Step inside and embark on a luminous, colour-filled adventure with Architects of Air and their amazing Amococo sculpture. 86 three-sided inflatable domes link together to create a labyrinthine luminarium, where liquid, mercurial colour spills and splashes in a dreamlike ambience. It’s as if you’ve been swallowed by a giant rainbow serpent, or been transported to a maze-filled psychedelic rainbow palace – on another planet! Amococo is touring the world (they were at QPAC’s Out of The Box children’s festival in Brisbane recently) so if you’re lucky, the magic fantasy colour land may be landing in your city soon. Don’t miss it!

Amococo, by Architects of Air. Architects of Air

With so much to see and do, you’ll have to extend your transit stop to accomodate a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles. This family-friendly city does in fact cater for little superstars and their parents. Here’s some places where you can all have fun.

SHOP
The Grove
This outdoor shopping mall is a terrific place to entertain the kids while you shop. Ride the trolley, watch a concert in the park and have an ice cream. All the must-see stores – BabyGap, Pottery Barn Kids, Kiehl’s. And if your visiting during the holiday season, don’t miss The Grove’s famous fountain dancing to special holiday tunes. See snow flurry across First Street, nightly at 7pm and 8pm. 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles. Phone: 888 315 8883.

The Paper Source
Paper Source is the premiere seller of fine, handmade papers from around the world. Stock up on stationery, rubber stamps, kits and projects, calendars and gifts, and lots, lots more. You’ll need a whole day to yourself, if you’re going to visit this store. Oh, and another suitcase! Paper Source now ships to Australia though – in case you don’t get the time to visit. 9460 Brighton Way Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Phone: 310 288 9700.

PLAYGROUND
Roxbury Park
When your toddler has a meltdown on Rodeo Drive, it’s time to head to the best playground in Beverly Hills for some time out! No need to stop by the hotel for sunscreen. There’s plenty of prepared nannies on hand at Roxbury Park. 471 South Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.

EAT OUT
Tart at Farmer’s Daughter Hotel
Before you head to The Grove, located directly across the street is Tart, a country cool, ranch-style restaurant where you can fuel up on flapjacks and French toast stuffed with mascarpone and fruit compote. 115 South Fairfax Avenue. Phone: 323 937 3930.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
This world-famous bakery makes the best vanilla cupcake on earth. Don’t forget to take home a couple of Sprinkles Cupcake mixes for the poor folks back home! Be prepared for queues. Although we do recommend waiting. 9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd. Phone: 310 274 8765.

25 Degrees
A 50’s truck stop dinner meets French boudoir! Located on the Hollywood Boulevard entrance to the famed Roosevelt Hotel, 25 Degrees (the name refers to the temperature difference between a medium rare and well done burger) is LA’s hottest burger joint. Try the house special, Number One. 7000 Hollywood Blvd, inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Phone: 323 785 7244.

STAY
Maison 140
Don’t scrimp on luxury just because you’re traveling with the kids. This unique, French and Far East-inspired, 43-room boutique hotel in Beverly Hills is right where you want to be. Make sure you book a Mandarin Room, which is the larger of the two types of accommodations on offer. 140 South Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills. Phone: 310 281 4000.

Brandy Fedoruk and Rebecca Dolen, have created a unique store filled with vintage file cabinets, manual typewriters and merchandise that celebrates the printed word. They carry stationery sets, cards, buttons, t-shirts, iron-on patches and journals. You can sign up for a letter writing class or the One Button A Month Club to receive by mail, exactly that – one button per month! Definitely worth a visit.

The Regional Assembly of Text is located at 3934 Main St, Vancouver BC.
Phone: 604-877-2247. Assembly of Text

Made from quick-drying, certified food-safe cotton, these colourful Lunchskins are a hip alternative to plastic ziplock lunch bags. Just pop them in the dishwasher after each outing. Available in a range of vibrant colours, designs and sizes.

Reusable Sandwich Bags, Lunchskins, from CA$8.49 each, Raspberry Kids

Slip an activity book and some crayons or a favourite story into this handy, washable zip-up clutch and you’re all set for take off.

