The elevation changes in Lisbon provide drama. On foot, you can see streets intersecting at all sorts of odd angles. Get to the top of one of the city's seven hills and you will find sweeping views. The problem is that everybody else is trying to take-in those same vistas. The Portuguese have a word, Miradouro, which means viewpoint. I have no doubt you will find Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara or Miradouro da Graça and all the other famous viewpoints. This list is for some out-of-the-way, less obvious locations that provide great views with fewer people around. I hesitate to call these undiscovered or unknown views in Lisbon. They exist ergo they are known. Let's call them unconventional. These spots are rarely in the guide books and aren't part of the Instagram algorithm yet. I want to share these spots, most of which I found by accident, because they are slyly spectacular.

Have you ever taken your kids to a playground with a coffee in your hand? How about a beer? Glass of wine? At your home playground, that may be frowned upon. But, in Lisbon, playgrounds and refreshment kiosks often enjoy a symbiotic relationship. There are dozens of refreshment kiosks (quiosques) scattered around Lisbon serving coffee, beer, wine, classic drinks and an array of snacks or bites – no two kiosks menus are exactly alike. Locals have a place to meet up with friends or colleagues. Visitors have a chance for a unique cultural experience. Every now and then, those kiosks pop up near playgrounds. Or is it the other way around? Either way, here are a few exceptionally safe spots for you to unwind or recharge while your kids get some wiggles out.

The magnificent tile! It’s hard to resist falling in love with the azulejos (tiles) adorning the buildings of Lisbon. It seems cliché and obvious, but those tiles are ubiquitous and will overwhelm you with the sheer number of façades. Only a cold heart is impervious to their charm. And, most can be easily viewed from street level -- even while pushing a stroller. You will see tiles everywhere you go. So, it almost seems silly to suggest a tile walking route because any walking route automatically becomes a de facto tile walking route just by virtue of being in Lisbon! It would be like suggesting a blue sky walk, or a bacalhau restaurant walk – it will automatically happen! Instead, EFTF has highlighted a few areas in which to pay extra attention to the tiles. These areas can be folded into a day’s itinerary or be the target of a special trip by an especially smitten family member. These are presented in descending order of appropriateness for children. It’s not that tiles aren’t appropriate for children; it’s more that kids aren’t doing cartwheels in excitement for them. And as we move down this list, the tiles can be within a child’s reach – breakable!