gain5095

Our family of 4 will be visiting these 2 countries for one month in July and I have no reservations yet...anywhere. Our boys are 7 & 9 and we would like to have an itinery that allows for some typical sightseeing but breaks it up with some days of fun, run and play time. Based on what I have read in these forums, I am thinking fly into Prague for 5 nights, train down to Cesky Krumlov for 1-2 nights, get to Salzburg (somehow) for 5 nights. Rent a car in Salzburg and visit surrounding villages. End of trip take train to Vienna for 5 nights and fly home. Obviously, we have about 12 more days to fill, but where? Should we spend more nights in each place? Branch out more? We prefer to be centrally located when staying in the the bigger cities. My boys are great but when they get tired, they are WAY too big for me to carry! Looking for favorite places to stay, "must do" excursions, and relaxation. We prefer local spots to fancy tourist places. Ideas? Suggestions? Cautions? Thanks!

joannyc

I think your boys would enjoy the luge runs and salt mines.

SloJan2

I would reduce the time in Prague. It is a lovely city but for 2 boys at that age, I would move on after 3 days. Head south to Cesky Krumlov, do some rafting, hiking and explore the village. Then, onto Salzburg. Explore. Train to Vienna, rent a car after exploring the city and tour through Slovenia. Do the Soca River Valley, go hiking, canyoning and wine tasting. Go to Predjama and Postojna, Ljubljana and Bled, Piran, Lipica,and/or Skocjan. Drive back to Vienna and fly out.

I have raised two children in this area and it is wonderful for them. Tons to do, child friendly and a very athletic and beautiful environment.

gain5095

I have heard of the salt mines but where are the luge runs? They would LOVE that! Thanks!

gain5095

Good advice on Prague. We love outdoors and will move on after we recover from the flight and do just a little in the city. Any places you suggest we stay? We have found a place in Vienna but that is it. I would at least like to book a place for those first few nights in Prague. Also printing this so I make sure to look up all the Slovenia towns. We want a relaxing trip as much as possible. As you know, traveling with children is exhausting anywhere. Thanks for the help!

joannyc

Here's some info on two luge runs near Salzburg... Sommerrodlebahn

http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/salzburgrse410_descr.htm

joannyc

You can take the Lobo shuttle from CK to Salzburg (I think there are other options also available these days).

With your extra days, I'd spend time in St. Wolfgang and Hallstatt. The kids would like the steam train up the mountain in SW. You could do the arial tram in St. Gilgen.. And, the salt mines in Hallstatt would be cool for them. Hallstatt is one of the most beautiful villages in the world!

iris1745

Hi. www.shuttlebus.cz will get you from CK to Salzburg.

This site will give you info on Prague. www.inyourpocket.com/czech_republic/prague

I have a friend an hour north from Salzburg that has a B&B on a small farm. Tiny town with one good restaurant. Would the boys like to spend a night or two on a farm?

iris1745

Booking.com/prague This is a good site for reviews and too make reservations.

Just make sure you see 'free cancellations' if you use this site.

gain5095

Yes, if the farm has animals, they would love it! I would too because they could have a little more freedom to run around outside.

iris1745

You would need to rent a car in Linz. Train from CK to linz.

Friends are organic farmers. Last time we were there, rabbits are plentifull.

If interested, I will give you their e-mail and then you could see if this would work.

Then do have one large family room.

fourfortravel

In Vienna, try to include Schloss Schonbrunn on your itinerary. While the palace tour might not interest small children, on the grounds there is a maze and labyrinth that's fun to explore, as well as Europe's oldest zoo. Also consider an afternoon at the Prater, Vienna's amusement park, where you can buy tickets for individual rides. The family can also rent four-person bicycles to tour the Prater green space. The Natural History Museum is old-school, meaning that there are few "hands-on" activities, but our children (11 and 16) love it--cases of beautiful gems, insects, animals all arranged in gorgeous rooms; across the street from the museum is the Volksgarten, with plenty of space to burn off a little energy.

If your family is game for an easy-to-moderate afternoon hike in the vineyards, there is a walk from the end of the D tram in Vienna that offers great views and multiple heurigen (very casual wine taverns that serve small plates of fresh meats and cheese--children are welcome) at which to take a break. No special equipment is needed for the walk; we see families in their Sunday best walking up to the heurigen in nice weather all the time.

gain5095

Would love to book your friends B&B for 1 night! Please send details.

gain5095

Vienna info sounds perfect for us. I will add to our itinerary! Trip is filling out nicely thanks to you all!

iris1745

Hi gain5095. Look for contacts on the web site and you will find the office e-mail.

Raja will answer all your questions.

They have a large apartment looking out over their farmland down to the road. That is the room you would want.

The restaurant in the small town serves good food. The owner when we were there 3 or 4 years ago, I think was 96 and the daughter in her 60's.

Farm has been in Berti's family for centuries. Wonderful, interesting, lovely people.

www.geinberg-suites.com/site/via_nova.htm

P.S. Tell Raja Anne and Dick expects to see him and Berti in Spain in August. He knows the dates.

NorCal_Jo

I second the comments on fun in Vienna and Salzburg areas. Last summer, we spent 4 days in Vienna and 6 days in St. Wolfgang in Salzkammergut region with our 3 and 5 year old and it was so much fun for all. In Vienna, we went to the Prater for an afternoon and we all had so much fun renting bikes, riding the train, and doing tons of these old time amusement park rides that we went back the next day again! Lots of other fun stuff in Vienna as other posters mentioned. We wanted to do a boat ride up the river but ran out of time...

We then drove to the Salzkammergut region which was gorgeous. We rented a great apartment in middle of St Wolfgang about 2 minutes from lake and one day did a road trip to Salzburg (our kids a little young to really like Salzburg other than the playground we found) and other days did the steamtrain ride up the mountain in St. Wolfgang, ferry ride around the lake and to St. Gilgen (great playground with zip line right by ferry dock), one day rented a little power boat and cruised around the St. Wolfgangsee and let the kids drive the boat, one day road trip to another lake in the region and picnics, one day just hanging around st. wolfgangsee and surrounding villages, swimming in the lake (beach/playground that you can pay to get access to swimming beach straight across from St. Wolfgang), another great playground on edge of village with the coolest gigantic rope swings I've ever seen (better for 7-10 year olds than mine but they still loved it). It was so fun and relaxing and the village had tons of character and great restaurants for families. I really recommend to stay outside of Salzburg and day trip in as your boys will love being more in the mountains/lake district I bet. I've heard the mines are very interesting but our kids are still too young and scared of the dark so we stuck with searching for great playgrounds.

You probably sensed a theme, we always managed to find a playground with the kids our age After living in UK for 5 years, I am tempted to write a book about "Great Playgrounds in Europe".....

NorCal_Jo

PS - one luge run is right by St. Wolfgangsee (across lake from St. Wolfgang).

iris1745

This hotel has a room for families and is very centrally located. www.kvu.at

gain5095

Had to LOL at Nor Cal playground comment! We spent one summer in Chile and did same thing. I made notes on all things you listed to look up more info. We love all those things, thanks!

gain5095

Last question. Other than our first few days in Prague and our last few days in Vienna, do we really need hotel reservations? I don't really want to be tied to a strict schedule in case we find some unplanned adventures worth exploring.