Best European destination(s) with two 7 year olds?
May 26th, 2010, 08:33 AM
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Best European destination(s) with two 7 year olds?
My wife and I are planning to take our 7 year old twins to Europe for the first time in April 2011. The problem we're having is deciding where in Europe to take them. The only place we've ruled out is Rome/Tuscany/Venice because my wife and I have done that several times. LOVE IT, but we want something different. Any recommendations are welcome. Right now we're thinking very generally about 4 options: 1) Barcelona --> Dordogne --> Paris; 2) Bavaria --> Austria --> Dolomites; 3) Ireland/British Isles; 4) Southern Italy/Sicily. Any thoughts on these itinerary ideas? Are all of these places kid-friendly? Some moreso than others?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 26th, 2010, 08:39 AM
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Of your choices, at that time of year, I would choose option 4. The weather might be best in southern Italy/Sicily and I'm sure the kids would enjoy some outdoor activities. Italy is very, very kid friendly.
May 26th, 2010, 08:40 AM
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How long would the trip be - 2 weeks, 3 weeks? Boys or girls (might matter somewhat)? What are their interests, or your own for that matter? Are you thinking in terms of castles, more outdoor activities, a combo of both? Are the kids high-energy athletic types, or more quiet and cerebral? Will they be tolerant of museums? Weather is definitely a factor in April, too, in some of those places.
Once you address these inevitable questions (and any I've forgotten to mention), the experts (not me) will be in a better position to pop in with specifics.
Once you address these inevitable questions (and any I've forgotten to mention), the experts (not me) will be in a better position to pop in with specifics.
May 26th, 2010, 08:46 AM
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In April, I'd go south for the best weather- Italy.
When my sons were 6 and 8, we did the Alps-Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. They loved riding the gondolas and funiculars, and hiking. In April, I think such trip would be hampered by snow, rain and chilly temperatures (although you might find some late season skiing).
When my sons were 6 and 8, we did the Alps-Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. They loved riding the gondolas and funiculars, and hiking. In April, I think such trip would be hampered by snow, rain and chilly temperatures (although you might find some late season skiing).
May 26th, 2010, 09:00 AM
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Trip would be about 2 weeks. Fraternal twins - one boy, one girl. Hard to really pin them down as "high energy" or "quiet and cerebral" because it depends on their mood. We went to Chicago several weeks ago and they LOVED it. Still talk about wanting to go back. We hit Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum. They enjoyed all of them and were pretty well behaved. With that being said, I can't imagine dragging them through art museums, even though my wife and I love them. I think they would enjoy castles, ruins, outdoor activities, science, history. They are very inquisitive and eager to learn, so I think just being in a foreign country and experiencing a different culture would be fascinating for them. I see positives and negatives in each of the options. I think Bavaria/Austria would be fun, but that time of year is iffy. I don't want their first trip to Europe to be cloudy and gray. Plus, we're not big winter sports enthusiasts, so places like Innsbruck and the other alpine resort areas don't do much for us. Ireland/British Isles have the same iffy weather, but I think that's year-round. London is EXPENSIVE, but not sure if Scotland, Wales, and Ireland are as well. So cost is an issue. In a way, I think the first option might be safest all-around, but it's the one I know least about, other than Paris. Had never really considered Spain, but I've heard great things, especially where kids are concerned. We LOVE Italy, but how much is there to do in the southern part for kids? If we were returning to Rome and points north, I'd be set, but I'm somewhat ignorant south of Rome.
As you can tell, lots of pros and cons floating through my head right now. Just looking for some guidance.
As you can tell, lots of pros and cons floating through my head right now. Just looking for some guidance.
May 26th, 2010, 09:04 AM
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We took our almost-7-year old to Amsterdam and then thru London to Scotland. He loved Amsterdam, the canals, the boat ride, all of that. And took him Nessie-hunting from Inverness. We made stops at parks and playgrounds for him to run around and meet other kids.
But it was June, not April. So 2) and 3) would be iffy. But April in Paris??? Sounds very nice to me, I would choose 1).
But it was June, not April. So 2) and 3) would be iffy. But April in Paris??? Sounds very nice to me, I would choose 1).
May 26th, 2010, 09:36 AM
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it's pretty hard to advise, but I second the idea of Amsterdam for its wonderful indoor activities -- several kid-oriented museums -- and canal rides and great transportation system to take in other towns for bicycling on fine days. You might think of staying on a houseboat for lots of fun. Combining it with a trip to Bruges -- touristy, yes, but probably just right for kids.
If possibly constantly grey skies is too much of a turn off, my other suggestion would be Andalucia in Spain for the Alhambra, the rock of Gibraltar (Ijust for the kids, I know it's touristy), horseback riding, a flaemenco show, Sevilla with all its colofrul tiles and gaudiness and Cordoba with its beautiful mosque and flower displays.. If this is Eastertime you are talking about, you'd also have a lot of public ceremony. You might think about combining it with Portugal if you have time. I'm not a fan of Barcelona, and while I know kids love everything, and there is that other Gaudi-ness, I think of it as a party city for grown ups. I'd sooner combine Andalucia with Madrid with day trips to Toledo, Segovia, etc. Hard part about Spain everywhere is the late dinner hour, but tapas makes a great alternative, and kids are welcome in eateries.
Italy is kid friendly but most of Sicily is a driving vacation, and I'm among those who feel the Sicilians take so many chances on the road, it really is nerve-wracking. I'd be even more nervous with two children in the car -- but that is just me. Also, the beginning of April and the end of April are big difference when it comes to weather everywhere in Italy. It can be quite stormy, and Sicily gets hit too. In April, i think your chances of enjoying places like Pisa and Lucca are actually pretty good, and you might enjoy taking a car to such places as Parma and its nearby castle of Torrechiara (google up pictures, or the marble quarries in Carrara and San Gimignano. You could get a apartment rental on a farm in the hills of Lucca.
You probably don't want to fly mid-trip, but I'll just point out that it is extremely easy to fly between Pisa and Amsterdam, so if you wanted half Netherlands and half Italy, it could be done.
Have fun!
If possibly constantly grey skies is too much of a turn off, my other suggestion would be Andalucia in Spain for the Alhambra, the rock of Gibraltar (Ijust for the kids, I know it's touristy), horseback riding, a flaemenco show, Sevilla with all its colofrul tiles and gaudiness and Cordoba with its beautiful mosque and flower displays.. If this is Eastertime you are talking about, you'd also have a lot of public ceremony. You might think about combining it with Portugal if you have time. I'm not a fan of Barcelona, and while I know kids love everything, and there is that other Gaudi-ness, I think of it as a party city for grown ups. I'd sooner combine Andalucia with Madrid with day trips to Toledo, Segovia, etc. Hard part about Spain everywhere is the late dinner hour, but tapas makes a great alternative, and kids are welcome in eateries.
Italy is kid friendly but most of Sicily is a driving vacation, and I'm among those who feel the Sicilians take so many chances on the road, it really is nerve-wracking. I'd be even more nervous with two children in the car -- but that is just me. Also, the beginning of April and the end of April are big difference when it comes to weather everywhere in Italy. It can be quite stormy, and Sicily gets hit too. In April, i think your chances of enjoying places like Pisa and Lucca are actually pretty good, and you might enjoy taking a car to such places as Parma and its nearby castle of Torrechiara (google up pictures, or the marble quarries in Carrara and San Gimignano. You could get a apartment rental on a farm in the hills of Lucca.
You probably don't want to fly mid-trip, but I'll just point out that it is extremely easy to fly between Pisa and Amsterdam, so if you wanted half Netherlands and half Italy, it could be done.
Have fun!
