Mini Travel Guides

As anyone traveling with kids knows, travel plans alter radically once you are lugging along pint-sized companions. On a recent trip to London with my children, I had plenty of activities to fill our days, but none of them included queuing up for kilometers to go on a giant ferris wheel.

Unfortunately for parents hoping to avoid it, the London Eye is visible all over the city and it was nearly impossible to keep my kids from voicing their enthusiasm – constantly – about going on a ride. So after multiple entreaties of “Please, mommy, pleeaase!”,  I finally gave in.

Fortunately, it was a spectacular day, complete with sun and blue skies. Between the price tag and the hassle of waiting in an endless queue, my Europe travel tip is to only ride the London Eye if weather conditions are ideal.

The queuing system is efficient, with timed tickets. It took us about 40 minutes to navigate the queue and enter our “pod”. You can buy Fast Track tickets to avoid the wait, but at double the (already steep) price tag, we opted for the normal tickets.

Admittedly, the views over London are pretty spectacular. The pods travel slowly, so you have adequate time to admire the panorama on your one revolution.

Needless, to say, my kids were thrilled with the novelty and were able to point out places we had already visited. Their enthusiasm was contagious and, as a fan of seeing the city from a bird’s eye perspective,  I enjoyed my time, too.

Attracting about 3.5 million visitors a year, the London Eye is hardly an off-the-beaten path tip, but if you are accompanying kids – or just kids-at-heart – a revolution on the London Eye may be a welcome addition to your London visit.  Karen has written a post “Why London is a top European destination for kids” with more ideas about family friendly activities in the UK capital.

Geneva is stereotypically known to be filled with diplomats and bankers.  Not something the average kid wants to see when travelling through a European city.  Luckily the Natural History Museum of the City of Geneva is a great place for kids, and, because admission is completely free, a great way to save a bit of money in notoriously expensive Geneva.

There’s nothing like walking into a museum and being met by a dinosaur. And a two-headed tortoise named Janus.  A fitting moniker, considering Janus’ namesake was the Roman god of gates, often depicted with two heads.  Janus has become a bit of a cult favorite at the museum; there is even a two-headed tortoise donation bin just in front of the large dinosaur.  Proving once and for all, that dinosaurs might be impressive, but it’s the tortoise that keeps plodding along, even today.

Janus, lives a sparse existence in a terrarium in the foyer of the museum.  That sparse existence though, according to the museum, is for Janus’ safety.  Instead, Janus spends the days idly in his terrarium, eating lettuce. Despite his lack of movement, Janus draws a crowd, and I found myself waiting patiently as children much younger than me admired the two-headed tortoise.

The Natural History Museum in Geneva is great to remember when doing your European travel planning.  Especially if you have kids. Or if you are 26 and still act like one when confronted with a two-headed tortoise. I’d also recommend a walk through Bastions Park.  There are many other free things to do in Geneva highlighted by guest author Margaret Docherty.

If you’re planning a Geneva city break, find the lowest prices at hotels in Geneva with the HotelsCombined metasearch.

Here are my Europe travel tips for four great things to do with kids in Jersey on the Channel Islands.

Durrel Wildlife

Durrell Wildlife (formerly Jersey Zoo) is a wildlife conservation trust.  I was lucky that a young orangutan put on a good show during my visit.

I caught otter feeding time, saw an Andean bear quite close drinking from a stream and watched some meerkat antics.  Posing at the animal cut outs at the kids play area would give you some good souvenirs of the day.

The photo posing area at Durrell Wildlife Jersey

You can see all my photos and videos from Durrell Wildlife on Flickr.

Elizabeth Castle

Although you can walk over the causeway at low tide to reach Elizabeth Castle in St Helier, it’s more fun to get there by amphibious vessel (there is an additional charge if you use the ferry).

“Charming Betty” one of the amphibious ferries

In Summer the Living History team offer activities such as taking part in role play with activities such as a Gunners Parade and a visit to the Surgeon.

Aqua Splash

Acqua Splash at the St Helier Waterfront is great fun for families.  There’s a leisure pool with a wave machine, flumes and a shallow pool for younger kids. The outdoor pool has river rapids.

Aqua Splash leisure pool

Jersey Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is at St Helier harbour. It’s a real hands on Jersey attraction with exhibits explaining waves, tides and winds.  The three metre high animated Voyages Globe traces the journeys of four ships which departed from Jersey in the 19th century.

Voyages Globe at Jersey Maritime Museum

You can board an 18th century wooden ship or stand at the controls of a large deck gun from a German armed trawler.

