Travel Recommendations
In the city of Rio de Janeiro
Rio is a buzzling, beautiful metropolis with lots of tourist attractions (and lots of tourist guides), so we'll only offer a few tips. Beaches: Ipanema has the best waves, Copacana is world-famous, Praia Vermelha is Jonas' favorite, and Leme is Mariana's favorite. Flamengo has a great view of Guanabara Bay and is in a must-see park. You can rent umbrellas/chairs on the beach; vendors sell food, drinks, and much more. DO NOT leave your possesions unattended, not even for a few minutes when swimming! If you're alone, be sure to ask others to keep an eye on your things. Rio looks beautiful from above. Enjoy the view from the Sugarloaf (cable car with optional hike), the Corcovado (train), or Pedra Bonita (hike). The Botanical Garden and Parque Lage are right next to each other, and both are extraordinary. A taste of Rio: Fresh drinks from the juice bars are a must. Google reviews are reasonably reliable for restaurants. Stay tuned for more tips on bars, restaurants, and nightlife!
In Petrópolis
Petrópolis was the summer residence of the Brazilian emperor. The former Imperial Palace has been turned into an interesting mix of an art and history museum. Go for a stroll in the historical city center to explore the colonial-style architecture, including the Cathedral. For literature fans, there is the Casa Stefan Zweig where the Austrian author lived in exile.
In the state of Rio de Janeiro
The state of Rio de Janerio has several nice beach towns for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing, mostly a few hours driving from the city of Rio. Paraty is a beautiful historic town. Ilha Grande is a popular island destination. There are many more: Angra dos Reis, Búzios, Cabo Frio. All these places have fantastic snorkeling and beautiful beaches. Many have hiking, too.
Other destinations in Brazil
You may want to combine your trip to the wedding with more traveling in Brazil. The country is huge and offers a vast array of options, so we will only highlight our #1 recommendation for a state beyond Rio de Janeiro: Minas Gerais is a neighboring, landlocked Brazilian state known for its excellent food and friendly people, and for its historic role in colonial Brazil's gold rush. Ouro Preto is a scenic, small town set in the hills with steep streets and colonial architecture. The small towns Mariana and Ouro Branco have similar profiles, ie alternatives to or day trips from Ouro Preto. Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, would be a logical next step, giving access to long-distance bus connections and an airport. It is a major city with wonderful food and colorful markets (check out the Mercado Central!), as well as the stunning art museum/botanical garden Inhotim (another must!) If you consider travelling to another state of Brazil, feel free to reach out to us for tips.
Child-friendly recommendations
Among the beaches, Praia Vermelha and Leblon are calmer and family-friendly. Leblon has an entire baby section called Baixo Bebê, where you can rent many children's beach toys. Beware of the waves at Ipanema. The Rio Botanical Gardens have a kid's playground that Mariana loved as a child. Parque Guinle, located in the Laranjeiras neighborhood, is another lovely park with a playground, located in a quiet, very safe neighborhood. Hiking depends on age, but most viewpoints (like the Sugarloaf and the Corcovado) can be reached by train or cable car as well. The Corcovado and the Sugarloaf are very fun and exciting for people of all ages! The AquaRio Aquarium and Museum of Tomorrow are indoor-options for rainy (or too sunny) days (with or without kids!) If you're at a restaurant and would like to ask for a high chair, you can ask: "Pode trazer uma cadeirinha de bebê (or cadeirinha infantil), por favor?"