the Yoto App.

Yoto also has a new free Daily Draw Along collection, themed around rail and holidays, in partnership with Trainline.

The Draw Along collection acts like a creative travel companion for children, with each episode guiding them through a different scene inspired by trains, holidays and the things they might spot along the way.

Young travellers can design their own dream train or an under-the-sea train, head off on a mountain trail or a rollercoaster adventure.

Available until September 1 via the Discover section of the free Yoto app, the collection features 12 guided drawing episodes.

They’re inspired by what children may see or experience as they travel, and you don’t even need a Yoto player to use these guides.

A MUCH-LOVED family attraction park has opened two new themed-hotels.

Gulliver’s World in Warrington, near Manchester, has a pirate-themed hotel and then a second hotel that is fairytale-themed.

The Enchanted Castle Hotel and the Pirate Ship Hotel will feature 32 rooms in total.

Inside the Pirate Ship Hotel, the rooms will sleep four people each and include an en suite.

On the other hand, the Enchanted Castle Hotel will have fairytale-themed rooms, suitable for up to five people each.

Gulliver’s World hopes to eventually open hotels at all four of its resorts.

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Craig Clews, resort director at Gulliver’s World, said: “We are so excited to be launching our new accommodation as we know our guests will be wowed by what is on offer at the Enchanted Castle and Pirate Ship Hotels.

“The popularity of our short break stays continues to increase year-by-year, so this investment in our park helps to meet that demand and also provide families with even more options for cost-effective, family breaks here in the UK.”

The Warrington resort is already home to a number of different accommodations including tipis, safari lodges, Swizzels sweets-themed rooms and Nerf- themed rooms too.

Then inside the park, visitors can enjoy over 25 rides and attractions, including rollercoasters and play areas.

And tickets cost as little as £15.25 per person when you book online.

One recent visitor said that it was a “great day out for a young family”.

Another added: “This place is amazing for the younger thrill seeker. Loads for the kids to do and without having to queue as well.”

SACRAMENTO — Recent news about literacy, education and general smarts in California and across the country has been somewhat distressing.

Along with claims that Americans are becoming illiterate, here in the Golden State there are worries that even the highest-achieving students aren’t prepared for our universities, and a study shows backsliding in civil rights protections in the vacuum created by federal changes under the Trump administration.

Despite being close to terming out of office, and also otherwise occupied with his ever-emerging presidential run, Gov. Gavin Newsom last week found time to announce a consequential, if controversial, move that has the potential to vastly improve educational outcomes for California kids: switching out an independent, voter-chosen leader for a hired gun.

In legislation signed last week, Newsom basically eviscerated the role of the elected superintendent of public instruction and instead shifted oversight of our K-12 schools to a newly created education commissioner — to be appointed by the governor.

The change, set to happen early next year, has been described as a “power grab” by some, and on its surface could be seen that way. The conservative candidate for state superintendent — Sonja Shaw, who says she is running to stop “political ideologies being shoved down everybody’s throats” — quickly claimed Newsom’s move was all about stopping her.

In reality, power grab or not, it’s the kind of reform we should all support — a long-overdue push to create accountability in a hot-mess system where there are too many people almost-sorta in charge of too many conflicting priorities.

‘A’ for accountability

It’s to Newsom’s credit that he’s setting up his successor to helm a system that at least has a chance at coherence, even if it raises the stakes for the next governor to deliver.

For years — decades, really — streamlining the governing structure of schools “has been proposed by Republicans and Democrats and bipartisan and nonpartisan commissions,” Linda Darling-Hammond told me. She’s a professor emeritus at Stanford University, an advisor to the governor and, by any measure, one of the preeminent education policy experts in the country.

“It’s not at all political. It is really about making the system run well,” she said. “The world is changing, the economy is changing. There’s just a need to be very efficient and effective in making policy and then implementing that policy.”

“Run well” is the key there. California operates the biggest and most diverse school system in the country. We’ve got roughly 10,000 regular schools (depending on how you count), including about 1,200 charter schools, around 1,00 school districts and 58 counties, each with their own slice of local control over those schools, according to the Department of Education.

That’s about 5.7 million students, nearly 300,000 teachers and $150 billion in costs (counting the new funding in the next budget).

To be kind, this system does not always run well. That’s in no small part because oversight and control are fragmented, overlapping and confusing. Currently, the State Board of Education sets policies, but the elected superintendent implements them through the Department of Education. Then control runs downhill to individual school districts, filtering through local school boards and even principals.

The board can’t control how the superintendent does their job, and vice versa. In fact, they don’t always agree, despite (or because of) the shotgun wedding nature of their relationship. At times, it can feel like they are working against each other. Never mind the complexities of local control.

This has been especially true in recent years as Newsom and the Legislature have pushed through big changes, such as the new prekindergarten grade, that have required massive coordination and effort. At the local level, administrators often complain there is little clarity on what is expected of them and, too often, outright conflict.

“The idea of having policy in one place and implementation in the other is really crazy,” Michael Kirst told me. He’s professor emeritus of education at Stanford and the longest-serving president of California’s State Board of Education, serving under both of Jerry Brown’s gubernatorial stints.

Newsom’s proposed system promises “much clearer, cleaner accountability,” Kirst said.

Expertise counts

It also has the benefit of putting an actual education expert in charge of schools. Because the superintendent role is elected, it has too often been coveted by career politicians looking for a landing spot. Its incumbent, Tony Thurmond, had a background in social work before running for various offices, but that kind of experience isn’t always the case. Neither is experience running a major organization with thousands of employees.

While Newsom’s plan leaves many, if not most, of the details to be ironed out later (a frustrating strategy he’s used more than once to keep the ball rolling on policy without having the drag of actual detail), it does promise to put in someone with the kind of high-level educational policy experience that should be required when managing this vast and important endeavor.

Kirst points out that this will be a “powerful position” charged with making sure our schools are indeed run well, and at the end of the day, it gives us one person to blame if they don’t: the governor.

So if schools don’t improve and our kids don’t learn, voters will know exactly who failed.