Deck gun from German trawler at Jersey Maritime Museum

If you plan to visit several Jersey attractions,  you should look into purchasing a Jersey Pass.  However, as there isn’t a reduced price child pass, you’ll need to do your sums, as most Jersey attractions do offer reduced child admissions and family tickets.

My Jersey trip was sponsored by bmibaby.

If you are taking kids on a trip, you want to know that there will be plenty to keep them entertained.  I reckon that London is one of best places to visit in Europe with children.  Here are some ideas for things to do in London with kids.

1 London Museums

London has so many museums, state museums are free to enter (but there may be a fee for special exhibitions),  this is such a bonus as it also gives you an all weather option.  Heather’s top three London museums for families are the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert.  Neha recommends the Transport Museum and Pollocks Toy Museum and  but there’s a entry fee at these venues.

Pattern Pod at the Science Museum London by heatheronhertravels

2 London Parks

Hyde Park is a large open space in central London,  ideal for a picnic or a row on the  Serpentine Lake.  The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens has a full size pirate ship replica. London Zoo and the Open Air Theatre are at Regents Park. St James Park is close to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, kids love pelican feeding time at 2.30pm

Diana Memorial Playground by sightseeingLondon

3 London City Farms

There are ten city farms in London where you an experience the country life without leaving the city.  Hackney City Farm is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 4.30pm, a late afternoon visit would incorporate feeding time at 4pm. The onsite Frizzante Cafe won a Time Out award for the best family restaurant.

Hackney City Farm plan by aburt

4 London Theatre

With so many theatres in London,  there is bound to be a selection of shows suitable for kids and families. You should check out the deals available on London West End tickets as it’s often cheaper to purchase through a third party. An annual Kids Week (it’s actually on for two weeks) runs during August when one child aged 5 – 16 gets a free ticket for specified shows when an adult buys a full price ticket. There’s also a range of free activities such as puppet shows and behind the scenes tours.

Lion King at Lyceum Theatre by AndyRob

I think you must agree that London is one of the best places to visit in Europe with kids.  If you’re doing some family Europe travel planning, London should be on your itinerary, so make sure that you find the best hotels in London for your family group, as kids policies can vary from hotel to hotel.  Some hotel chains such as Hilton, Apex and Holiday Inn even offer kids free stays and meals if they share a room with adults.

Do you have any recommendations for things to do in London with kids?

Useful Resources

Visit London have a regularly updated What’s on for Kids section.
Kids discounts on London Transport.

Admittedly, it’s an obsession when I travel: I always want to see a city from up high. I love to get the feel for a place, understand the layout and geography. When I understand the blueprint of a city from high above, I start to feel more like a local than a tourist glued to her map to reach every destination. Paris, one of my favourite European cities, has so many great places from which visitors can observe wonderful Paris views that I have made it my personal quest to see most of them.

But the place I first visited as a child and which draws me back time and again is Paris’ spectacular Notre Dame cathedral. I was recently back in Paris with my young children.  Since it was their first visit to Paris, I immediately made a beeline to one of the most popular Paris attractions, Notre Dame to share this special spot with them. We visited the cathedral and then exited to get in the line to climb up the towers. They groaned when they saw the size of the line (inwardly, so did I), but I told them the story of Quasimodo the hunch-backed bell-ringer of Notre Dame as we waited.

Finally we reached the front of the line and made our way up the circular stone staircase.  As we emerged out into the daylight, it made the wait more than worth it. The view over Paris is unrivalled from this vantage point  and it is wonderful to be able to observe this lovely city among the whimsical gargoyles who have silently stood guard for centuries.

I’ll certainly be coming back to stand watch with my gargoyle friends as long as my legs will continue to carry me up there – who could ever grow bored gazing down lovingly on belle Paris?

If you’re thinking of a  Paris city break,  check out the best hotels in Paris.

Brittany’s coasts with towns such as the medieval Vannes are – justifiably – extremely popular with tourists. Yet Brittany also boasts an interesting interior, replete with Brittany attractions such as beautiful churches and castles, charming towns and landscapes and locations from Arthurian legend; nevertheless, most tourists never make it here to sample some authentic Breton culture.

On a two-week trip to Brittany, we chose to base ourselves in Brittany’s interior and take day trips within the interior and to the more popular coasts. We loved both, but considered it a real advantage to intersperse the extremely crowded coastlines with the tranquility of beautiful inland destinations. Here are some Europe travel tips for inland Brittany:

Huelgoat Forest

This stunning area of giant, moss-covered boulders, towering trees, brooks and waterfalls is a lovely place to go walking on well-marked paths leading into the forest. Climb down the steep descent to the Grotte du Diable (Devil’s cave). There are numerous signs pointing out the areas connected to the legend of King Arthur.

