My wife and I are planning an 8 day trip with our 17 yr old son and 14 yr old daughter. Are considering Greece, Paris or Germany. Will be traveling late July 2008. Any suggestions for an itinerary? We'd like for the kids to have a good time (and secretly eduacate them without them knowing it). Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

Although I totally enjoy Greece, it is unfortunately on the fringes of your core European adventure, so would probably take too much travel time to get around, and educate the kinder. Besides, I think most tourists only spend a couple of days in Athens, and then it's off to the islands. That's OK if you want to enjoy sun and surf, but it doesn't sound like that is at the top of your agenda.

You can completely fill a week London and another week in Paris to see sights in those cities (and day trips to places like Bath, Normandy, and Versailles). Since it sounds like this is the first trip to Europe for your family, I'd stick with those 2 cities.

Oh, I forgot...another negative for Greece in late July is the stifling heat, especially in the city of Athens.

It would be helpful to know what sorts of activities you might be interested in such as museums, castles, palaces, etc., so we can narrow this down.

I notice at least one responder has indicated the "first trip or not" issue.

And, of course, have you asked YOUR CHILDREN what places THEY might be interested in..and why?

About WHAT do you hope to educate them? Art, history, architecture - that all plays into the decisionmaking process.

Another question, does your 8 days include travel time to/from Europe or is that the time you'll have to sightsee?

As jkirkmd said, you can completely fill a week with a major city. Considering the limited time you have, that would be my suggestion so as not to "waste" time travelling from on place to another. You can include a day trip or two outside whatever city you pick.

Do either of your children take French or German classes in school? If so, they might enjoy being able to put that into practice. My parents took my brother and I to Spain as part of a European vacation because we both took Spanish in high school.

If you are first-timers I suggest you look at Paris-London-Rome. They are the big three for good reason. Depending on your family's interests you can find a lot to fill 8 days in any of the three.

One other option is to split your time between London and Paris and get a taste of both.

Ask you kids what they would like to see and do. And take your own temperature on that scale. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in Europe. Were you shopping for fashions in Paris, standing on the ramparts of a castle in Germany or scaling the Acropolis?

I would also recommend blocking off time for relaxation, every day, if possible. I tend to be the "drill sergeant" on trips, and cram as much as possible into every day, since "we may never be back again." Every time I do that, I always realize that's a mistake, especially with the children along. Make sure you see the museums, etc., but also make sure you spend time at the sidewalk cafe, just enjoying being in the city you're in.

Let the 'children' (they are not children any more) help with the preparation and planning. The more they know about the places you are seeing, and the more they have been able to find out and decide, the more interest they'll show. Let THEM, not us Fodorites, work out an itinerary together with you. Make it THEIR trip, not a trip planned for them.

When I was 16 I planned our family 3-week trip through Southern England more or less alone.