Hello Everyone!!
Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. This stage of planning is a lot harder then I thought it would be.
@djp_syd Maybe I should have been less cut and dried. I am assuming Barcelona would be a similar urban experience we would have in Paris, and Morocco a huge departure from that.
@Dawn That's exactly the discussion my husband and I are having. Originally I was the one all gun ho for Morocco. He was applying the breaks pretty hard. Then he went online and came back convinced we had to go. I think Morocco is exciting enough we could end up using that as the focal point for an entire trip next year if we wanted. But saying that there's a voice in my head that says "Do it. You know you wanna..." Which, is never a good sign when dragging your kids all over the continent. lol
@Cyn you make it sound so easy, and I now know where my son gets his in ability to choose anything comes from!! We told the kids we would be stopping in Iceland on our way home the other day and my son says "Puffins! And Whales! And geysers!" I had forgotten that all last year they did a nursery school project on Iceland, and even had a dress like a viking day. lol Anyway he told us all about the waterfalls etc. So essentially our 5 year old is planning the Iceland leg of our adventure.
@pat that information about Versailles was very very welcome. My husband is wishy washy on seeing it at all. I desperately want to see the place due to its history and the place where the treaty was signed. But you are right. Kids wont care a whit and they are at perfect height for getting smashed by elbows etc. I know my nieces (the ones who live there and have been dragged there by other visiting family) hate the place. It will definitely be under revision. As for the two day trips in a row, I should have edited that. The day trips could float anywhere in there during our time in Paris, It would depend on my Brother in laws work schedule and the interest of the kids. I should have put "Paris type things" instead of Paris and Day trips. lol
@JS We were considering dropping the car we rent in paris in NArbonne they catch the train to Barcelona. Then rent a car again once we are in southern Spain as needed. Also thanks for reminding me of Guedelon. That would be fantastic!
@Ken, I have travelled in the UK. This will be the kids first european voyage. We have done significantly long trips (flights and car and trains etc etc etc) in North America. They are often better travellers then we are to be honest. As long as they are fed, my son has a few dinos and my daughter her sketch pad and pen they are good to go.
And no, I meant the medieval city of Provins. :) It has what looks to be a good balance between kid friendly dinner theater and some interesting sights for the adults. Its a long day trip but we would be heading there for our lunch and a show, strolling about a bit then heading back on train I think. As far as danger in Morocco. We would keep up to date on the adversaries. As long as the issues in Tunisia don't spread, Paris and Belgium right now are looking more unsafe then Morocco.
@Chani there is no way in heck I am missing the Equestrian school in Jerez! It has been on my bucket list for as long as I remember. (I rode horses and did some dressage as a child, teenager and young adult.)
@Tom_MN I think we would only be doing it if accompanied by a private tour guide and driver. We would have precious little time (one reason I am thinking we should drop it and do it next year) to futz about getting our bearings and dealing with touts. I want to give myself and my kids some sort of culture shock (I am not confidant France or Spain will do it) but not totally put them off adventuring forever. We obviously have to do some serious thinking about it. As for the car drop off, we would be dropping the french car off in France (in Narbonne?) and then renting a spanish one in southern Spain as we need.
