AussieTraveller76

This will be our first overseas trip since the birth of our daughter, who is approaching 4.5 years old and after battling with severe PND, I have finally worked up enough courage to try adventuring again.....our last trip to Europe was in 2009 and we loved every minute of it. This time we won't have as much free time...perhaps 4 weeks only and most likely travelling from October to November...
I am looking for any suggestions....our daughter is a mad Peppa Pig fan so had thought it may be advisable to visit Peppa Pig World...any thoughts on this?
Otherwise, I am completely open to any ideas you can share with me that are both friendly enough for a very sociable and easy to travel with child and adventurous enough for a fit and active father and a mummy that just wants to please everyone

Christina

where did you go last time?

colduphere

Geez I hate to sound shallow but some things are unavoidable. We've travelled with three 4.5 years old children. I'd go somewhere with a pool and a mountain.

Cathinjoetown

I had to look up PND. Do you cope with it or is it your daughter? What does your or your child's doctor recommend be avoided?

Peppa Pig World is part of Paulton's Park in the New Forest. My daughter's children like Paulton's, at 7 and 9 they're too old for Peppa Pig. They live close by. The New Forest is quite pretty, little villages, wild ponies, close to Portsmouth if either of you like naval history. Several stately homes in the area as well as the Beaulieu automobile museum.

There's a Legoland near Windsor, rides are appropriate for your daughter's age.

What countries did you have in mind? Obviously, the further south you go, the better the chance for warmer weather and more sunshine.

newtome

Have no idea what PND IS - if you'd like some help and suggestions, maybe spell out what this is.

Cathinjoetown

newtome, It took 5 secs to find.

Whathello

PND :
http://www.gcpnd.gouv.ci/
http://www.pnd.mr/pnd/

Even I knew what it is, I guess newtome is a male without children.
however I didn"t know who was Peppa the Pig.

Anyway, apart from the fact that we went everywhere with kids that age (less easy than newborn, true), I'd recommend going around the mediterranean sea for 2 reasons :
- it is warmer
- people are more friednly towards kids.

Greece ?
We loved Cyprus with kids that age : easy to go, we did some excursions with the car and stayed at one place (resort).

Choose a place with a good healthcare, just in case.

suze

You should pick places you and your husband have an interest in.

You can find stuff that will entertain kids anywhere (playgrounds, parks, carousels, castles, lakes, beaches, boats, etc. etc.)

With 4 weeks I'd look at 3-4 different cities or regions to visit. Maybe renting a house, cottage or apartment some of the time?

StCirq

Your question is far too broad to get much realistic information. There are dozens of countries in Europe, and all of them have enjoyable, friendly, sociable things for children of any age to do. I would suggest you select a list of countries you think will appeal to you, get hold of guidebooks to those countries, investigate internet sites (almost every city and town in Europe has information on children's activities), and narrow your choices down to at most 3-4 places.

What sorts of things would you consider "adventurous" in October and November?

janisj

Your first paragraph is identical to your other thread . . . except that one is asking about traveling to the US.

Is it Europe OR the States? Or are you trying to squeeze both into the same October to November time frame?

MmePerdu

I actually remember being a child that age and what impressed me most were people and food. So I suggest you go anywhere you, the parents, want to go, because what will impress her will be being with her parents as they have a good time and the food.

MmePerdu

Oh, I liked our pool, too, so if she swims a pool will be good.

MmePerdu

Never mind about the pool (Oct. & Nov.).

bilboburgler

Oct.. nov, head south.

I'd look at
the Algarve,
the Seville, Cordoba, Grenada combo
Sicily
em... that's it (actually I'd tuck Marrakesh in there as well but not really Europe, and probaby Istanbul in but... you might not want that)

It's just the weather gets so variable and the kid spends her time being kept warm etc and you have to bring more gear.

If you prefer city visits then Europe is really open to you, I'd look at Budapest for the spa culture, a language which is off the scale and a friendly people. See also Iceland and the Azores.

That just leaves true city scapes.

Nonconformist

My brother in law's little nephews adored Peppa Pig World and have been several times, so I expect your little girl would enjoy it.

There are plenty of other things you could do in the New Forest area. I would suggest you do the Hampshire part of your trip in October (and as early as possible in October), then move somewhere with better weather later on. I think Peppa Pig World is closed most of November anyway.

Here's a link to stuff for kids in the New Forest: http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/activities/family.aspx

http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/discover/autumn.aspx

At four, she might like looking for the fairy doors at Furzey Garden too.

You could also take a trip over to the Isle of Wight.

MmePerdu

So many places with better weather likely that time of year, why go to the UK even for Pig World. I cannot imagine it being worth the expense and bother when you could do as bilboburgler says, go south and have a good chance to be warm. Save the pig for summer, when you can still have "changeable" weather but maybe less of it.