We are travelling with 4 children aged 1 to 13. We are flying into Frankfurt Hahn airport which seems to be near the German/Luxemberg border (?). We have approximately 8 days but need to keep 2 or three days to visit with friends in Nurnberg.
Do you think it would be possible to do a loop from this airport through France to Switzerland, then across to Austria and up to Nurnberg?

No..unless your idea of a trip is to spend a lot of time in a car and treat the destination as a pit stop. With 4 kids I would pick one place for the 5 days and make day trips. If you could find ana pt would work well but a house would work better.

..sould read an apt.

First question. Are you sure you're flying into Frankfurt Hahn (served by ryanair?) and not Frankfurt am Main (Germany's main international gateway?).

To answer your question, is it possible, the answer is yes. Is it wise? Definitely not. Four countries, 8 days with 4 kids ages 1-13 I wouldn't even think of it.

Why not get a vacation apartment (Ferienwohnung) in one place for the entire 8 days (or 6 if you're staying w/ your friends). Enjoy exploring the local area, finding small towns with charm or hiking in the hills of the black forest, taking a cruise on the Rhine, enjoying the countryside (not the Autobahn every day).

The younger kids will have a far more memorable trip finding neighborhood playgrounds, finding fun things to do outdoors like a town swimming pool or lake & visiting the same local gelateria after dinner than sitting in a car every day for hours.

I've been there with little kids and you need to work to their schedule & interests (woven in with yours) otherwise you'll spend all your non-driving time mopping up after their angst anyway.

travelbunny

wrote my reply in parallel to yours that's why it sounds like a repeat. We think alike.

..j62...yes we sound alike..I have 3 and my kids have had stamps in their passport before they were a year...Oh, the mistakes I have made!!! I just hope I am becoming wiser.

Yes, It is Hahn. Do you know exactly where this airport is? I am having trouble finding it on a map. I know that it is at least 80km outside Frankfurt.
Is Garmisch worth staying in for a few days. We can do some castles, and Oberamagau from there.

Yes, Garmisch is an excellent place to stay. An abundance of vacation homes or apartments. This forum has a lot of info on Garmisch & southern Bavaria in general.

I've rented an apartment in Garmisch for 1mo in the past and found it a great place a home base for day trips.

Frankfurt Hahn airport has it's own website http://www.hahn-airport.de with a map and directions.