What else you should be reading

The must-read: Trump ousts members of bipartisan election commission ahead of midterms
The California edge: The Work of Helping A.I. Destroy Work
The L.A. Times Special: In bed 23 at Adelanto ICE detention center, a terrified teenager missed his mom

Stay Golden,
Anita Chabria

—
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Netflix has released its highly anticipated reboot of Little House on the Prairie – and fans of the original series have been left wondering what happened to the beloved cast

It’s one of the most beloved TV shows of the 1970s – and now it’s getting a modern makeover. Netflix has finally released its highly anticipated reboot of Little House on the Prairie today (July 9), with fans eager to see whether it can live up to the original.

Based on the iconic books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the new series promises to retell the family’s story for a new generation while staying true to its roots. Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”

Set in 1869, the reboot followed the Ingalls family as they left their cabin in Wisconsin’s Big Woods and headed to Kansas in search of a better life.

Along the way, they built new friendships, overcame hardships and worked to create a home in the town of Independence.

While the new cast steps into some of TV’s most iconic roles, many viewers have been left wondering what happened to the original stars who made the 1970s series such a success.

Here’s what became of the Little House on the Prairie cast:

Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls)

While Little House on the Prairie was based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Michael Landon quickly became the driving force behind the hit TV series.

As well as starring as Charles ‘Pa’ Ingalls, the devoted husband, father and hardworking farmer, Landon also worked behind the scenes as a producer, writer and director, helping shape the show throughout its nine-season run.

However, fans were surprised when he stepped away as a main cast member ahead of the final season, despite continuing to work behind the scenes.

Before finding fame, Landon shot to stardom as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza after landing the role at just 22 years old.

His acting career had started a few years earlier with I Was a Teenage Werewolf and several guest appearances on TV.

After Little House came to an end, Landon went on to star in the popular TV series Highway to Heaven. He was also due to write, direct and star in a new CBS drama called Us, but sadly never got the chance.

In 1991, Landon died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, before the show’s two-hour pilot had aired.

Away from acting, Landon was married three times. His third wife was Little House makeup artist Cindy Clerico, who he met on set.

He was also a father to nine children, including filmmaker Christopher Landon and Jennifer Landon, who is best known for playing Teeter in Yellowstone.

Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls)

Karen Grassle became a household name playing Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls, the loving matriarch of the Ingalls family and Charles’ devoted wife.

While Little House on the Prairie remains by far her best-known role, Grassle was already an experienced theatre actress before landing the part and returned to the stage after the series ended.

She later stepped away from mainstream Hollywood, moving out of Los Angeles to focus on theatre work around the US.

Although she appeared in a handful of films over the years, including Wyatt Earp alongside Kevin Costner, as well as Lasso and Not to Forget, she largely stayed out of the spotlight after Little House ended.

Away from acting, Grassle has been married three times and is mum to two children – a son and a daughter.

In 2021, she released her memoir, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House’s Ma, which revealed she and Michael Landon had a difficult working relationship during parts of the show’s run.

However, she has since said the pair reconciled before his death in 1991.

Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Melissa Gilbert was just 10 years old when she was cast as Laura Ingalls Wilder, the adventurous, animal-loving daughter at the heart of Little House on the Prairie.

She remained on the show until it ended nine years later, by which point she was 19. Her performance made her one of the series’ biggest breakout stars, earning her a Golden Globe Awards nomination in 1981.

While starring in Little House, Gilbert also built an impressive career away from the show. She appeared in TV adaptations of The Diary of Anne Frank and Splendor in the Grass, while her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker earned her an Primetime Emmy Awards nomination.

After Little House came to an end, Gilbert remained a familiar face on television for decades, starring in numerous TV films and series. She also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005 and even launched an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2016.

She later returned to her Little House roots by taking on the role of Ma Ingalls in the touring production of Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, before appearing on Dancing with the Stars.

More recently, Gilbert made headlines in 2025 after responding to comments from Megyn Kelly about Netflix’s upcoming Little House reboot, after Kelly said she hoped the streaming giant wouldn’t “wokeify” the beloved series.

Gilbert replied: “Ummm… watch the original again,” arguing the show had always tackled difficult subjects including racism, addiction, misogyny and domestic abuse.

Away from acting, Gilbert has two sons – one with her first husband, Bo Brinkman, and another with her second husband, Bruce Boxleitner.

She has been married to Timothy Busfield since 2013 and is also stepmother to his five children.

Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls Kendall)

Melissa Sue Anderson played Mary Ingalls, Laura’s intelligent older sister whose life changed forever after losing her sight following a bout of scarlet fever.

The emotional storyline earned Anderson an Primetime Emmy Awards nomination and remains one of the most memorable moments from the series.

Mary endured some of the show’s toughest storylines, including blindness, being held hostage, suffering a miscarriage and tragically losing her baby in a fire.

Away from Little House, Anderson starred in Midnight Offerings and Happy Birthday to Me, while also appearing in TV favourites including Murder, She Wrote, The Equalizer and X-Men: The Animated Series.

In more recent years, the actress has largely stepped away from the spotlight, making only the occasional on-screen appearance.

She married TV writer and producer Michael Sloan in 1990 and the couple had two children before becoming Canadian citizens. Sloan sadly died in 2025.

Rachel Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls)

Identical twins Rachel Lindsay Greenbush and Sidney Greenbush shared the role of Carrie Ingalls, the youngest member of the Ingalls family until baby Grace arrived in season four.

The sisters were just three years old when they joined the show. Before landing their breakthrough role on Little House on the Prairie, the twins appeared in the TV film Sunshine.

After Little House came to an end, the pair stepped away from acting to focus on school and have largely stayed out of the spotlight ever since.

Away from Hollywood, Sidney married veterinarian and horse breeder William “Rocky” Foster in 2000 before he sadly died in 2009.

Rachel later reconnected with childhood friend Danny Sanchez – who she first met on the Little House set – and the pair married in 2014, more than 30 years later.

Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder)

Dean Butler joined Little House in season six as Almanzo Wilder, the farmer who eventually won Laura Ingalls’ heart.

Butler landed his first major role in the 1978 adaptation of Forever by Judy Blume.

