We're travelling to Munich for a wedding Sept.17th, and have one week after to sightsee etc. We'll have a 10 yo, 8yo & a 4month old babe with us, and will be renting a vehicle. We're open to seeing Germany & any of the closeby countries (say, within a 6-8 hour drive?) Is it worth seeing Prague?What should we really try to see & do within our short stay there?

Hi, loving.
I encourage you to post your question again with a different title which includes your destination. That catches the eye of posters who would know the answers to your queries. Good luck and have a great time.

I suggest you visit Salzburg, Austria. You can take a train tour through a salt mine, visit the fortress castle and visit Hellbrunn, which is a former bishop's palace with a great water garden (the water squirts you when you least expect it - kids love it!).

I recommend you spend the entire week within just a few hr drive of Munich. Prague is too far, in my opinion.

If I were doing this trip, I'd spend a few days in Munich then rent an apartment in southern Bavaria for the entire week to use as a home base, maybe venture to Salzburg for a night or two.

With kids, we make it a mission (family fun) to seek out parks and playgrounds on a daily basis, where the kids can blow off some steam and rid themselves of the normal travel funk.

In Munich I recall we found a tiny park right next to the Hofbrauhaus, plus a couple of areas in the Englisher Garten.

All over southern Bavaria are ski slopes, many of which have a Sommerrodelbahn, or summer toboggan runs. Make sure you stop at at least one - lots of fun.

You can also take a chair lift up many of the slopes and take a leisurly trek down the hill. These can vary from 1-2hr walks to all day treks, depending on how far up you go.

Somewhere in Fodors archives from early 2005 I have a commentary on traveling in that region w/ kids - I'll see if I can dig it up for you.

Cities, castles, etc are fun, but kids need to have their own things to do, and Sept in Bavaria is a great time to explore the outdoors. (and not just in a car/drive by).

I've traveled in Europe with kids, and to Munich without kids, and I think Bavaria would be a great place to sightsee with kids. My kids loved castles in Europe, so Neuschwanstein (sp?) and the other castles in the area should be on your list. If the weather permits, you might want to take the railway and tram to the summit of the Zugspitze. There also were some great places to hike in the Garmisch area - we enjoyed hiking up to an incredible hidden waterfall. As for your littlest one, he or she will be the easiest traveler - they can sightsee from a frontpack! My biggest mistake with my older kids was to plan too much and not give them some time to relax and hang out each day - I try to cram too many things into a day.

Thanks sallyjane, I'll do that.

I agree with the others - stick to Bavaria, don't spend the whole time in the car, look for spots where the kids can play/enjoy themselves outdoors a bit. There is plenty to see and do in Bavaria and wonderful scenery too. Lakes are great for kids - Ammersee or Bad Wiessee near Munich might do the trick.

You might enjoy a few days with a local family too - many of the dairy farmers around Bavaria rent out apartments or cottages where you can get a feel for rural life and get to know some local folks. Try this site: http://www.farmholidays.de/maine.php

I haven't traveled to Germany with my kids, but I'll give you some general advice based on our trip to Paris with the kids.

Our kids liked anything they could climb up and look out of (Arc de Triomphe, the top of Notre Dame, etc.) If you encounter churches or towers that you can climb to the top of, do it.

Food from street vendors was popular.

If your German isn't excellent, buy the best menu translator you can find. Our French phrase book had a big food/restaurant section but it left us at a loss at restaurants. Most adults will be pretty adventurous and eat whatever arrives at the table, whether it's what they think they ordered or not. Many kids are more picky. (Once in Gemany I thought I was ordering sausages and instead got pickeled fish. I don't think my kids would have reacted well to that.)

Do look for playgrounds. Our kids loved the French playgrounds...less "safe" than US playgrounds (one even had trampolines), thus more fun.

Try to find calendars for various local town events. Things like parades, BBQ's, street fairs, church festivals, outdoor markets with music, etc. They're fun for all ages and you'll be around other families, most likely local with a few tourists too.

Great advice everyone- thanks so much.

You've gotten some really great suggestions, I'll just add my 2 pfennige.

You do know that Oktoberfest starts in Munich on September 17? I hope you have your hotel reservations

Oktoberfest is very crazy for kids, but they may like the rides. I would seek out the small village festivals, instead.

My in-laws live in Bavaria, and we've taken our kids there several times. I agree with the castle recommendation. There is a tram in Fuessen that you can ride to the top of the mountain and see the castles on your way up.

My kids also liked the walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Garmisch, the Deutsches Museum in Munich, riding the U-bahn, seeing a German Circus.

As others have said, Salzburg is a nice day trip. (Have them watch the Sound of Music before you leave home). The Bodensee area (Lake Constance)might also be worth a look.

Have a great time! I hope you post a report when you return. We're planning a 2006 trip, and always love to hear about new discoveries.

My boys 7 and 9 loved Bavaria last summer. We saw the castles. Rode the funicular and trans near Garmisch. There are many easy hiking trails in the area. Just north of Bavaria is Legoland- my boys' favorite day in our trip to Germany. Have fun!

Hi L,

Have you considered leaving the baby with the grandparents?