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Start here! Welcome to LE, a Family Blog About Travel, Food, and Curiosity
Hello and welcome! I’m Marta, a mama of two, travel writer, and passionate home cook who believes that exploring the world — whether by plane or by plate — is one of the best ways to learn and connect as a family. Learning Escapes started as a family travel blog, born from our love of discovering new places, cultures, and histories together. Over the years, it has grown and evolved with us — and now, it’s also about food: the recipes, flavors, and little discoveries that let us recreate the world at home. The name Learning Escapes still fits perfectly. Every trip we take and every dish we make is, in its own way, a “learning escape”…
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Ghent at Christmas: Why Ghent )Gent) Is the Perfect Festive Weekend Getaway
Our essential travel guide to visiting Ghent at Christmas. Where to stay in Ghent, the best things to do, food recommendation and how to enjoy the Ghent Christmas market. Gent (Ghent) at Christmas is one of those destinations that quietly steals your heart. Beautiful, atmospheric and wonderfully compact, Ghent offers everything you want from a festive winter getaway: a charming Christmas market, canals lit up with fairy lights, historic landmarks, cosy cafés and just enough to do for a relaxed weekend, without the crowds and overwhelm of bigger European cities. I chose Ghent for exactly this reason. I wanted a destination that felt as easy as a resort stay, but…
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Festive Drinks from Around the World (Perfect for Christmas & New Year’s)
Looking for festive drink ideas that feel special but not complicated? This global collection of Christmas and New Year’s drinks includes sparkling cocktails, warming classics, and cozy winter favorites inspired by traditions from Italy, Ireland, and beyond. There’s something deeply comforting about festive drinks. They signal celebration without fuss, invite people to linger at the table, and often carry memories of place, season, and tradition. This collection of festive drink ideas from around the world is inspired by the countries we travel between, family traditions picked up over the years, and drinks that feel just right for winter celebrations. Some are perfect for Christmas afternoon, others shine on New Year’s Eve, and many…
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A Gentle January Reset for Families (No Pressure, Just Calm)
A gentle January reset for families who want calm, not pressure. Simple routines, soft decluttering, and cozy home ideas to ease into the new year without overwhelm. January has a strange energy. After weeks of celebration, noise, and full calendars, the world suddenly asks us to be organised, motivated, refreshed, and ready to start again — all at once. And just when, really, all we want to do is rest and digest. If you’re a parent, that pressure can feel even heavier. As school, work, and everyday chores start again, the last thing you need is the added weight of all the shoulds. I should go to the gym.Cook better.Clean more.Produce…
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Classic Italian Minestrone (A Gentle, Nourishing Vegetable Soup)
Classic Italian minestrone soup made with seasonal vegetables, cannellini beans, olive oil and herbs. A nourishing, comforting family soup perfect for winter and a gentle January reset. There are few dishes that feel as grounding as a good Italian minestrone. It’s the kind of soup that quietly does its job: warming, nourishing, comforting and doesn’t ask for precision or perfection. Every Italian family has their own version, shaped by the seasons, what’s in the fridge, and what feels right that day. This is the minestrone I make at home when January feels long and we all need something kind in our bowls. It’s simple, flexible, and deeply comforting, perfect for a gentle…
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Elegant & Easy New Year’s Eve Main Dishes for a Delicious Celebration at Home
New Year’s Eve dinners at home have a special kind of magic: a little sparkle, a little indulgence, and none of the pressure of Christmas Day cooking. This is the night when I love to make something special and impressive, although special and impressive doesn’t necessarily mean complicated! Some of my favorite New year’s dishes are super easy to make. These New Year’s Eve main dishes are elegant, comforting, celebratory, and full of flavour. Many come from my Italian roots, others are simple favourites that always feel festive. All are perfect for a cosy, beautiful New Year’s Eve at home. Spaghetti alle Vongole The ultimate Italian New Year’s Eve pasta. Light, elegant,…
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Packing List for a Snowy Winter Weekend in Europe