Photo courtesy driopresenta

Le Faouët

The town itself, south of Carhaix, is known for its 16^th century halles (covered market), right on the town’s central square. It is one of the few wooden structures of this type and period surviving to this day and it is still used as a marketplace. The town is best known for two nearby churches and both merit a visit.

The 16^th century Chapel of Saint Barbara, outside of the town, is an architectural gem and is nestled on a hill, in a panoramic spot overlooking the Ellé River. Since we were there with our children and were joined by French friends with their young children in tow, the real highlight was the bell tower. Since we were the only people there, the kids had a great time ringing the big, heavy bell to their hearts’ content.

Just 2 km south of town is the recently restored 15^th century Saint-Fiacre. The masterpiece here is the 1480 wooden screen, built to separate the altar from the congregation. The delicate 15^th century screen carvings are beautiful and dramatic, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments in intricate detail. There are also whimsical depictions of the seven deadly sins. The beautiful colours have been maintained, giving us an idea how church interiors must once have appeared and providing a better insight into the role of religious art in illustrating Bible teachings to medieval parishioners, many illiterate.

Kernascléden

About 15 km southeast of Le Faouët, in the small town of Kernascléden, is another 15^th century church worthy of exploration. The weather-beaten exterior of grey stone has wonderful carved gargoyles. The interior frescoes on one of the side-chapels has terrifyingly spectacular, though damaged, frescoes of the damned condemned to the fires of hell, complete with horrifying devils stoking the fires. We were all alone in the church to examine these eerie images, which must have done their part in keeping centuries of Kernascléden residents on their best behaviour.

Photo courtesy town of Kernescléden

Paimpont

The Forêt de Paimpont, Paimpont Forest, was once known as Brocéliande and is another place of Arthurian legend. The charming central village of Paimpont is right on a small lake. It’s a good place to stop and to visit the tourist office with walking maps and helpful advice on excursions. There are some nice walks to be had around this pretty forest land. As fans of King Arthur stories, our sons were keen on seeing the gold-painted tree where the young and beautiful Vivian is said to have imprisoned the wizard Merlin.

Photo courtesy D. Suignard

Fougères

This town, 50 km northeast of Rennes, is ideal for castle lovers. Strangely, the castle is not perched on a defensive, high peak, but laid out below the town. It was built in 1166, replacing a wooden fort on the same site which had been destroyed by English invaders. The castle has massive walls and a large moat still filled with water. A visit allows you to walk the walls and climb the towers to enjoy the panorama. It’s very impressive and the area around the castle makes a nice place to stop for lunch while enjoying the view.

Other places of interest in Brittany’s interior are Pontivy, Josselin, Vitré and the city of Rennes. On your next trip to Brittany, enjoy what the region’s less-visited interior has to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised – and happy for a respite from the crowds.

One of the (many) reasons I like living in Rome is the wonderful year-round climate. Still, come winter time, I do miss seeing snow – if not actually shovelling it – so I am happy to be close enough to the mountains to enjoy nice weekends skiing in Italy.

One of my top Europe travel tips is to visit the mountains close to Rome, the Apennine mountains in the neighbouring region of Abruzzo. Although Abruzzo skiing is not as good as that in the resorts of northern Italy, the proximity and convenience of the Abruzzo resorts make them extremely popular weekend destinations for Romans and a great Europe destination.

Abruzzo is an ideal travel destination in all seasons. In the winter there is downhill and cross-country skiing, sledding and ice skating. In the summer, there is fantastic hiking, biking and horseback riding. Abruzzo is still a fairly undiscovered Italian region and tourist masses never descend upon the charming mountain towns in the same numbers as they do in neighboring regions such as Tuscany and Umbria. Yet the towns are lovely, the food and wine extremely good, the mountain air rejeuvenating and the nature breathtaking.

One of the most popular Abruzzo skiing resorts for Romans also happens to be one of the closest and easiest to reach by highway, the town of Ovindoli. Ovindoli is about a 1 ½-hour drive from Rome and all but the last 15 km is easy highway driving. It is equidistant from the airport in Pescara, on the Adriatic coast. The town itself is small, with plenty of hotels and apartment rental options and many restaurants serving up hearty mountain fare.

