Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and one of only three cities with an international airport. Chances are, in you’re traveling to Scotland (particularly eastern Scotland), you’re going to visit Edinburgh. And if you’re going to visit Edinburgh, you’re going to want to explore the Royal Mile. From the Palace of Holyrood at Canongate, along High Street to Edinburgh Castle on Castlehill, the Royal Mile has been the main thoroughfare of Old Town Edinburgh since the mid 1700′s. Today, it’s the most bustling tourist zone in the city, but for good reason. History and modernity mix together along the Royal Mile, making it a fascinating path of historic travel, a haven for shoppers and diners, and an entertaining travel experience for families. Here are five essential stops along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile for families. http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=c9a5c009fd Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and one of only three cities with an international airport. Chances are, in you're traveling to Scotland (especially eastern Scotland), you're going to visit Edinburgh. And if you're going to visit Edinburgh, you're going to want to explore the Royal Mile. From the Palace of Holyrood at Canongate, along High Street to Edinburgh Castle on Castlehill, the Royal Mile has been the main road of Old Town Edinburgh since the mid 1700's. Today, it's the most hurrying/very busy tourist zone in the city, but for good reason. History and modern ways of thinking and acting mix together along the Royal Mile, making it a fascinating path of historic travel, a safe place for shoppers and diners, and an entertaining travel experience for families. Here are five essential stops along Edinburgh's Royal Mile for families. Difficult words with definitions: Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement 1 particularly especially 2 thoroughfare road 3 bustling hurrying/very busy 4 modernity modern ways of thinking and acting 5 haven safe place Holyrood Palace, or, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Holyrood Palace, or, the Palace of Holyroodhouse At the bottom of the Royal Mile –or easternmost part — At the bottom of the Royal Mile -or easternmost part -- Holyrood Palace has been the official residence of the Kings Holyrood Palace has been the official residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland for centuries (founded as an abbey and Queens of Scotland for centuries (founded as a church in 1128, renovated as a palace circa 1679). Families with in 1128, renovated as a palace(around/approximately) teens who are interested in the royal family should take 1679 ) . Families with teens who are interested in the royal note: Queen Elizabeth spends some time at Holyrood family should take note: Queen Elizabeth spends some time Palace at the beginning of every summer. We were treated at Holyrood Palace at the beginning of every summer. We to a private guided tour of Edinburgh by Kensington Tours; were treated to a private guided tour of Edinburgh by when our Kensington Tours guide took us here, Holyrood Kensington Tours; when our Kensington Tours guide took was closed to visitors because the Queen was somewhere us here, Holyrood was closed to visitors because the Queen inside…and apparently uninterested in meeting my 14 year was somewhere inside...and apparently not interested in old. Imagine that! meeting my 14 year old. Imagine that! Difficult words with definitions: Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=a42cfc0c4f 1 abbey church 2 circa (around/approximately) 3 uninterested not interested Scotland’s Parliament England, or more precisely London ruled Edinburgh for Scotland's Parliament centuries (you may recall there were a few wars about this). centuries (you may recall there were a few wars about this). But when Scotland voted to have its own parliament in But when Scotland voted to have its own parliament in 1997, London agreed and, for the first time since 1707, 1997, London agreed and, for the first time since 1707, Edinburgh’s parliament met again, in 1999, here on the Edinburgh's parliament met again, in 1999, here on the Royal Mile. There are so many medieval structures Royal Mile. There are so many (very old time in in Edinburgh; the modern design of Scotland’s history) structures in Edinburgh; the modern design of Parliament building, newly opened in 2004, is Scotland's Parliament building, newly opened in 2004, is striking and definitely sends a message: This isn’t striking and definitely sends a message: This isn't the past, the past, this is today, and we Scots have our own this is today, and we Scots have our own government now. government now. It sure stands out, and the public foyer It sure stands out, and the public foyer and entrance have and entrance have many symbols of Scottish history on many symbols of Scottish history on display. If your kids display. If your kids are like mine, this won’t be the most are like mine, this won't be the most thrilling stop on the thrilling stop on the Royal Mile, but it’s an important one in Royal Mile, but it's an important one