After Little House ended, he went on to star in The New Gidget, performed on Broadway in Into the Woods and later appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Buffy’s father, Hank Summers.

Away from acting, Butler has been married to actress Katherine Cannon since 2001. The couple first met while auditioning for Michael Landon’s TV series Father Murphy.

Katherine MacGregor (Harriet Oleson)

Katherine MacGregor became one of Little House’s most memorable stars thanks to her portrayal of Harriet Oleson, the shopkeeper who quickly became one of TV’s most love-to-hate villains.

Harriet was originally only meant to appear as a guest character, but proved so popular with viewers that she was promoted to a series regular.

Prior to Little House, MacGregor performed on and off Broadway and she appeared in a handful of TV movies and guest starred on All in the Family and the original Ironside.

She was a convert to Hinduism and very devoted to her faith. She was unable to appear in the Little House finale because she was on a pilgrimage to India at the time.

She died in 2018 at the age of 93.

Victor French (Isaiah Edwards)

Victor French played Isaiah Edwards, the ‘rugged mountain man’ and one of Charles Ingalls’ closest friends.

Although fiercely loyal and kind-hearted, the character also battled depression and alcoholism, giving viewers some of the show’s most emotional storylines.

After Little House ended, French reunited with Michael Landon to co-star in Highway to Heaven.

He enjoyed a long television career, with roles in popular series including Gunsmoke, Carter Country and Get Smart.

French also appeared on the big screen alongside Elvis Presley in Charro! and starred opposite John Wayne in Rio Lobo.

Away from Hollywood, French was married twice and had three children. He died from lung cancer in 1989 at the age of 54.

Richard Bull (Nels Oleson)

Richard Bull played Nels Oleson, the long-suffering husband of Harriet Oleson and the patient co-owner of Oleson’s Mercantile.

While the pair constantly clashed on screen, Bull and Katherine MacGregor were said to be close friends in real life.

Little House on the Prairie was one of Bull’s longest-running television roles, alongside his stint as Doc on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

Across a career spanning more than four decades, Bull appeared in countless hit TV shows, including The Fugitive, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Mission: Impossible and Hill Street Blues.

He also appeared in films including The Thomas Crown Affair, The Andromeda Strain, High Plains Drifter and The Parallax View.

Away from acting, Bull was married to actress Barbara Collentine for more than 65 years, from 1948 until his death.

He died from pneumonia in 2014 at the age of 89.

TAMERA Mowry fans couldn’t believe the star’s real age as she took to social media to mark her birthday.  

She and twin sister Tia are 90s sitcom icons after starring in the series Sister, Sister – which aired on Nickelodeon in the UK from 1994 until 1999. 

Today Tamera shared a clip on TikTok revealing the women are celebrating their 48th birthday, and fans refused to believe it. 

The clip showed her being presented with a cake decorated with ‘3’ and ‘8’ candles, before someone off camera switched the first for a ‘4’. 

After jokingly running away from the cake, Tamera stopped and pulled the candles from the cake before holding them up and smiling at the camera. 

She wrote: “We spend so much time running from our age. Well, this year, I’m dancing with it. 48 and grateful, because every year is a gift not everyone gets to unwrap.”

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Rushing to comment, one fan wrote: “Why did I think she’s actually 38? She looks amazing.”

Another said: “There is no way they’re 48!!!”

Someone else wrote: “Oh baby you look 28.”

And a fourth added: “Excuse me, 48? You don’t look a day over 20.”

It comes after Tia spoke out following long-running rumours of a feud between the two sisters.

Confirming there are issues between them, she told Entertainment Tonight: “Yes, there’s distance.

“But when something is important to you… you will make time for it.

“We’ve made a pact with each other that we’ll reach out once per week, and that’s on Sundays.”

Junior and Princess Andre give a joint interview as part of a new series about the life of their mum Katie Price.

The emotional children of Katie Price have broken down in tears as they recalled how their mother’s drug use meant she was unable to look after them properly and left them feeling “lonely” and unloved.

Junior, 21, and Princess, 19, have grown up in the spotlight since their parents Katie and Peter Andre split up when they were very young. And they’ve also dealt with the fallout afterwards which saw Katie struggle to cope and at one stage turn to cocaine to try to deal with her problems.

Junior says: “I remember missing her so much. This one time in particular, I was in her bed waiting for her to come back, and I woke up probably 3:30am to some loud noises, and I see her come in the room, and I’ll never forget the look on her face, she was obviously on stuff, right?

“I could see it in her eyes, and I was.. it scared me, because I’ve never seen my mum look like that. She’s there, but she’s not there, you know.”

Junior adds: “She wasn’t in the right headspace, she really wasn’t. And she wasn’t being a mum, she wasn’t being the mum that I knew from when I was a little boy.

“The amount of love she gave me was so immense that that’s what I missed so much. Mum was on drugs, and she could not look after us, and that is the reality of it. She couldn’t.

“And then I got fed up. I clocked on that this was a very unhealthy environment, and I needed to get out. I did leave. I think I was about 14 or 15, Thank God that my dad was stable, because that’s the house that I went to and gained my sanity back, you know.

“While I was wishing and hoping that my mum would come back and turn herself around. It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough, because she wasn’t fixing herself for me.”

His sister Princess says: “She’d give me a blanket, and she sprayed all her perfume on it, and that was like that was my, my attachment to Mum. So I remember after school I used to go home and just feel so like lonely in a way. I used to just cuddle to the blanket and just cry.”

She adds: “I stayed. I always wanted to be there for her, and I always wanted to show her that, like, she has me, she has us, but she didn’t understand that at the time, because she was so hooked up in her own problems.”

The pair, who break down in tears in the joint interview, also say they had to learn how to fend for themselves including making microwave meals and “looking after each other”. In a new Sky documentary series, Katie also is open herself about her drug use in the past. It came around decade after her split from husband Peter Andre in 2009, and coincided with a series of failed relationships including a troubled marriage to Kieran Hayler who she wed in 2013.

“It was the only thing that blocked everything out,” Katie says of drugs thinking back to the worst period of her life. It will take out that pain, it will take out any worry, it will take out the noise.”

