We're working on planning an itinerary for our first trip to Europe with our sons. I thought I'd ask if anyone had suggestions for where along the way we might change tracks, or different experiences with their own children. We're starting in Copenhagen (due to an au pair living there) on June 15th (where we'll rent a car), and departing from London on the 30th.
From Copenhagen we're headed to LEGOLAND. Along the way, I wast thinking of stopping at Middelaldercentret. We wanted to find something to dive into viking history, and that place seems like it might be really cool. The trebuchets mostly. The long boat museum in Copenhagen seemed interesting to me, but I wasn't sure the boys would find it as exciting, so I figured it was optional. Is it worth it? Or is there an alternative I should be looking at?
After LEGOLAND, we were going to head South to the German Tank Museum in Munster. The boys are very interested in tanks, and that museum looks awesome, and it's on our way to the next destination. Over the next 3 days we want to go through the Ardennes before making it to Paris. My wife wants us to go to Brussels. Somehow think the peeing boy would form an indelible memory. On the other hand, it's definitely a detour But if we skipped Brussels, I don't know what to replace it with. I would love to find at least one city to explore in the Netherlands and in Belgium, not least for Pannekoeken, Stroopwafels, and Liege Waffles. I know there's a museum in Bastogne we wanted to stop at, and my wife wants us to go to the memorial there, but I'm not sure that what else. Any suggestions? Is Maastricht a city that we'd enjoy wandering? Or Liege? Or do we just bite the drive time and head to Brussels?
That gets us into Paris on Saturday the 22nd. That day we'd see the landmarks of Paris, and on Sunday we'd visit Disneyland Paris with another former au pair. The next morning we'd start out path toward Normandy, with a detour first to the Musee de Blindes, another tank museum, but this one full of French tanks and several from World War 1. It is a big detour, but my kids are excited, so I am conflicted.
We've been debating Mont St Michel. The photos look amazing, and just the fact that it's the inspiration for Minis Tirith in Lord of the Rings will have my boys psyched. However, it's another detour that adds a couple of hours of driving, and most importantly on the day we'd be able to go, Tuesday the 25th, low tide is at noon. If we waited until high tide at 6pm, we'd be taking time away from Normandy... So would it be worth the detour if we'd hit it at low tide?
Then Normandy. We'd work our way along the coast, finally ending in Cherbourg. There we'd ditch the car and catch the ferry to England. We will catch a train the next morning to London. Once in London we're going to the Imperial War Museum and the Harry Potter Studio tour (with yet another au pair). In all we have 3 days from arrival to departing Heathrow, so there's room to add more there, we just haven't figured out what. I'm not sold on going to the Tower of London. I just don't recall that as something that would be as interesting to 11 year olds - but perhaps I'm off base.
So yeah, that's what I have so far. It's too ambitious in some ways, but vacation time is limited, and it's hard to justify going slower. And when the starting requirements are Copenhagen, Bastogne, Normandy, and London, well that locked us into most of the itinerary.
It's also missing a lot of things that I'd like to figure out how to add. One thing is that I have very fond memories of exploring Conwy Castle in Wales - learning about how castles were designed, and how they were defended or assaulted, was fascinating, and I think my sons would think so as well. But most of the castles that I've found along our route are more the palace type than fortress. Any suggestions?
