Banff

I am facing a dilemma with travel plans next summer. I have two boys, one is 12 and the other is 5. Common sense tells me that I should take them to my favorite spot - the Pacific NW and Canadian Rockies b/c they would enjoy that more. However, we have a limited budget and with the dollar gaining a little on the Euro and 4 ff tickets I am thinking more about Europe. I know that this may not be as fun for kids as hiking to waterfalls, seeing whales, and canoeing on glacial lakes but I do want to expose them to the world while we have the resources (4 ff tickets) to do so.

Thoughts and arguments for either option appreciated.

zeppole

You can do all those things in Europe. Try Iceland -- which could use your money. Your kids might love the thermal lagoons in addition to Europe's biggest waterfall, whale watching and glaciers.

Or go to Switzerland. No whales, but great cable car rides.

If they like pizza, try the Dolomiti, and then drop down to Venice for a gondola ride, or lots of fun on Lago di Garda.

But if they are going to sulk the whole time because they'd rather be in Canada, the exchange rate isn't *that* good.

Fodorite018

We have done both with our kids. If you are using miles, I would go as far as I could. Our kids were 4 and 7 the first time we went to Europe. We have been back several times, and will be back in June. We used ff miles for our tickets and of course are happy to see the euro where it is at. Our kids have commented many times at how thankful they are for their experiences, both here and abroad. Go for it! You have nothing to lose, and the PNW and Canadian Rockies will still be here for you for more explorations.

Viajero2

Get the most value for you FF; go to Europe, specifically Germany's Bavarian Forest and Switzerland with hikes and outdoor scenery. Go to Holiday-rentals.com and check out a nice rural house in the German or Swiss countryside. The 5 year old may not remember as much but neither he will about the Canadian Rockies anyway....

greg

I would take them to Europe now.

We took our two kids progressively further away from home in the U.S., and were planning to take them to Europe when they got older.

It was a mistake.

As they got past 12yr old, traveling with parents to Europe had to be the least cool thing to do. They just wanted to do what other teenagers did -- go to the Disney World, etc.

padams421

Try Iceland, Norway, Sweden or Switzerland. Get the most from your ff tickets.

I have sons ages 11 and 12. They would much rather go to Europe than the Pacific NW, and they've been to both areas numerous times.

gruezi

I agree that after about 13, kids can sometimes hit a wall with family travel. Go to Europe now while your kids are flexible and easy. Life is uncertain and you never know when you'll next be able to or if you'll want to strangle them let alone travel with them.

gruezi

jennifero35

My kids are 7 and 9 and absolutely love going to Europe. This March will be their third trip. If you have never been, then go for it. They might surprise you.

Banff

I'm surprised that Europe seems to be a unanimous vote but I guess this is a Europe board. Many friends and family think Europe is a wasted trip while the kids are too young to enjoy it. They mostly suggest more 'active' trips.

I would love to go to Iceland and Scandinavia, however, our ff tickets don't go there.

I would also like a cruise but I'm not sure about the $$$. Otherwise we have been thinking of the castles of Germany or Italy or Greece with the boys?

travelerjan

Cruise is a bad idea ... mainly about the sailing, with SHORT port stops where old geezers get off & shop.

How about Greece?!?! If you go in JUNE, not July-August (those months are mobbed w EU charter flights), it is miles cheaper than N. Europe -- great for active boys!
Nafplio is a 2.5 hour drive from Athens AP -- has THREE forts/castles right in town to clamber over, and neat forts & other ruins within 20 miles ... including Nemea, the #2 site for "sacred games" after Olympia -- stadium, arena, etc. Beaches too of course. Then fly or ferry to an island like Naxos that's fun for kids AND adults.
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh
An island like Naxos has golden beaches galore, mountains to hike, ancient statues, water sports (and a a "studio" for 4 w. balcony & kitchenette can cost 60€ per nite). THey run around (it's safe safe safe) and you can loll on beach. Save 2 days in Athens for the last -- climb the acropolis, buy souvenirs.

Here are a Fodorite's slide shows of Nafplio and some area sites -- Mycenae, Tiryns, Epidaurus, Nemea


Plus a slide show of Naxos; MUCH more fun w. kids than santorini or Mykonos (tho if you insist, Naxos is the island that has day excursions to both the above):
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552001505EYxVYT

Celticharper

Try Europe, it's not just dusty museums you know. The hiking, canoeing/kayaking cable rides to mountain tops are wonderful and if anything more popular in Europe than they are here in the states.

The French Alps, or Switzerland would be fabulous for them. I guarantee that they would remember for a lifetime the view and experience from the top of the Jungfrau in Switzerland. Taking 3 small trains from Interlaken, changing in small villages along the way, traveling through a tunnel through the mountain that lasts (as I remember) about 15 minutes. Then on the summit, taking a dog sled ride or a zip line or just walking around on the glacier and having a snowball fight is an amazing adventure for any child.

Or in France, the area around Chamonix has wonderful activities, hikes, cable to the top of Mont Blanc, horseback riding, kayaking, you name the outdoor sport and it is popular in Europe. The cables to Pic du Midi on the top of the mountain, with another cable over the glacier to Italy. The view out over the Alps into Switzerland and Italy is fabulous.