She was regularly using cocaine and staying out late and not putting her family first. Looking back she says: “When I hear what the kids, how they saw it, it breaks my heart. But they were still always looked after, I still had people around me looking after them, like helping me.

“But that’s not good enough. Kids need their mum, kids need their mum’s love, their mum’s hugs, and I thought I was given that, but obviously I wasn’t. It must have been horrible for them, horrible for them, and I’m just sorry to them that I put them through that and thought I was doing the best I could with them, but what could I have done?

“I was unwell. I couldn’t even look after myself. I was more than rock bottom. I didn’t want to be. I wanted to die. I felt worthless, suicidal thoughts all the time.”

After one night of taking drugs and drinking, she crashed her car whilst feeling suicidal in September 2021. At the crash scene before being taken to the hospital, and then a police station, she had told her mum she “wanted to be out of it”.

“I remember when they put me in a cell it was like peace. Peace and quiet. I found that quite comforting. It is quite sad to think that,” She recalls.

Thankfully she also credits six weeks in The Priory after this incident with saving her life and helping her to learn to look after herself in a better way. Her relationship with Junior and Princess has improved as a result.

The new documentary covers the whole 30 year career of Katie, beginning as a glamour model who at her peak could command six figure fees for photoshoots or appearances on shows like I’m A Celebrity, where she met Peter Andre in 2004.

But since then she has been made bankrupt and is less in-demand to be on TV.

She is currently married to Dubai businessman Lee Andrews and her family express their shock on screen at the fact she again married someone in January she had known for just weeks.

On the documentary her stepdad Paul Price recalls a conversation he had before her fourth marriage.

“I said what’s she going to Dubai for? ‘To see a bloke’. I said ‘what’s the catch?’ And then we find out she’s getting married. I said ‘you’re off your head’. And then the geezer is in the paper pretending to be a millionaire.”

Asked if he was angry with her, Paul replies: “100 percent”.

Son Junior adds: “This is the most silliest stupidest thing, marrying a guy she doesn’t even know. This is my mum, this is what she does.”

Her mum Amy Price ends the film with a simple dream that her daughter will fine happiness and less drama in her life at some stage as she gets older.

Amy says: “In some ways, she’s still like a child. But she’s a good daughter. I hope she really does find someone to love and be happy.”

* Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, a four-part Sky Original series, will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW on 8 July.

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A British mum took her kids out of school for a family holiday ended up receiving a £160 fine – but says the overall saving on the trip meant it was worth it

A mum slapped with a £160 fine for taking her son out of school for a family holiday says she has no regrets because ultimately she saved £1,280 on her trip.

Thea Rule decided to take her son Roman, five, out of school to jet off for a week in Majorca, after her request for authorised absence was refused by the school.

“I don’t care what anyone says, he’s in reception class and we’re getting on that plane,” Thea told NeedToKnow. “I believe that my child should be able to enjoy family time with us. I asked via a handwritten letter but was refused. He is in reception class and we did not think it would impact his learning.”

Thea claims the same holiday during the school holidays would have cost an eye-watering £1,440 more because of soaring travel prices. The school issued her with a £160 fine, but the family still saved £1,280 overall by travelling during term time.

She said: “I would never consider taking Roman away during term time if he was doing his SATS or GCSEs. But a week off at the age of five…we as his parents did not believe it would hinder his education. He experienced culture, social interactions and learned other bits along the way.

“Roman was able to learn about the old town of Alcudia, go swimming and snorkelling with sea wildlife and enjoy time with us and his younger brother, all things I believe to be fantastic experiences. Roman is successful at school and is on course to meet his learning outcomes before the end of the year.”

Thea said the huge difference in holiday prices was the main reason behind the decision, and claimed that after she shared her story online, dozens of parents backed her stance.

After sharing her story online, she claimed that dozens of parents backed her stance.

Thea said: “They all agreed reception is not a school year that requires as much attendance as other years. I thanked them for understanding and I know others do the same. We were honest and requested the holiday but others I know say their children are sick and therefore don’t get fined for taking their children out.”

The mother-of-two has encouraged other parents to book holidays strategically if they are looking to save money, adding that she believes the memories made with family outweighed the worrying about fines.

While for Thea and her family there was a saving to be had, there’s one little-known rule around term-time fines that families should be aware of. A lot of parents don’t realise that the fine isn’t applied per family, but per parent per child.

Fines also need to be paid as soon as they are issued. In England, the initial fine per person is £80 if paid within 21 days, but jumps to £160 if paid within 28 days.

But with the per parent/child rule, that means if two adults go away with two children, you could instantly be facing a cost of up to £320. Meanwhile, a second offence could see you hit with a higher £160 fine, so for a family of four that could be £640 total; depending on your choice of holiday and timing, that may negate the savings potentially gained from travelling inside school holidays.

Still, it’s no surprise that parents like Thea are still choosing to take kids out of school and face the fines instead. Travel prices notoriously hike up during the school holidays, sometimes even tripling including UK holiday parks.

Do you think parents should be fined for taking their kids out of school for holidays? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The Blue Peter presenter was a familiar face on our TV screens in the 90s and early 2000s

A Blue Peter icon has carved out an entirely new career path away from kids’ TV.

Katy Hill shot to fame in the late 90s across some of the biggest TV and radio programmes around.

She fronted much-loved children’s show CBBC Blue Peter from 1995 to 2000 and spent five years taking on incredible stunts, including flying with the RAF’s Red Arrows team, a feat no civilian had achieved before.

Riding high on her success and widespread popularity, she moved across to BBC One’s Live and Kicking until 2001. The star then presented Top of the Pops, Football Fever, BBC’s Holiday and her very own weekend show on Capital FM.

Katy was also a regular contributor to glossy publications such as Cosmopolitan Hair and Beauty, Hello! and Closer.

In 2004, she claimed second place on Channel 4’s The Games. As her career progressed, she hosted programmes for Heart Radio, penned weekly blogs and stepped in as a stand-in presenter on ITV’s Daybreak.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain last year, Katy shared her lifelong passion for presenting, saying: “I wanted to present that show since I was five.