Food in Abruzzo is simple, but excellent. Regional specialties include the chitarra pasta, fresh egg pasta – thicker than linguine, but narrower – served with the local saffron sauce, delicious gnocchi (especially good in this potato-producing region) with ragù (tomato sauce with meat), sausages, scamorza (melted cheese) or arrosticini (lamb skewers), all of it perfectly accompanied by the regional red wine, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

My family and I often enjoy Abruzzo skiing at Monte Magnola , just 3 km from the center of town. If you are driving up with your own car, head up early as the parking lots fill up quickly. There is also a frequent shuttle bus which departs throughout the day from the town square.

The mountain is panoramic and is popular with skiers and snowboarders. There are also easy slopes for children and beginner skiers and lessons can be easily arranged.

Just a few kilometers from Ovindoli is a second ski resort, Campo Felice . The closest towns are Rocca di Cambio (at 1434 meters from sea level, this is the highest town in the Apennine mountain range) and Rocca di Mezzo.

This isn’t an area used to lots of foreign tourism, so fewer people will speak English or other foreign languages. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to make yourself understood and will most likely have a great time in this unspoiled region. Enjoy your Abruzzo skiing holiday!

During my first trip to France in 1989 I spent a month researching various prehistoric painted caves in the south of France and the Dordogne. Although I was visiting some of the finest archaeological sites in some outstanding countryside, it was still ‘work’ and for a holiday after this memorable month I spent a week visiting Loire Valley castles. During that week, and any subsequent visits I have made to the area, one chateau has always stood out for me.

The Château de Chenonceau is widely considered to be one of the finest Loire Valley castles. This castle is not only remarkable for its history and its architecture, but also for the amazing quality of the collections of art and furniture housed in the castle. For parents looking for European travel tips for travelling with their children, Chenonceau makes an extra effort for their younger visitors.

Château de Chenonceau is recorded in history as the Château des Dames. This is because Chenonceau exists as we know it today because of women – and not just because of the so-called ‘woman’s touch’. Château de Chenonceau is set in formal gardens that add to the splendour of the castle, and today these gardens are kept to the exacting standards they were in the heydays of the castle’s royal life.

Chenonceau began as a bridge over spanning the river Cher, which lent itself to a fortified mill circa 1230. A fortified castle was then built for the Marques family. As a result of financial difficulties the site was sold to Thomas Bohier, a financial advisor to King François I. Bohier was married to Katherine Briçonnet. It was his money that paid for the castle we see today, but it was Katherine’s influence that determined its appearance. On Bohier’s death the castle passed into the hands of royalty. And it was Henry II who allowed Diane de Poitiers to live there. After the death of Henri II the castle became the residence of Catherine de Médicis. The castle was saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Louise Dupin; the same woman who differentiated the spelling of the castle (chenonceau) from the local village (Chenonceaux).

But this castle, like many historical sites, is not locked in a medieval age. During the First World War the castle served as a military hospital – where some 2254 wounded soldiers were rehabilitated. During the Second World War the castle straddled the border between the zone of occupation and the free zone. But in 1944 a bomb fell near the castle and original stained glass windows were destroyed.

The custodians of this wonderful castle have also made it interesting for children. An outdoor play area equipped with games, free of charge and open from April through to October, is available for smaller children. A special audio tour on iPod is also available for the castle’s younger visitors. The restaurant also has a children’s menu. It really is one of the best French castles to visit with kids and a top Loire Valley attraction.

Chenonceau was France’s first private castle to enable visitors to download the audio tour onto their iPod or MP3 player in advance of their visit. Follow this link for the castle’s website.

The stunning photographs I have used here were taken by Stu Bradley, a photographer living and blogging in the Loire.

As someone who runs a B&B whose guests more often than not take a day trip to Paris, I am frequently being asked what attractions are there for children. And, inspired by Neha’s recent post about attractions for children in London I thought I would provide some Europe travel tips for Paris attractions for children. Paris is not only the ultimate destination for romantic city breaks, it is also one of the best places to visit in Europe with your children. And here are at least five reasons why.

1. Views of Paris. A trip up the Eiffel Tower has to be one of the most memorable things to ‘do’ in Paris. And now that bookings are possible online, there is no need to stand for hours in a queue. In any event, I would recommend going earlier in the morning before the crowds start gathering anyway. Another suggestion for great views over Paris is to climb the Arc de Triomphe. If boat rides are top of your children’s list of things to do – a boat-ride on the Seine offers a different view of Paris.