in terms of seeing terms of seeing Scottish history and modernity along the Scottish history and modern ways of thinking and walk. acting along the walk. England, or more exactly London ruled Edinburgh for Difficult words with definitions: Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement 1 precisely exactly 2 medieval (very old time in history) 3 modernity modern ways of thinking and acting http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=8d01be287e Mary King’s Close Many little courtyards, called closes, branch off from the Mary King's Close main street of the royal mile. Edinburgh was once the main street of the royal mile. Edinburgh was once the busiest, most congested city in Europe, and its denizens busiest, most congested city in Europe, and its residents would take the narrow alleys to these more open areas. would take the narrow alleys to these more open areas. Mary King’s Close is probably the most “famous” of these Mary King's Close is probably the most "famous" of these closes. Now underground because other building closes. Now underground because other building were built on top of it, Mary King’s Close was a were built on top of it, Mary King's Close was bustling shopping area with people’s residences a hurrying/very busy shopping area with people's around it in the 1600′s. These days it’s a big tourist residences around it in the 1600's. These days it's a attraction, so if you’re traveling to Edinburgh in the big tourist attraction, so if you're traveling to Edinburgh in summer, plan ahead and make reservations to see “The the summer, plan ahead and make reservations to see "The Real Mary King’s Close.” Yes, it has actors portraying the Real Mary King's Close." Yes, it has actors showing/ various people who lived there, but it’s only a little tacky representing the different people who lived there, but it's and genuinely spooky; wandering through the actual dark, only a little tacky and really/honestlyspooky; wandering enclose spaces (be warned if you had severe claustrophobia) through the actual dark, enclose spaces (be warned if you and makeshift homes, while listening to the story of the had extreme strong fear of being inside a small space) bubonic plague and how it affected people living there, it and temporary/quickly made homes, while listening to the seems fitting to have short scenes brought to life. Children story of the bubonicdisease/badly harm and bother and and young teens will really understand how much more how it affected people living there, it seems fitting to have difficult life was in the 17th century. short scenes brought to life. Children and young teens will Many little courtyards, called closes, branch off from the really understand how much more very hard life was in the 17th century. Difficult words with definitions: Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=df532f6e03 1 denizen resident 2 bustling hurrying/very busy 3 portraying showing/representing 4 various different 5 genuinely really/honestly 6 severe extreme 7 claustrophobia strong fear of being inside a small space 8 makeshift temporary/quickly made 9 plague disease/badly harm and bother 10 difficult very hard Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Camera Obscura and World of Fake images This building is one of five essential stops along This building is one of five essential stops along Edinburgh's Royal Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, but one purely for the kids. Near Mile, but one purely for the kids. Near the top of the Royal Mile, the top of the Royal Mile, with the entrance to Edinburgh Castle almost in sight, it’s a vertical, narrow building with the entrance to Edinburgh Castle almost in sight, it's an upand-down, narrow building housing a camera unknown and several floors worth of (things that trick your eyes into making mistakes housing a camera obscure and several floors worth of about what they see) and games that play with our sense of visual optical illusions and games that play with our sense of perception. This has nothing to do with the history of Edinburgh, visual perception. This has nothing to do with the history of mind you, but children love it. It's a nice break from hearing about Edinburgh, mind you, but children love it. It’s a nice break women having been accused of practicing witchcraft in the Dark from hearing about women having been accused of Ages! Check out the Rotation Tunnel; it's hard to not feel dizzy practicing witchcraft in the Dark Ages! Check out the Vortex Tunnel; it’s hard to not feel dizzy though the room itself is though the room itself is completely unmoving. My younger daughter had such fun exploring all thedifferent rooms and floors of the World of Fake images that we had problems convincing her we completely stationary. My younger daughter had such fun had to leave. The Camera Obscura is a large Victorian periscope that exploring all the various rooms and floors of the World of provides wrap-around views of Edinburgh, including parts of the Illusions that we had problems convincing her we had to Castle. leave. The Camera Obscura is a large Victorian periscope that provides