Or instead of canoeing a glacial lake how about walking on an actual glacier and through a tunnel into one after a train ride up to the "mer de glace" or in English the "sea of ice".

France also has wonderful parks called adventure parks. But unlike in America, there are no "rides" or mechanical devices. In France an adventure park is an obstacle course set in the trees. With safety tethers they are perfectly safe, but an injury claims attorneys dream I'm sure , so we are not likely to see such parks here in the states.

We did one of the Adventure parks in France and it was great fun.

Here is a video of a sample of the activities, and yes there were children 12 doing these adventures and they also had a course for the 5 year olds as well.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06317861339133

Imagine doing all the things that you've done in the rockies, but done with the added spice of being in a "foreign" country.

Exposing your children to something that is very different from that which they've experienced so far will widen their horizons in ways that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Open their minds and hearts to what's out there and show them both how big and how small the world is.

Apres_Londee

Please don't listen to the people who tell you taking your children to Europe is a "wasted" trip!

Do a search and you'll find plenty of posters who travel to Europe with children. My own parents travelled throughout Europe with me as a baby, and that was not "wasted" time because as a kid I loved looking at the photos and hearing about our adventures. From that I learned quite a bit about European geography and history and I certainly got bitten by the travel bug quite early as a result.

If you are travelling in the summer, maybe think about Germany instead of Italy or Greece. I think any 5 or 12 year old boy would have a blast in Germany- there are not only the castles but also lots of opportunities for outdoor activity. Mybe think about a visit to the Black Forest, for example.

PatrickLondon

I'm sure I've seen films of ski resorts which in summer have slides down mountainsides, pony-trekking and mountain biking (there's a reason why it's called that), and so on. Europeans do outdoors too!

rogeruktm

I wouldn't go to Europe and do the same things you would on a vacation with the kids in America. I would take them to Europe to show them the differences in people and culture. I firmly believe that when you do a family vacation in Europe that it is done for the adults which allows for the kids to learn about history.

teacherCanada

Hi Banff

I've raised 6 sons and I regret not taking all of them to Europe yet. I hope to remedy that before too long.

I also escort school groups to Europe and I have very few regrets. Neither do the teenagers. Your five year old will remember lots - and with pictures and videos to back him up he will remember the trip forever.

I understand you hesitation with respect to cost. There are lots of ways to minimize cost and maximize experience. I (along with lots of others on this board) are aware of opportunities to reduce costs. Please let us help you as you plan the trip you and your family will never forget.

best wishes

teacherCanada

Banff

I watched the video of the 'adventure park' in France and it is ironic because outside of Vancouver that have something very similar that we were looking to do.

While I appreciate all the suggestions of 'outdoor' activities in Europe I don't really want to exchange Pacific NW outdoors for European outdoors. Perhaps this is the reason my family and friends strongly suggest one over the other. If we go to EUrope I want to expand the boys horizon culturally and historically. I want to go to EUrope for the Acropolis, Pantheon, Colosseum, castles, medieval towns, etc. I don't know if my family feel that 12 and 5 year olds can appreciate those things at this point - while they know they would love the outdoor activities of the NW.

zeppole

But what if the adults don't want to do what you want to do?

I wouldn't drag a kid through Europe without consideration for their interests and enjoyment, especially if this is billed as "the family vacation."

We've all had the experience of avoiding things for years just because we were forced to study them as children when we were too young to understand them, and therefore developed negative feelings about them and the idea we didn't like those things. If you're lucky, you later just stumble across that same thing as an adult at a time when you can see its worth -- and you no longer keep rejecting it.

But why set up that problem? Above all, a family vacation should be a time when adults have more time to be together and express their love for their children. Not a selfish exercise where the kids just get outvoted because they're powerless.

zeppole

Sorry Banff. My post was addresssed at roger.

I think a five-year old would love the Colosseum and the Pantheon. I think it's hard for anybody to like the Acropolis in summertime. It's too hot. I don't know if they'll be culturally "expanded", but they'll probably have fun. They might like the cats there, too.

One place you might check out is Verona: great Roman amphitheater, great medieval castle, but also a nearby lake on the outside chance that you'd all enjoy a boat ride or some windsurfing, along with your history. (Plus Gardaland!) From Verona it's not far to Mantova, or Venice.

That could easily fill your dance card for two weeks and be a real mix of fab history and fun.

zeppole

PS: If you pick the right time to go to Verona, you can hear opera under the stars in the Roman amphitheatre. It's quite the event -- and I've heard kids love it.

It's funny, but when you said in your original post that you wanted to expose them to the world while you have the resources, I thought that so many European glaciers are melting so fast, and Venice is sinking, you might look at it that way too!

Celticharper

A family vacation isn't the time to bore the children to death.

Believe it or not there are adults who travel to Europe to do things other than visit museums an "learn abour history" you know.

The hiking, skiing, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking and other outdoor adventures lure as many people to Europe as do the museums.

Children learn in many ways, seeing the monuments in the square or hearing the stories by mountain guides and new found friends with historical tidbits will start a conversation that the children will remember long after the trudge through the museum is forgotten.

Hiking over a Roman bridge that Hitler's armies attempted to destroy will have more impact than hearing lectures on European history or seeing old trinkets in glass encased displays.