“It was because this was the ’70s, right, you guys know this? There had been no girl power. That was the place I saw girls jumping out of planes, flying fast jets and fast cars. Generally, it’s pretty cool. I was like: ‘That’s the job for me!'”

However, nowadays, Katy, 55, is far less visible on our television screens, having transitioned into life coaching after establishing her own business.

Describing herself as an ‘Internationally Certified Success and Confidence Coach’, she regularly shares motivational content across social media. Katy also runs her own newsletter, The Limitless List, which delivers inspiring quotes and uplifting messages.

Alongside her television work, she now provides programmes, live groups and one-to-one coaching sessions to support her members.

Katy’s Instagram bio reads: “The shy kid who refused to play small and spent 30 years on TV! Now empowering women like YOU to UNLOCK your CONFIDENCE and CLAIM the SUCCESS you deserve!”

Katy is happily married to Trey Farley, her former co-presenter on Live and Kicking. The couple have been blissfully married for over two decades and share two children, daughter Kaya and son Akira.

In July 2023, Katy and Trey celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, with the former television presenter sharing a touching tribute to her husband on social media.

She posted photographs from their wedding day and wrote: “20 Years of US! 20 Years of Mr and Mrs Farley! What a ride we’re on @rocaflix … nobody else I’d rather be doing LIFE with! Happy 20 babe! Let’s make more amazing memories! X (Ours was the Hans Zimmer version – obvs!)”

Prior to marrying Trey, Katy was previously wed to her childhood sweetheart, Andrew Frampton. They tied the knot in 1999 but separated in 2001.

July 4 (UPI) — Three children were killed Friday when a severe storm capsized a boat in Wisconsin, police said.

The privately owned, recreational motorboat had six adults and four children aboard on Geneva Lake, and all children were wearing life jackets.

When a storm hit, the boaters tried to find their way to safety but were overwhelmed by high winds and waves. The boat capsized and later sank.

Rescuers were able to quickly help the adults and one child out of the water, but three were still missing. After an intensive search, they found all three. Rescuers took lifesaving measures on the scene and on the way to a hospital, but all three children were pronounced dead.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those, not only of those people, but the people who were injured as a result of the storm. We know that there were many injuries, people transported to local hospitals and diversion from the hospitals because of the number of injuries,” Walworth County, Wisc., Undersheriff Tom Hausner said.

The storm hit at about 12:10 p.m., and 911 calls began coming in around the same time, Hausner said.

A source told CBS News Chicago that the three victims are believed to be younger than 13.

The deaths are under investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

A squall line of storms moved into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin Friday morning and early afternoon, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph, The New York Times reported. Nearly 514,000 homes and businesses in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin were without power Friday night.

Budget conscious Brits are swapping Center Parcs for European park breaks that are considerably cheaper. But is it worth the faff of travelling abroad? We gave it a try

I remember the exact moment we realised we weren’t a Center Parcs family anymore. The kids were having one last run round the playground before we stuffed everything in the car to come home after an idyllic weekend away and my husband nipped off to buy drinks.

He returned ashen-faced: “I just paid five quid for two Fruit Shoots.”

It turns out we have a line and that was it. Despite half a dozen fun-packed stays, those Fruit Shoots were the moment we knew we couldn’t justify Center Parcs prices anymore.

If my hours spent browsing parenting groups online are anything to go by, we’re not alone. Initially we branched out, exploring Haven and Parkdean resorts around the UK. But as an avid bargain hunter I’d seen plenty of chat everywhere from Mumsnet to Reddit about the savings to be made on European holiday camp breaks. After ChatGPTing the practicalities of driving in France, we swapped Center Parcs for Eurocamp this May bank holiday and it was so amazing we’re already plotting a return visit.

Eurocamp has built a reputation for the ultimate activity-led park holidays, with 400 options across 11 countries. We booked into Domaine des Ormes, set in 400 acres of lush French countryside, complete with a forest, lakes, golf course and a medieval castle at its heart. It has a variety of different types of accommodation for all budgets ranging from traditional camping to modern lodges, a luxury hotel and even floating cabins and treehouses. We went for a lodge and were pleasantly surprised when we unlocked our home from home.

Inside the lodge

The lodge had everything we needed for a five night stay and several perks that brought joy to our 10- and 12-year-old children, notably a bedroom each for when family time got a bit much and free (and largely reliable) wifi for all, perfect for some down time.

The main living space included a well-stocked kitchen with a full size fridge freezer, L-shaped sofa and dining table. The inside felt slightly smaller than Center Parcs lodges we’ve stayed in and there was no TV but neither of these things bothered us, thanks in part to the biggest difference we found with the swap.

In a nod to the consistently better weather on the continent, our lodge was very much optimised for outdoor living. It had a huge covered decking area with another, even larger, L-shaped sofa, alongside a second outdoor dining table and chairs. With temperatures soaring to up to 30 degrees during our stay we spent most of our time outside, either eating meals or on the sofa.

It was the perfect place to relax as a family, playing card games, with wine for the grown ups and iced drinks for the kids (it’d be rude not to), or enjoying outdoor movie nights courtesy of Netflix on a tablet balanced on the coffee table. Bliss.

Things to do

Domaine des Ormes’ jewel in the crown is a huge aquapark with slides, lazy river, wave pool and indoor and outdoor swimming options aplenty. If you’re looking for an alternative to the iconic Center Parcs Subtropical Swimming Paradise this is it in spades. Available at no extra cost, we spent hours there every day. The kids loved using the zip line over the pool, launching themselves across the water before jumping in at speed.

Zip lines were a recurring theme of the resort, with holidaymakers of all ages queuing up to soar over the lake. It only cost 6 Euros a person for two goes across the zipline – much cheaper than any Center Parcs activity we’d ever done – and it was another huge hit with the kids who, it turns out given half a chance, are real daredevils (see also a 20ft high climbing frame in one of the outdoor playgrounds which my son made his mission to scale through the week, while I stood at the bottom with my heart in my mouth).

There were plenty of other things to do, including kids clubs, archery, horse riding and even a circus (10 Euro per adult, 9 per child) but we found the mix of pool, down time and eating out was plenty to keep everyone occupied without racking up much extra cost.

