stefi

We are looking at taking a trip to Europe next June for appx 10-12 days with our four kids (17, 16, 14, and 11) and would love some input. We have been to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece and would like to try somewhere different. Here's what we like - outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, biking), good food, mostly sunny weather, easy to get to/away from (because of relatively short time frame), and peaceful surroundings. With maybe a big city thrown in somewhere for some teen shopping and activities. Two of the kids think that the UK would be nice; any areas stand out for our kind of trip? I'm afraid the Lake District will be too jammed by mid-June. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated

Jake1

For the outdoor activities, Bavaria and northern Austria would be excellent. Munich fills the bill for a big city.

chicagolori

Paris and the south of France? Provence or the Dordogne?

hetismij

Well I can't guarantee sunny weather - but the chances of that in The Lake district are also debateable, but maybe something like sprin2 did this summer would appeal, they visited the Netherlands, first with a house swap, but more appeealing for you maybe - they hired a boat and travelled around Friesland for a week. You could combine that with Amsterdam, The Hague etc.
Her report is here http://tinyurl.com/2vzs2. There are also places that hire Kayaks for trips.
Or maybe you would enjoy rafting in Sweden - build your own raft and head off for a week - http://tinyurl.com/2jdt4u. In June you would enjoy the midnight sun too.

padams421

Our family likes a lot of the things you do. We've had great trips to the Alps and Scandinavia. Consider Switzerland, Norway or Sweden.

rex

You've been _where_ in Italy? and _where_ in Spain?

If these suggestions are not repetitive, then I would recommend:

Northwestern Spain and Southwestern France

or

Austria/northern Italy/Slovenia

Alternatively, combine Austria with the Czech Republic or southern Germany.

Best wishes,

Rex

ira

Hi S,

Austria and Bavaria

Paris and the Dordogne

Paris and Alsace

Paris and Normandy

Paris and Burgundy

Paris and the Loire

Paris and Provence

janisj

Can't guarantee any sort of weather - but Scotland definitely has all the other things you want. Direct flights from the States (if that is where you are from).

for your big city break - Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and very "human scaled" so not overwhelming.

And there is no better hiking anywhere. Skye, Ben Nevis, the Trossachs, Perthshire. Amazing ruined castles to explore. Kayaking/sailing on the west coast. Awesome scenery everywhere. Just TONS to keep a family occupied w/i a relatively small area. And less crowded that the Lake District (BTW - june isn't terribly crowded anywhere in the UK since the schools don't let out until July.

Mimar

If you really want sunshine, southern France: Provence and/or the Dordogne and/or the Cote d'Azur. You could fly into Nice, stay a couple days to get over jet lag (but the beach is rocky). 10 or 12 days isn't very much, so pick just a couple destinations.

girlonthego

Just want to give you a heads up that next June is the European Cup for soccer (futbol)being played across Switzerland and Austria. It may be more economical and less crowded to go elsewhere.
We are actually heading to Austria to visit family and maybe get to see a game.

stefi

Wow - thanks to all! What a lot of good ideas - I am especially intrigued by the Dordogne area suggestions - somewhere I hadn't even really considered! That's what you folks are good at - opening new doors and minds. After picking up a couple of guidebooks at the library, it seems the Dordogne area would be a great place to look at further.

The Scotland suggestion also sounds good; we were considering that one already.

Adding a couple of days in Paris at the end or the beginning - any thoughts as to which seems to work better?

stokebailey

Country first, then Paris gives you a chance to ease into things, though English is less often spoken in the countryside. Either way!

Don't miss the caves, like for instance Lascaux II. Float the Dordogne by canoe. A quick brush up on history makes it more meaningful.

Mimar

I'd go to Paris first. I like cities for getting over jet-lag. Lots of things to do at all hours.

Russ

The Mosel River Valley is laidback and scenic with lots of hiking (especially nice near Arras castle - www.burg-arras.de ) - and biking opportunities (paved river path connects villages in most areas):

http://www.mosel-reisefuehrer.de/mos...ightsengl.html

The fairy tale road offers small old-world villages, scenic river valleys, water sports on the Weser River. biking popular too; Rinteln and Hameln might be good base towns:

http://www.deutsche-maerchenstrasse..../index_en.html

zippo

In Scotland, kayaking in the Western Isles is very popular.