Travelling with a father can be stressful but also rewarding. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with my wife and my daughter, and I decided to journal my experience to share it.
Traveling with my wife and daughter through Shanghai turned out to be one of those trips where I had to throw half my plans out the window—and I'm glad I did. Between her insisting we count every koi fish and my attempts to look like I knew where we were going, we stumbled onto some gems that made this trip unforgettable.
Yu Garden: A Place Where Patience Truly Rewards You
Location: Yu Garden
We reached Shanghai late in November. With the sun setting around 4:30 pm, we started our visit at Yu Garden (豫园). Honestly, I was uncertain how my daughter would react to a 16th-century classical Chinese garden, but it turns out the zigzag bridges and pavilions over lotus ponds are just a kid's playground in disguise.
The wooden pavilion, encircled by autumn leaves, was her favorite place — we likely spent 20 minutes watching fish and making up wishes to toss into the water. Tip: visit early to avoid crowds and bring snacks, as your little one will want to explore every part.
The architecture was stunning, giving us the sensation of stepping back to a bygone era centuries ago.
The cold weather began to set in swiftly, and a quick glance at my RZE Aspirare indicated I needed to hurry and move my family to our next destination.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery: Rest stop + Caffeine Fix
Location: Starbucks Reserve Roastery 星巴克臻选上海烘焙工坊
Just a few minutes from Yu Garden, we came across the largest Starbucks in the world, spanning 30,000 square feet. There are only six of these worldwide.
The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Shanghai is twice the size of the flagship Reserve® Roastery in Seattle and equivalent to 40 average NYC apartments. The iconic cask connects to the three coffee bars via pneumatic copper piping, supplying all the roasted Starbucks Reserve® coffee silos. It is a sight to see.
After being amazed by the two floors here, we decided it was time to place our order. All the options looked very tempting, but we quickly made our choice before the toddler became cranky.
Coffee: 789 West NJ Rd (I know it sounds like a street, but it's the name of the coffee LOL)
Craft Beer: Kenya Coffee Hazy IPA
Pastry: Panettone (It’s seasonal and comes with cream)
The Panettone was delightful. The cream complemented the pastry perfectly, and the strawberries added that final touch of perfection. Paired with aromatic coffee topped with plum-flavored cold milk foam and an eccentric Hazy IPA, your senses were joyfully stimulated from within. We sat by the window, observing the bustling streets of Shanghai and feeling eager for the adventures awaiting us.
Alas, a tired and cranky child signals it's time to head back to the hotel for a well-deserved night's rest.
Day 2
The Bund: Skyline Goals
Location: 上海市人民英雄纪念塔
The Bund delivered precisely what I hoped for—that iconic Shanghai skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower front and center. We spent a golden hour near the Shanghai People's Heroes Memorial Tower at Huangpu Park, where the orange marigolds were in full bloom.
European Flair in Old Shanghai
Location: French Concession
We strolled through parts of Shanghai's historic European quarter streets, where Gothic churches and brick buildings signaled the city's role as a crossroads. The blend of East and West architecture kept the scenery engaging.
Food: The Real MVP
Location: Cejerdary
No trip to Shanghai is complete without trying their renowned hairy crab roe noodles or rice. We aimed for the best, and found it at Cejerdary. The menu was small, with only about 8 items, so we chose the Crab Roe Noodles and Truffle Roe Rice. The dishes offered remarkable depth, savoriness, and a balanced flavor that delighted our palate. This place is a MUST-VISIT. I wish I'd taken more photos, but everyone was devouring the food so quickly.
Getting Around: Luxury on Wheels
We splurged on car service for longer trips, which was a game-changer when traveling with a kid. Those comfy leather seats let her nap between adventures, while I actually enjoyed the ride instead of wrestling with maps and metro transfers. Sometimes comfort wins over budget, especially when you're trying to make the most of your time together.
Xintiandi: Where Old Shanghai Meets Café Culture
Location: 新天地北里
Xintiandi unexpectedly became our favorite spot—an area free of cars where 19th-century Shikumen (stone gate) houses have been turned into stylish cafes, restaurants, and shops. The pedestrian streets allowed my daughter to explore freely, while I enjoyed a coffee. The North Block maintains its original architecture, featuring the iconic vaulted stone doorframes and Chinese carvings, whereas the South Block integrates modern buildings. We found a cozy cafe, enjoyed some pastries, and watched the crowd. A bonus was the toy shop with Jellycat plushies, which helped me during a slight meltdown. It's also stroller-friendly, a rarity in Shanghai worth mentioning.
All that walking in the cold deserves a familiar old glass of Stella Artois to ease our feet and soak up the ambience.
The Takeaway
Looking back at my photos now, I see that the most memorable moments weren't the carefully planned ones. Instead, they were the spontaneous instances—my daughter's joyful expression upon seeing the koi, her focused concentration while tasting her first hairy crab roe, and the peaceful afternoon we shared in Xintiandi when we both needed to relax.
Shanghai showed me that traveling with kids isn't just about ticking off landmarks or sticking to a perfect plan. It's more about balancing cultural experiences with comfort, and allowing them to explore at their own speed. While we didn't visit every museum or popular restaurant I had saved, we ended up creating something even more valuable—lasting memories and a travel approach that suits both of us.