wrap-around views of Edinburgh, including parts of the Castle. Difficult words with definitions: Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement 1 illusions fake images 2 vertical up-and-down 3 obscure unknown 4 optical illusions (things that trick your eyes into making mistakes about what they see) 5 vortex rotation 6 stationary unmoving 7 various different http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=a16ea55b15 Edinburgh Castle Now, this is what the Royal Mile leads up to, the castle on the hill, Edinburgh Castle. You don’t need to buy tickets and be part of a tour group to explore every (public) part of Edinburgh Castle, but a private guided tour such as one provided by Kensington Tours, goes beyond what you’d learn just from wandering around and reading the Edinburgh Castle Now, this is what the Royal Mile leads up to, the castle on the hill, Edinburgh Castle. You don't need to buy tickets and be part of a tour group to explore every (public) part of Edinburgh Castle, but a private guided tour such as one given by Kensington Tours, goes beyond what you'd learn just from wandering around and reading the descriptive plaques. descriptive plaques. A private guide will capably cater exploring Edinburgh Castle to your group or family’s preferences, but some highlights can’t be missed. The One o’clock Gun Exhibition, for example; a gun has been fired every day here (except Sundays, Christmas Day A private guide will capably cater exploring Edinburgh Castle to your group or family's preferences, but some highlights can't be missed. The One o'clock Gun Exhibition, for example; a gun has been fired every day here (except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday) since 1861, to show/point to the time to ships in the Firth of Forward below. The Royal palace gave/given luxury for the royal family (and stands in sharp contract to the homes' seen in Mary King's Close and other closes along the Royal Mile). Mary Queen of Scots lived here, and in this palace gave birth to her son James VI. Mons Meg is one of the world's oldest unharmed and in one piececannons, dating from (around/approximately) 1457. The Crown Jewels are in Edinburgh Castle; these are the Crown, the (royal wand/royal power), and the Sword of State, and they are the oldest crown jewels in all of the British Isles. Our Kensington Tours guide's favorite spot in all of the castle is quiet, small and calm. St. Margaret's Chapel is a and Good Friday) since 1861, to indicate the time to ships in the Firth of Forth below. The Royal palace provided luxury for the royal family (and stands in sharp contract to the homes’ seen in Mary King’s Close and other closes along the Royal Mile). Mary Queen of Scots resided here, and in this palace gave birth to her son James VI. Mons Meg is one of the world’s oldest intact cannons, dating from circa 1457. The Crown Jewels are in Edinburgh Castle; these are the Crown, the Sceptre, and the Sword of State, and they are the oldest crown jewels in all of the British Isles. Our Kensington Tours guide’s favorite spot in all of the castle is quiet, small and serene. St. Margaret’s Chapel is a Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement 1 indicate show/point to 2 forth forward 3 provided gave/given 4 resided lived 5 intact unharmed and in one piece 6 circa (around/approximately) 7 sceptre (royal wand/royal power) 8 serene calm http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=5655b47c30 place of peace amidst all the cannons and other weaponry used for defense through the ages — built first in 1130, it was once a place of private worship for the royal family. Even today, it’s a respite from the crowds, as fewer tourists make their way into the sanctuary. There are, needless to say, lots of other great things to see and experience along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. These five essential stops along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile are for traveling families. Adults might also like the Scotch Whiskey Experience, The Hub, The Witchery by the Castle, St. Giles Cathedral (we loved St Giles Cathedral, but our kids ere bored), and the garden in Dunbar’s Close. It’s a fantastic part of the city. http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=74aad4cfc3 place of peace in the middle of all the cannons and other weapons used for defense through the ages -built first in 1130, it was once a place of private worship for the royal family. Even today, it's an (a) break from the crowds, as fewer tourists make their way into the safe place. There are, needless to say, lots of other great things to see and experience along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. These five essential stops along Edinburgh's Royal Mile are for traveling families. Adults might also like the Scotch Whiskey Experience, The Hub, The Witchery by the Castle, St. Giles Cathedral (we loved St Giles Cathedral, but our kids before bored), and the garden in Dunbar's Close. It's a fantastic part of the city. word/phrase - Easier replacement amidst in the middle of 1 weaponry weapons 2 respite (a) break 3 sanctuary safe place 4 ere Before