2. Theme Parks. Most parents thinking of of what to do with their children associate Paris with the Disneyland Resort Paris. But there are also a number of other theme parks around Paris that offer something quite different. Another great theme park, to the North of Paris is Parc Asterix (the roller coaster is pictured below), which tells the story of the famous comic characters, and very definitely for children of all ages. To the west of Paris, near Versailles you can visit the whole of France in less than one day in Europe’s biggest miniature theme park: France Miniature. And another one for the youngest ones is the Playmobil fun park.

3. Museums. These days many museums make much more of an effort to cater for children. And Paris has a great collection of museums that do just this. How about a visit to Grévin, a waxworks museum that has been going since 1882. Not only does it have your usual crop of celebrities and the like, but it has some great reconstructions of French history. There is also the Museum of Magic, and the Natural History Museum has some wonderful displays, including their ‘Grande Galerie de l’Evolution’. But, I am reliably informed the favourite of all the Parisian museums is at Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, one of the world’s largest and most visited science museums. This museum is seriously high-tech, and very hands-on for children of all ages. Kids love the ‘Argonaute’ and its real submarine.

4. Parks and Gardens. There are a great many parks and gardens from which to choose from. The third largest in Paris is the Parc des Buttes Chaumont (pictured below), with its cliffs and bridges, a grotto that has a 20-meter high waterfall, a lake, and several English and Chinese gardens. But perhaps the most popular attractions for the children are the two ‘guignol’ (puppet) theatres. There are also at least three interesting gardens that are more centrally located. The Jardin des Tuileries, to the norh of the Seine, offers donkey rides, ice cream stands, a puppet theatre, and you can even rent a toy boat to play with on the circular pond. There are similar attractions on the southern side of the Seine at the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Champ de Mars. Towards the north end of the Bois de Boulogne you will find pony rides and puppet shows for younger children and a roller coaster for older children.

5. A Day at the Circus. If your children love the circus, then why not treat them to a whole day at the Cirque de Paris, at the Parc des Chanteraines. In the morning children get a chance to have a go at the various circus arts, they can try juggling, or being a clown or a magician. There are two restaurants on site, or you can bring your own picnic lunch. And then in the afternoon it is show time and you and the children get to watch a traditional circus show, including various exotic animals, the clowns and their little running, jumping dogs, the magician’s doves that disappear only to reappear. The park is just 10 minutes from Paris, and the circus is open 10am – 5pm every Wednesday and Friday.

Oh to be young again. If you have taken your children to Paris and have any Do’s or Don’t’s to share, please leave a comment.

London city is one of the best places to visit in Europe. It promises something for everyone, and delivers. For those of you travelling with kids, this carries special meaning. It means you have cheerful options to the blood stained Tower of London! Here are a few tips for London attractions for kids:

Pollock’s Toy Museum – After Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, Pollock’s Toy Museum gets my vote for most fascinating place. Not only will you find toys here, you’ll find toys from across the world and generations, all under one roof – from doll houses to train sets, puppets and puppet theatres to tin toys and board games, they have it all. And if that wasn’t enough, there is toy shop to explore as well.

On a similar note, you could visit the National Museum of Childhood. You could also stop by Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. It’s an opportunity to introduce your kids to Einstein, Newton, Gandhi and Spiderman, all at once.

The Natural History Museum – Which kid (or adult for that matter) can resist a room full of dinosaurs? Here’s a museum that brings the magic of science alive. It shows your kids how much fun science can be with a hands-on experience. It’s an excellent source of educational entertainment. Other museums of interest include the Science Museum, the British Museum (look for special Children’s tours) and the Horniman Museum. Heather has also written about Great Free Museums for the Family in London on Europe a la Carte.

London Parks – London has lots of green spaces where your kids can burn energy. Let the run around, enjoy picnics and take part in local matches as they discover some of London’s favourite playgrounds. One such popular spot is the Peter Pan inspired Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Garden in London’s Kensington Garden complex. In addition to the usual attractions, it also comes with a giant wooden pirate ship, tepees and adventure tunnels.

Transport Museum – The Transport Museum, a tribute to London’s transport system, is one of the most fun museums in the city. Exhibits include life size vintage trams, red buses, taxis, and even a representation of the London tube. The icing on the cake is the fact that kids can run around these exhibits, handle the steering and explore these vehicles. Don’t be surprised to see grown men doing the same.

City Farms – When in London spend the day with your kids at one of the many city farms. These farms are an opportunity to experience nature and farm life within the city limits. On offer are a number of activities from handing farm animals to participating in the community gardens. Some city farms also have specialized activities for kids like beekeeping and riding.

In addition if your visit coincides with the English school holidays, be sure to check out the number of special holiday programs designed for kids.

Do you have any Europe travel tips for London attractions for kids?