Eating and drinking

Domaine des Ormes had two restaurants and two bars on-site as well as a well-stocked convenience store. Our top pick was Chez Madeline, which had stone baked pizzas, juicy rotisserie chicken and a 10 Euro kids menu with portions big enough that we took leftovers home.

Having a car meant we could also explore so we nipped to the local Carrefour supermarket in Dol-de-Bretagne to fill the fridge with cheese, smoked meat, fruit and salad. We also discovered the best steak frites any of us had ever had on the way home, in another holiday highlight.

Final verdict

I’m so glad we took the plunge. Driving in France was nowhere near as stressful as we’d feared. Minimal language barriers were easily overcome and with about half the families at Eurocamp English the kids had plenty of new friends to play with.

The highlights were the small moments: my 12-year-old being able to walk to the resort shop to buy breakfast croissants for us to eat together on the deck as the sun rose and excitedly haggling to buy some hair clips from the market that came to the resort one sunny afternoon; my son’s confidence growing every day he got higher up that climbing frame.

Domaine des Ormes was large enough to keep everyone busy and entertained but still compact enough that we could have a little bubble of time as a family together. Overall it was well worth the effort stepping outside of our comfort zone.

How do Eurocamp prices compare with Center Parcs?

There are still some savings for anyone booking at Domaine des Ormes this summer, although some of the most popular accommodation types are sold out. Currently, a four night stay for a two bedroom lodge through Eurocamp starting on Monday, July 20 is £975. A similar two-room lodge at our nearest Center Parcs – Woburn Forest just outside of Milton Keynes – would be £1,449 for the same time.

There are even chunkier savings available if you’re planning ahead. For October half term Eurocamp is £289.64 for four nights, compared to £1,699 for Center Parcs. Meanwhile, May half term 2027 is £786 for Eurocamp and £1,599 for Center Parcs.

While, of course, you have to factor in travel costs for a trip to France, for us the cheaper activities and idyllic surroundings make it worth the effort.

Book it

Narin stayed at the Domaine des Ormes Eurocamp. Currently, a four night stay for a two bedroom lodge through Eurocamp starting on Monday, July 20 is £975. For the October half term, Eurocamp is £289.64 for four nights.

The cost of taking a car on Le Shuttle starts at £69, and £89 for Brittany Ferries.

WHEN it comes to booking a family getaway, holiday parks always tick the right boxes for us.

But taking a kid-free, romantic mini-break at one? That probably wouldn’t have made the checklist.

After a blissful weekend in one of the new Butterfly Lodges at St Ives Bay Park, however, I’m more than happy to add it to the list.

The Cornish park has the air of a fancy hotel — only without the steep price tag.  

Snuggled in the golden sand dunes facing the wild Atlantic Ocean on the three-mile, award-winning Towans beach, the front row lodges — all wooden boards and fishing net decking — look more akin to a project from Grand Designs or George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces than a static caravan.

And the luxury look is mirrored inside, too. The master bedroom is kitted out with orange and teal velvets, wooden surfaces and an ultra comfortable super-king bed.

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Plus there is a stylish sideboard in the spacious entrance hallway, mood lighting and sofas and throws worthy of a smart New York apartment.  

Even the bathrooms were a cut above — stylish matt gold taps and smart black framed shower screens. 

And if we had decided to bring the kids, there was also a second bedroom with twin beds that could be converted into another super king, as well as two bunks above, each with their own TV and curtain for privacy.

Looking out towards our private decking area, however, we were a little relieved we’d left our children at home.  

This meant we could enjoy the splendid St Ives sunset views from the hot tub, glass of bubbly in hand, without the fear of being dunked at any minute. Bliss.

Aside from the lavish accommodation, one of the best highlights of a grown-up getaway to St Ives Bay Park is the location.

It goes without saying that this part of Cornwall is utterly stunning and there are walking routes aplenty from your doorstep.

Although if you’re after something truly spectacular, the seven mile hike from Porthcurno (around a 40-minute drive away) to Land’s End along the South West Coast Path is a must.

We started in the white sandy cove of Porthcurno beach which, framed by craggy cliffs and with the clearest blue sea, could have easily been mistaken for a cove in Thailand.

The water, of course, is a tad colder, but some brave souls, including a wetsuit-clad teenager, were having a great time being hurled around in the huge foamy waves.

A steep climb up some stairs carved into the cliffs followed, and then beautiful beach, after beautiful beach, after beautiful beach along the coastal path, from tiny little fishing cove Porthgwarra to the lofty rocks and golden sands of Nanjizal Bay.

It’s a taxing hike, but the views make it totally worthwhile.

Just make sure to plan ahead as the buses back from Land’s End to Porthcurno, where we had parked, are a little unpredictable, so we were stung for a costly taxi ride.

It’s not just glorious beaches and cracking rambling trails that our park was surrounded by either.

The town centre of St Ives is a 15-minute car ride from the lodge and is home to some brilliant little restaurants.

On our first night we had visited Porthminster Beach Cafe, a gorgeously relaxed place that received a mention in the Michelin Guide for its delicious seafood dishes — we tucked into a delicious monkfish curry and a yummy piece of halibut loin with artichoke and chicken butter sauce.

For something a little more casual, though, Talay’s Thai Kitchen really hit the spot.

The pleasingly spicy roasted duck red curry and juicy weeping tiger steak really added some warmth to our windburnt cheeks post hike.

Stuffed and tired after the day’s exertions, it was back to the lodge for a recuperating sunset soak in the hot tub.

We ended the night hunkering down in the gorgeous living area as the wind buffeted the lodge from the Atlantic beyond.

And there hadn’t been a mini disco or mascot in sight. How’s that for an affordable romantic getaway?

A MASSIVE new theme park just for kids has opened this week.

Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas officially opened on July 1 and is home to seven different worlds all themed around popular TV and film characters.

The entire American theme park has been built with kids aged 3-8 in mind, with the lands featuring Jurassic World, Trolls, Puss in Boots and Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Inside are a number of interactive and immersive experiences as well, such as a Trolls dance party and a Puss in Boots-themed puppet show.