Plane Clutch Bag, Zid Zid, A$40, Red Chilli Designs

One of the great things about travel is remembering all the fun things you saw, heard and did. This terrific journal lets kids plan a trip, take notes on the way, play games and learn about capitals, explorers, adventurers, foreign currencies and more. With bright illustrations inspired by the book, My Granny Went to Market – A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme, this could be the most cherished memento from your next holiday.

My Travel Journal, Mudpuppy, CA$10.99, Raspberry Kids

Self-confessed hoarders Natalie Jeffcott and Nick Fitzgerald struck on the idea for Arthur’s Circus whilst attempting to decorate their son’s nursery.

Frustrated by a lack of vintage toys and artwork needed to furnish Arthur’s room, the pair decided to open a store full of childhood nostalgia, much of which they had collected over the years. As luck would have it, the couple didn’t need to travel far to find the perfect locale.

“We were living above the store and had used the shop front for storage,” said Natalie. “We thought, why don’t we put the space to better use?”

Three years on and the North Melbourne address is a popular haunt for collectors and lovers of iconic childhood imagery, toys, artwork and lighting. And wee Arthur is one such enthusiast.

Natalie admits their family often has difficulty parting with rare finds. “Sometimes they (collectables) come home and live with us for a while,” she said. “Arthur actually picked two board games for his bedroom that were initially for sale in the shop – both from 1938 – ‘Snow White’ and the ‘Three Little Pigs’.”

Vintage board games are a favourite of Natalie’s too, but her current whimsy is a selection of original Galaxy soda bottles. “They’re from the States and were for soda syrup, but the company went bust before distribution.”

Open three days a week Arthur’s Circus is an LMNOP favourite, and a must for the young and young-at-heart.

Arthur’s Circus is located at 631 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne.
Phone: +61 4 1271 3202. Arthur’s Circus

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in San Francisco anytime soon, make sure you stop by Miette Confiserie. Located in the Hayes Valley district, Miette is a magical candy store filled with a grand assortment of chocolates and candies from all over the world. The perfect place to find a gift for the sweet-tooth in your life.

Miette Confiserie is located at 449 Octavia Boulevard, San Francisco CA.
Phone: 415 626 6221. Miette

1. Børnelund
Sit and rest while the kids play. 1-3-12, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Phone: + 813 5785 0860.

2. Kiddyland
Another multi-story toy emporium filled with Japanese action figures, cute, cuddly dolls and battery-operated character toys.
6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Phone: +813 3409 3431.

3. Junie Moon
Blythe dolls fill this pretty boutique. 4-3, 1F Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku.
Phone: +813 3496 0740.

4. Lotus Baguette
Lotus makes delicious organic breads daily. The coffee is pretty good too.
21-1, Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Phone: +813 3462 0801.

5. Kodomo Beams
Kodomo Beams stock local and international clothing labels for kids.
19-7 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Phone: +813 5428 4844.

6. Caramel Baby & Child
Luxurious baby and child clothing. Hillside Terrace, C 29-10, Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Phone +813 5784 2345.

7. Hillside Pantry
Grab a quick bite to eat at this inexpensive lunch spot. G-B1 Hillside Terrace, 18-12 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Phone: +813 3496 6620.

8. Hakuhinkan Toy Park
Tokyo’s best known toy store is truly worth a visit. 8-8-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku.
Phone: +813 3571 8008.

9. Sayegusa
Sayegusa has been dressing children in fine clothing since 1869. 7-8-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Phone: +813 3573 2441.

10. Tokyu Hands
Set aside plenty of time to check out this fascinating store. There’s something for every member of the family. 2-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Phone +813 3538 0109.

11. Ladurée
Macaroons – Marie-Antoinette style. Ginza Mitsukoshi, 2F, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Phone: +813 3563 2070.

12. Ito-ya
World-famous, specialised stationery store. Ito-ya. 2-7-15, Ginza, Chuo-ku.
Phone: +813 3561 8311.

Jennifer Talbot has a growing reputation for creating cool installations for kids’ rooms. Here, she’s custom-designed a 3D felt globe with Velcro-ed moveable animals, landmarks and cultural symbols. It includes a tree from the Redwood Forest, China’s rice fields as well as a raft of symbols referencing favourite sports teams and places the clients one day hope to visit with their children.

Talbot says she can make interactive maps or globes to order. “Places where dinosaurs lived, landmarks of a home state – whatever. The possibilities are endless!”

For more details visit jentalbot.com