The Wachau valley and Krems monastery probably would be a good day outing. Friends rented bicycles and went along the Danube.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157623313123155/

and if you have not had enough Baroque, try Wilhering which probably can be reach by bus from Linz:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/4206025529/in/set-72157622926792957

For a more sober outing, Mauthausen is on the other side of Linz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauthausen-Gusen_concentration_camp

No need for sleeper train--

Vienna-Salzburg 2 3/4 hours

Vienna- Graz 2 1/2 hours

Vienna- Linz 1 1/2 hours.

No need for a expensive pass - cheap fares available and frequent service

train info

www.oebb.at

new Vienna- Linz - Salzburg service by Westbahn firm begins next week.

www.westbahn.at

watch for info about kids- most times under 6 ride free.

Frequent service on these routes - no need for overnighter and not available any way.

Schonbrunn Zoo is an ideal outing with a child. Nice surrpoundings and fine exhibits.

Palace Schlosshof - east of Vienna makes fora nice day trip.

Summer Palace nicely restored - gardens - restaurant and for a child interlude a nice petting zoo with goats - sheep etc. that like kids .

Even a stable for upclose look to the horses.

Many museums have childrens sections for a little play.

the Vienna tourist website will have info on Vienna for families .

www.wien.info

Your child rides free on public transport in Vienna.
You may find the monthly ticket for unlimited ridership to be a bargain - the system is clean , safe and allows transit to all portions of the city.

Melk Abbey is nice and easily reached by regional train.

Limited visiting in winter- check website for tour times.

www.stiftmelk.at

Budapest less than 3 hours by train- special discount fares if purchased in advance .

Venice is nice but very crowded in Carnaval - consider this with a young child.

Prague - less than 5 hours a good visit.

Even Munich 4 1/2 hours.

thanks a lot molker...that info seems very helpful....so u feel that munich/prague would be worth it and i should leave out venice.....even i think so now...maybe italy separately some another time.........
please suggest one out of prague & brno or munich..........

thanks michael....will check out those places.....

Venice is well worth a visit - over night train an option for this journey - but Carnaval- ultra crowded more expensive than normal - perhaps consider it at another time.

Cities to visit - much depends on your interest-

Bratislava - less than 1 hour - but not that interesting - a 1/2 day worth-

Prague and /or Munich - you know your likes -

many would prefer Prague - for architecture - city center.

Instead of Krems monastery I meant Melk Abbey. There is a town of Krems in the Wachau and a Kremsunster monastery/abbey in a different location.

Kremsmunster

other things you might think about a bit closer to Vienna:

tram and then bus to the top of the Kahlenberg [nice sunny day only]

train to the charming village of Gumpoldskirchen

train to Baden - a typical spa town with Beethoven's house.

thx annhig but there s gonna be snow all around so do you think visiting villages would be worthwhile???
Hows Budapest??