The Scandinavian countries are expensive to travel in. I realize the dollar has gotten stronger against the Euro, but these countries have a different currency. I hope I am wrong about the cost of food. For now, this is my story,and I am sticking to it. Enjoy your trip with your kids. It is hard to decide what to plan almost a year ahead. The economy world wide has taken a hit.

But nametaken, as far as I can tell, Banff doesn't want to go to Scandanavia with his kids.

Oh -- and a year from now, due to the world economy taking a hit -- jet fuel prices could be even lower and the dollar could be even stronger and hotels and rental car companies could be offering significant discounts.

Banff, I apologize I did not read carefully when you said you would love to go to Iceland and Scandinavia but your ff miles would not fly you there. Posters have come up with some good trip options to Europe. I also hope than by summer the recession is over and the economy is once again healthy. Have a good trip.

I definitely agree with letting the kids plan some of the activities - gets them involved in the trip and gives them a vested interest. Plus they learn stuff in the planning process.

When I was a kid, everybody in our family got to pick activities. It was fun. Of course it also meant that we had to visit things we wouldn't have chosen ourselves - the running joke on our family was that if there was an arboretum within 50 miles, my mom would make us go there - and we pointed out how "bore" was central to the word and decided that it was also an adjective meaning boring and lame, as in "This party is soooooo arboredum, I can't wait until we can leave." :)

Wouldn't you know though - I know the names of lots and lots of plants ;)

Thanks for all the great information and suggestions! Honestly, if we decide on Europe (which I am leaning toward, the destination will probably depend on ff availability when we book.

Definetly will find some kid friendly activities.

Let me add my vote for Switzerland, I had taken my kids when they were around 9 & 12 and they loved it, I'm sure yours will too.

Some other thoughts.

We've done hiking in both Switzerland and Austria, and both have those quaint, cute little towns. We prefer Austria - the food is better, and at least when we went (about 15 years ago), it was cheaper and a bit less tourist-filled. As we hike in the U.S. Rockies, where we live, with our kids, we tell them that the hiking is similar, except that in Europe, you reach the end of a long hike, past a bunch of cows, and reach an Alpine cafe that serves beer and wurst! (There are other differences, but that's what I remember.)

We're taken our now-13yo son to Europe 3 times. We tend to NOT do so much those active outdoor things, like biking and canoeing, as we can do them at home (albeit in different, though no less beautiful, surroundings). We all like big and small cities, and museums in moderation. What we've done a lot is to visit castles, which we all love a great deal, and depending on where they are, can involve hiking too, and some climbing and scrambling, depending on how old the castle is. We've visited castles in southwest France, the Loire and the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary (different trips).

Well, I live in the Pacific Northwest and like to travel both there and in Europe. So I'm torn. The 12-year-old is a good age for Europe; it's the 5-year-old I'm not so sure about. That and your wish to cram in many sights. I think you need to slow down a bit with the 5-year-old in mind.

But I think you could have a great vacation in Europe, particularly in Switzerland, southern Germany (castles) and northern Italy (Venice, lakes, Cinque Terre, gelato, Pisa?). And do consider trains for at least part of the trip, especially in Switzerland and the Cinque Terre. Also the buses and boats in Switzerland all connect, making a car there more of an inconvenience.

We took our son to Europe when he was 14. He had a bit of teenageritis. (Marched off by himself in Geneva and got temporarily lost.) And I wished we'd done a practice art museum tour before we left. But we were very glad we went, and he got the European travel bug.

Based on our desires and your suggestions I have three different two week trips in mind:

1) Fly into Vancouver - islands - whale watching - tree top park - Jasper - Banff - Icefields parkway and glacier - Out of Calgary.

2) Fly into Duesseldorf - Mosel - Castle - Rhine - barge/biking and castle - Rothenberg - Neuschwenstien - Lucerne - out of Zurich

3) Into Venice - Siena - San G - Cinque Terra - Rome - Amalfi Coast - Pompeii

Sounds like a great plan! Can I come. :)