Across the park there are loads of different attractions including rollercoasters, swing rides, a lazy river ride and even a splash park ideal for the warm Texan weather.

For example, you can head on Barnacle Bus, where you will see Bikini Bottom from SpongeBob SquarePants, including SpongeBob’s pet Gary the Snail.

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If you are a fan of Jurassic World, you can head on the Cretaceous Coaster to find Baby Bumpy, the curious Ankylosaurus who has gone missing.

The roller coaster ride features many twists and turns as well as peaks and valleys as you try and spot Baby Bumpy.

For something a little calmer, there’s Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After ride which takes you on a gentle journey through Shrek and Fiona’s swamp and even the dragon’s castle.

For kids needing some time to calm down from all the excitement, there are also sensory gardens.

And of course, they can meet their favourite characters as well.

When it comes to finding a spot to grab a bite to eat, there is a choice of 10 restaurants and cafes at the theme park.

SpongeBob fans can head to Goofy Goober’s for burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and giant ice cream sundaes.

Alternatively, you could drop into the Jurassic World Canteen complete with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

The park has its very own hotel too, which can be found close to the entrance.

Inside, the hotel boasts 300 rooms and suites, and if that was’’t enough, it has three restaurants and its own pool too.

And if you stay at the hotel, you’ll get early access to the park before the general public can enter.

There are different tickets available for the theme park including one-day tickets costing from $54.99 (£40.98).

There’s then also two-day admission tickets costing from $73.99 (£55.15) (though, this pass must be used in two consecutive days).

Or you could opt for an annual pass, which costs $129.99 (£96.88).

THE UK has issued new travel advice for Brits heading to Spain this summer.

Spain is currently still seeing extremely high temperatures, which has recorded highs of 40C.

This has led to the deaths of 212 people in recent weeks.

And new advice from the UK Foreign Office has warned Brits, especially those with kids, to be aware when swimming to cool off.

The updated advice states: “Every year, people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Spain.

“Always supervise children. Keep small children within arms-reach in and around swimming pools, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present.”

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They also issued advice for Brits swimming in the sea.

It continued: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Always supervise children and keep small children within arms-reach.

“Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents.

“Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death.

“Do not dive into unknown water and do not swim at beaches where a river runs into the sea.

“If you are walking along unmonitored beaches, be aware that waves can come in further than expected and have strong undertows.”

Spain has a similar flag system to the UK, so if there is a red flag, it means not to swim in the water.

Here is another new Spanish rule you need to be aware of and it affects you at the airport.

Less than two hours before the Dodgers took the field in Minneapolis on Wednesday, a pair of powerful earthquakes rattled Venezuela, where the wife and two kids of Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas were visiting and where his sister lives.

The successive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes left the country’s northern coastal state of La Guaira in ruins, collapsing more than 770 buildings and killing at least 1,450 people, local authorities said Sunday.

All of Rojas’ family members were OK, the Venezuelan native told reporters ahead of Friday’s game against the Padres in San Diego.

“Literally two blocks away from where my family was, two buildings collapsed — the whole building,” he said. “I’m lucky, to be honest with you guys. I’m really lucky to have my family still alive and with me. I’m not taking this for granted.”

Rojas’ wife and kids were in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, which is only about six miles south of the destruction along the coast. His wife was there to renew her passport, and the kids were going to try to get Venezuelan citizenship. His sister was in Los Teques, Rojas’ hometown about 17 miles south of the coastal destruction.

Rescue workers search through rubble on Saturday in Catia La Mar following the devastating double earthquakes.

(Fernando Vergara / Associated Press)

“It’s really tough to see teammates of mine and players that I played with at some point in my career to lose family members, to lose kids,” said Rojas, who had spent years playing baseball in La Guaira. “It’s really devastating. It’s been really hard for me to go to sleep at night.”

Rojas, on Friday, said he was talking daily with his family members, who were still in Venezuela. He hoped to bring them back to the United States as soon as possible. Aftershocks continued to rattle the country into Sunday morning.

As the Dodgers and Padres started their series in Petco Park on Friday, both teams wore caps with the letters “VZ” embroidered on the side to honor the people of Venezuela as the road to recovery begins.

“That means a lot because both teams will be doing it — it means a lot, because it brings awareness,” Rojas said.

“We are on one of the biggest stages in sports, and I really appreciate what the Dodgers do to support us,” he added. “It’s not just what happens now, it’s what’s going to happen in the future. It’s going to take a long time for people to recover.”

Times staff writer Maddie Lee contributed to this report.

A mum of twins was left baffled when her two infants were refused to sit next to each other on a flight, and she’s now urging others to be aware of little-known rule

A mum has urged other parents to beware of one important rule when flying with infants, as her young twin babies were refused to sit on the same row.

As summer is officially here, many people will be taking the opportunity to travel for the summer holidays, either to soak up the sunshine in a tropical country, or even to visit people in a different part of the world. And if you’re bringing a young infant under the age of two, you’ll be happy to learn that most airlines will offer a cheaper fare if they don’t require their own seat.

But one twin mum named Savannah Gavigan was left baffled as she and her husband boarded their flight recently, as they had been forced to split up their twins on the flight due to a little-known rule they had ‘no idea’ even existed.

“Friendly reminder to all twin parents: two in-lap infants can’t sit in the same row,” Savannah wrote in the overlay text of her TikTok video, which showed her two twins playing with each other despite sitting on separate rows on the plane.

“But they still find a way to spend time together,” Savannah jokingly added in the caption of her post.

Why can’t babies and young kids be seated next to each other on flights?

The main reason why only one lap infant (an infant sat in an adult’s lap) can be seated on each row of two or three seats of a plane is because of airline safety rules, as there are generally only enough oxygen masks in a row for the main passengers with one extra. So if there are multiple kids under the age of two in one row sitting in an adult’s lap, there would not be enough oxygen masks for them all to use.

Passengers will most likely encounter this on flights across most airlines as they often all follow the same rules and precautions.

But there are ways to get around this, such as if you’re flying with twins or just two infants under the age of 2. Many airlines will offer the opportunity to buy an extra, separate seat for one of the infants. If one infant is in their own seat (often in an approved car seat or with a harness), you can all sit together in the same row. Some airlines will also offer seats with bassinets that babies can lay in throughout the flight.