Planning a snowy winter weekend in Europe? This packing list covers what to wear, shoes and essentials to stay warm and comfortable. A snowy winter weekend in Europe can be magical. Think fresh mountain air, snow-covered landscapes, cosy cafés, scenic walks and that special feeling that only winter brings. Whether you’re heading to the Alps, Iceland, Austrian Christmas markets, a snowy Swiss town, or a wintery countryside escape, packing well is essential. Even short trips in snowy conditions require more planning than a regular city break and want a dedicated packing list. This packing list for a snowy winter weekend in Europe focuses on warmth, comfort and practicality, without assuming…
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Packing List for European Christmas Markets: what to wear for a cozy trip
This packing list for European Christmas markets focuses on staying warm, comfortable and ready for long evenings outdoors in winter. Visiting European Christmas markets is one of the most magical winter travel experiences. Twinkling lights, wooden stalls, mulled wine, festive treats and historic town squares create an atmosphere that feels straight out of a storybook. But Christmas markets also mean standing outdoors in cold weather, walking on cobblestones and moving between cities, so packing well makes all the difference. I don’t think I can ever forget how cold winters can get in Austrian Christmas markets, there is a reason warming mulled wine is so popular! This European Christmas markets packing list is designed to help…
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Must-have Paris Packing List for Christmas & New Year
Packing for Paris at Christmas or New Year? This practical Paris winter packing list covers clothing, shoes, accessories and essentials for families, couples, and solo travelers. Paris at Christmas is magical. Twinkling lights along the Champs-Élysées, festive markets, seasonal treats, and the cosy glow of cafés make it one of the most enchanting winter destinations in Europe for the holiday season. But Paris in December and early January is cold, often damp, and days are short. So, you need to pack smart or you may find winter in Paris is bitter and miserable, rather than romantic and atmospheric! This Paris winter packing list covers clothing, accessories, shoes, tech, toiletries, and tips for…
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Smart Packing List for London at Christmas & New Year: what you need, what you don’t, what is nice to have
A super practical, no nonsense packing list for London at Christmas & New Years for families with kids. If you are traveling to London at Christmas or New Year with children, this practical family packing list helps you stay warm, dry and comfortable all winter long. Visiting London at Christmas and New Year is magical, especially with kids — festive lights, Christmas markets, ice skating, theatre shows and cosy cafés. But winter in London also means cold temperatures, short days and unpredictable weather, so packing well makes a big difference. We spend most of our winters in this part of the world, so we know this type of climate extremely well!…
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New Year’s Eve Appetizers: Easy, Elegant Starters to Celebrate at Home
A tried and tested selection of New Year’s Eve Appetizers that are delicious, easy to make and sure to impress your guests. New Year’s Eve at home is one of my favourite kinds of celebrations: festive, low-pressure, and full of good food! After the busy pace of Christmas and the pressure that somehow inevitably comes with entertaining family, I love how much more stress free NYE and how the focus is really just on fun and being happy! For me, nothing sets the tone better than a table full of delicious, easy New Year’s Eve appetizers so today I share a list about of fresh, elegant, at-home starters I love. Before,…
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New Year’s Eve Potluck Recipes: Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Ideas You’ll Love
Discover easy, crowd-pleasing potluck recipes perfect for New Year’s Eve and holiday gatherings. From comforting mains to indulgent desserts, these make-ahead dishes travel well and guarantee an unforgettable celebration. Celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends and family is always special and a potluck dinner makes it even more fun. Everyone brings something, and suddenly the table is full of delicious, diverse dishes without one person doing all the work! I always love to see what people bring but the idea also fills me with dread: what will I make? Will it be delicious enough, impressive enough, will it travel well? I am fond of potluck dinners and so, over the years, I have tamed my anxiety…
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How to Prepare Your Home Before a Trip (So You Return to Calm, Not Chaos)
This is my simple, family-friendly guide to prepare your home before a trip so you can leave without stress and return to calm. I used to love the hours before leaving for a trip: that mix of excitement, anticipation and the feeling that soon you’ll step out of your everyday rhythm and into something a little more magical. Then I became a mom! And when that happened, what used to be a time thrilling time, has become a full on overwhelm / anxiety time with a million things to do and, lets’ be honest, a complete lack of understanding from the rest of the family about why you are getting stressed and…
