How a November birthday trip became an unexpected Scottish festival, a culinary adventure, and a slow-travel win for our ADHD seven-year-old
There are many ways to celebrate turning another year older. You could have a quiet dinner, pop some champagne, or, if you’re me, sitting on a gorgeous rooftop terrace in Athens, while a waiter accidentally dumps a full glass of sticky juice directly over your head.
The view of the beautifully lit Parthenon was spectacular. The ambient November air was perfect. The apology from the staff? Non-existent. They didn’t even offer a discount on the bill! So, yes, I spent my birthday dinner with juice dripping down my neck, paying full price for the privilege. Even my beautiful new leather sandals were sticky!
But honestly? Not even a surprise fruit juice hair mask could ruin our weekend.
We had escaped to Athens for a short November break, specifically choosing late autumn to avoid the brutal, sensory-overloading Mediterranean summer heat. For our seven-year-old daughter, whose vibrant ADHD energy means “sightseeing” has to be managed like a military operation, the cooler weather was an instant win. Smaller crowds (In theory, see the surprise below) and crisp air meant fewer meltdowns, allowing us to tackle one of the most ancient cities in the world entirely on our own terms.
The Return of the Laminated Secret Weapon
If you read my previous post about our trip to Pompeii, you already know my number one parenting hack: the bespoke, laminated scavenger hunt.
Naturally, the laminator was fired up before we left for Greece. Armed with her list of specific things to spot around the Acropolis and a tdry-erase marker in her pocket (and two spare in mine), our daughter turned a potentially dry walk up a steep hill into an interactive quest. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the ruins, she was on a mission.
That focus carried right into the city’s two main museums. We’ve learned that giving a high-energy child a specific job helps so much, so we appointed her as our Head Photographer. Armed with a camera, she spent the first few rooms completely absorbed in snapping countless photos of the ancient artifacts. It didn’t last but that’s ok. I fell back on my museum trick. I take a million photos of the items and the information so I can “revisit” later.
Staying Small and Snacking Big
Our saving grace for the weekend was our base. We stayed right in the heart of Plaka, the historic old neighbourhood nestled right under the shadow of the Acropolis. Because everything we wanted to see was practically on our doorstep, we didn’t have to navigate complicated public transport or drag tired feet across the city. We kept our radius small and our pace slow.
It also put us right in the thick of a hilarious, unexpected invasion. As it turned out, Scottish football fans had descended on Athens in absolute force that weekend. I was standing in the cradle of Western civilization, yet everywhere I turned, there were kilts and Scottish accents filling the outdoor tables with pints of beer everywhere. It added a brilliant, surreal sort of festival energy to the whole neighbourhood and I really felt at home. I actually met someone from my home town of Kirriemuir. It was strange.
Our daily itinerary was essentially dictated by two things: endless water stops and a backpack overflowing with snacks. We broke up the history with frequent pauses to just sit, rehydrate, and people-watch.
And oh, the food! I absolutely love trying new dishes, and Athens is a culinary dream. We ate incredibly well, diving into sizzling souvlaki, rich moussaka, my daughter ate her weight in dolmades and, for the adults, a well-deserved glass of ouzo with ice as an aperitivo to take the edge off the day. Next to the hotel was a tiny shop serving goat’s milk ice cream. It was creamy, unique, and worth the trip alone.
I would honestly go back to Athens tomorrow just for the food.
The Universal Language of Play
Of all the incredible history we witnessed, my favourite memory of the trip happened at the Panathenaic Stadium: the magnificent, marble birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.
Seeing that massive, open track, our daughter’s ADHD superpower kicked into overdrive. She didn’t just walk the grounds; she ran a literal victory lap around the stadium track, burning off every ounce of extra energy with a massive grin on her face. (We could have used that for the walk back though.)
When she finally tapped out, we walked over to a nearby shady park to wind down. There, she fell in with a group of local Greek children. It didn’t matter that she didn’t speak a word of Greek, (beyond yes, no and thank you (thank you Duolingo)) or that they didn’t speak English or Italian. Watching them run around laughing was a nice reminder that children possess their own universal language of play.
We left Athens with tired feet, sticky memories (literally, in my case), and full bellies. It wasn’t a conventional birthday trip, but exploring ancient history at the pace of a joyful seven -year-old turned out to be the perfect gift for this history nerd.
Over to you: Have you ever travelled off-season to escape the heat with kids? And more importantly—what’s the worst restaurant mishap you’ve ever had to pay full price for? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
