RubyTwins

I am looking for trip ideas. I have 13 year old boys. I don't have an endless budget (so not some high end trip but something we can cobble together). I thought some sort of hiking trip in Europe that also incorporates some small towns and culture. Probably next summer (possibly spring break)--so maybe not where we will pass out from heat. But what would that trip be? Let's be realistic.... we aren't going to hike more than 6-8 miles per day. I am fit but not a super jock. We love natural beauty. We loved Orvieto last spring (thanks to this board). IT was great to walk around but then have a delicious dinner and see beautiful art.

London and Cornwall or somewhere else in England? Anyone have an idea for that?

Italian Dolomites?

Scotland?

Any and all itineraries and ideas would be appreciated.

jamikins

We did a week hiking in the Dolomites and loved it. We based in Ortisei and took lifts up to the hikes every day. Highly recommend it and it was very easy.

You can see our pics here
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]

jamikins

You can read about it here - 2nd half of the report

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-dolomites.cfm

janisj

Spring Break would be a little early for much of the UK, but early summer Scotland would be wonderful. Scotland it totally full of castles, fabulous scenery, hikes/lochs/waterfalls, history, wildlife - a kids paradise. Edinburgh for maybe 3 days and the rest in one or two scenic regions.

London and Cornwall/Devon would be good too but you'd really want about 2 full weeks for that.

RubyTwins

Jamikens... loved your photos and trip report. Wondering how intense the hiking is. We live in Brooklyn... and wonder will my kids fall off a cliff? I love Italy.. love the idea of fresh air and then pigging out on great food and wine.

Janisj... I know nothing about Scotland but maybe I should be looking at where to go there. Fly into Edinburgh then or train from London? I guess I need to do more research. Is August really hot?

We can probably do 12-14 days in the summer.

janisj

>>Fly into Edinburgh then or train from London? I guess I need to do more research.<<

Lots of different options. Fly into EDI or GLA, or fly into London and fly up, or fly into Amsterdam then fly to EDI/GLA -- or into Paris and on to EDI, etc.

You could fly into London and then take the train up - but doing that you'd really want to stay a night or two in London. There is no train from LHR to Scotland so you'd have to travel into central London and then catch the train which would make for a VERY long travel day if you did it on arrival.

>>Is August really hot?<<



They don't do HOT in Scotland. In August you will hope they do some warm.

One problem w/ August -- IF you plan any time IN Edinburgh you will need to book months ahead (like 9-10 months) and be prepared for sky high room rates. Every other month - that isn't an issue, but there are several gigantic festivals and the Military Tattoo all running essentially the whole month of August and the city doubles in size (triples on weekends)

The festivals/Tattoo are fantabulous -- but unless you are visiting FOR them, it would be better to avoid August.

dreamon

Outside the brief but... I took my 15year old son on a trip and knowing that he'd want something active (and also knowing that my fitness is a bit limited) I arranged for us to stay in Meersburg on Bodensee (Lake Constance) from where we did some day trips by bike. The lake is perfect for cycling as there is a lakeside path for much of it and it's pretty flat. We also did some day trips by ferry and train. Check http://www.bodensee.eu/en/cycling for inspiration.

And on another holiday (kids then aged 9 and 12) we spent some time hiking in the Bernese Oberland which they absolutely loved. We stayed in Lauterbrunnen but any of the mountain villages would be lovely. Switzerland is expensive but we self catered a fair bit which both suited us and contained costs. There are various transport passes available if needed (kids travel close to free so go before they get too old!).

These two locations could be combined into a wonderful active holiday.

jamikins

The hiking ranges greatly. You can do anything from gentle walking on paved paths in meadows to climbing up cliffs. There are lots of huts to stop for refreshments and I believe the hikes are all well marked so you know how difficult they are.

Hubby and I only did easy hikes, the mountains in the pics we did not climb! There was either a gentle declining walk beside the mountains or a lift up to the top and back down.

Just be sure to get a decent map, these are easy to find!

jamikins

Your kids (and you) may also like seeing Otis, the Iceman, in Bolzano...definitely worth a visit

http://iceman.it/en/

jamikins

Here is the info about the lifts in the Val Gardena region...spring break is probably too early for the area because the lifts don't open till May/June...later the better

http://www.gardenacard.com/card.pdf

http://www.valgardena.it/en/hiking-biking/gardena-card/

Ingo

Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland would be perfect, especially for spring break. National parks on both side of the German-Czech border. Bizarre sandstone rock formations, like the biggest sandstone arch in central Europe, flat-top mountains, canyons (partially with boat tours), hiking, cycling, climbing (even watching is fun!).

Lots of cultural activities also. And sights. Fortress Königstein, castle Decin, paddle steamer trips on the Elbe river. Picturesque small towns and villages like Kurort Rathen, Stadt Wehlen e.g. on the German side, Jetrichovice, Chribska, Doubice e.g. on the Czech side.

Inexpensive, too, especially on the Czech side. The German side is more developed, better infrastructure/transportation/spa and fun activities, better hotels.

RubyTwins

Thanks these are great ideas. I have heard Switzerland is pricey so I was trying to avoid that. What about the French Alps?
Sorry to be so vague... I guess I need a direction to start investigating.

janisj

>>Sorry to be so vague... I guess I need a direction to start investigating.<<

Get yourselves to a library or book store . . . You need to look at a couple of guide books. Ask 8 Fodorites the best place for a family/hiking trip and you will get 14 or 15 different suggestions. And they will all be right. There are literally hundreds of places you could go. So read up a bit, narrow down to the 2 or 3 that interest you most and we can help you

bvlenci

The Salzkammergut, in Austria, near Salzburg, has great hiking opportunities. My daughter and I did a hike starting in Hallstatt (a really beautiful town). The tourist office had maps listing hikes of all levels of difficulty. I'm sure all the other towns in the area also have tourist offices that can help with hiking opportunities.

At high altitudes, the heat is rarely a problem. We once did an eight-hour mountain hike in Abruzzo in August, and it wasn't too hot. We were staying in the town of Pescasseroli, in the Apennine mountains. The town tourist office offered hikes with guides (free) and the B&B where we were staying also offered guided hikes at no cost. (The guide was the brother (a former park service guide) of the owner of the B&B.

colduphere

Iceland - incredibly beautiful but you're less likely than other places to end the day with a delicious dinner and beautiful art.

Put it on your list for someday.

330east

1. Camino de Santiago
2. Cinque Terre