If both infants that you’re travelling with are lap babies, the closest you can sit together is across the aisle or directly in the row in front/behind each other, as it’s every three rows that will have four oxygen masks.

Keep in mind that some airlines require an additional accompanying adult if one adult is traveling with two infants, and at least one of the babies may need to be secured in a safety-approved car seat.

People soon took to the comment section of Savannah’s video to share their bafflement as many parents shared they’d never heard of the rule before.

“This should be in the disclaimer when you book a flight. How random I would’ve never known!” one person commented. Someone else said: “Will be traveling with the family in October and the grandbabies will be six months so this is a good thing to know now!”

Some flight attendants also appeared in the comments to verify the statement, as one said: “Hey flight attendant here! Thanks for bringing this up!!! It has to do with oxygen masks! Should they deploy we want everyone to have one in reach and easily accessible, reaching may take extra time that could be detrimental!”

Someone else went on to say: “You can though BUT – it depends on the aircraft type and where the bassinets are located. 2 bassinets on D & G on B777, A380 etc on many airlines ( Ex cabin crew )”

For years, Kitty Felde was a familiar voice on public radio in Southern California. Reporting from Capitol Hill, it was her job, she felt, to explain government to the grown-ups living thousands of miles away.

It could be frustrating, given how little many listeners seemed to know or understand about even the basics of Washington and how the place works. (Or, at least, how it’s supposed to work.)

“They don’t remember this stuff from fifth grade,” Felde said.

Worse, a lot of people didn’t seem to care.

So Felde wondered: What if her insights and expertise were aimed at a younger audience?

With her career in radio winding down, Felde set off in a new direction, writing a novel for young adults that combined sleuthing with civics; a blend of “Nancy Drew” and “The West Wing,” as Felde’s website described the result.

Set in Washington, the book’s main character was Fina Mendoza, a 10-year-old girl modeled after someone whom Felde, a Southern California native, mentored years ago while living and reporting in Los Angeles.

“She was fierce, smart, quiet, driven, even persuading her non-English-speaking mother to help her transfer to a better high school where she graduated with honors,” Felde told an interviewer when the book was published in 2019. In creating Fina Mendoza, “I imagined what [Felde’s mentee] must have been like when she was younger.”

For Mendoza’s father, or “Papa,” Felde envisioned someone she had gotten to know over the years covering California’s congressional delegation. Someone genial and soft-spoken who, lately, has been in the news quite a bit.

Xavier Becerra.

“He’s a widower,” Felde said of the fictional Arturo Mendoza, a Democratic congressman representing Los Angeles, as Becerra did for nearly a quarter of a century. “Xavier, obviously, is not. But I met his daughters, I met his wife. And so that image … I could see him being the father.”

She did not, Felde confessed, see Becerra as a California governor-in-waiting.

When she conceived Arturo Mendoza, Felde said, “nobody knew who [Becerra] was” — which is only a slight exaggeration. Even now, many Californians are just becoming familiar with the Democrat, who is heavily favored to beat Republican Steve Hilton in November, given the state’s strong Democratic tilt.

A five-part series

That first novel about Fina and her exploits on Capitol Hill has expanded into a multi-volume series, published in English and Spanish, featuring the young detective and her roman à clef Papa. The fourth installment comes out next month. Felde is currently working on the fifth and, she expects, final volume.

Collectively, the works do not purport to offer “The Xavier Becerra Story.” Rather, each centers on a mystery — a bird that poops on the president during his State of the Union speech; a culprit placing snakes in the gym bags of lawmakers; a series of break-ins, fires and vandalism in the Montecito Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Fina is home for the summer. The protagonist unravels each knot and, along the way, delivers readers a goodly dose of Government 101.

Felde has written four books in the Fina Mendoza Mystery Series and is working on the fifth and, she believes, final volume.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Unlike Becerra, Papa continues serving in the House. His real-life model left Congress in January 2017 after Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him California attorney general, replacing Kamala Harris upon her departure for the U.S. Senate. Becerra was elected to the job the following year, served in the Biden administration as Health and Human Services secretary and finished atop the field in California’s crowded June 2 gubernatorial primary.

Speaking via Zoom from her home office in Baldwin Hills, Felde ventured a few thoughts on how Becerra would do as governor. (Which, of course, is also a mystery; at this point one can only guess.)

“We’re a big state with a lot of problems,” Felde said with a small shake of her head. “I think he’ll have a good time fighting the current administration. And I think, because he does have contacts both in Sacramento and in Washington … that can help because that’s where money’s coming from.”

The great divide

Returning to Fina Mendoza, Felde said part of her intent in writing the series was closing the yawning physical and psychic gaps that exists between California and Washington.

“We think we are the center of the universe because we are isolated in a lot of ways from the rest of the country,” Felde said of her fellow Californians. In Washington, “they think the same thing, but they’re the ones with the money and the power…. There is a dependency there.”

For that reason alone, she suggested, people should pay closer attention to what’s happening back East, notwithstanding the distance and the sometimes confounding, oftentimes arcane ways and means of the nation’s capital.

“It’s our government,” she said. “If you want to change the world, it’s not just City Hall. It’s not just whoever is making the HOA rules. It’s on Capitol Hill. It’s the White House. It’s the Supreme Court.”

Apart from the Fina Mendoza novels, Felde has written several other books and plays related to government and history, set in and around Washington. She also hosts several podcasts, including a book club for kids.

What does Becerra think of his artistic rendering?

Felde’s husband caught up with the gubernatorial hopeful a few months ago outside a candidates forum in Santa Monica. He presented Becerra with a copy of the first book in the series, “Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza.” Becerra’s eyes brightened at the mention of Felde and he sent his warm regards.

Otherwise, she has yet to hear back.

What else you should be reading:

The must-read: Politician behind ‘top two’ primary has second thoughts
The deep dive: ‘I got crushed’: AI giants are funding ad wars in races across the country
The L.A. Times Special: Federal probe of Newsom creates lots of smoke. Is there any fire?

Until next time,
-mzb
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