First time Europe trip with children (7 and 12)

This is coming from someone who doesn't have kids - so feel free to disregard....but I have read other threads that pretty well indicate that their kids got "museum'd out" on their trips. I think London followed by Paris will get them to their max. Also in my own experience, I think Rome is a city that is good to be "fresh" and full of energy. I would vote for the Swiss Alps as a change of pace for you and the kids. A nice break from the cities.

Sounds like a great trip!

What are your interests?

If you like hiking, scenery, animals - I'd probably go from Venice, through the Dolomites and into the Italian Alps (or nearby Swiss, Austrian or German Alps).

If you like museums, art, culture and lots of people, from Venice to Rome would be the better choice (possibly Florence enroute).

Not knowing your kids, they may enjoy the Alps (never been to Rome, so I couldn't comment on how much fun kids can have there). Many Alpine resort regions have summer luge rides. What kid wouldn't love that?

Based purely on cost considerations, you may want to look into another Alpine region besides Switzerland (Italy or Slovenia, which is not far from Venice). Switzerland may be beautiful, but it is by far and away one of the most expensive places on Earth.

Oliver, we are taking our 14 year old son with us again this summer. From my previous experiences, first time he was 9 and second 10, kids need to have fun activities after doing lots of museums, churches etc. So my suggestion would be to do London and Paris (he loved Paris, has not been to London yet) and then go to Germany (Bavaria) and do some hiking, salt mine tour, luge, swimming in a lake, mix in with churches, museums and castles. I don't think there is that much for kids in Venice, i would keep that as a couple trip or for when they are older! Switzerland is beautiful, more expensive, but personally i think Bavaria has more activities for kids and parents can still enjoy lots of sightseeing! Hope this help!

My son has been around the world with us growing up...from 6 to 18...at age 8, he loved Harrods but also got invited back into the kitchen at Gordon Ramsays (he likes to eat well and will dress up to do so). At 14, he liked the Matterhorn and shopping for a Swiss Army knife in Switzerland. He has been to zoos and aquariums in most major capitals. Rome is great but incredibly hot in the summer with long lines. If you want spend some bucks, they now have semi-private tours of the Vatican in the evening (around $250 a pop).

Oliver, we are going to Europe for three weeks this summer with our 15 and 12 year old boys, and worked through the same itinerary issues that you are dealing with. We decided to skip Italy this trip and instead go to Switzerland after our time in London and Paris. Although we love Rome, Rome in the summer time is hot and crowded and not very kid-friendly. We like the idea of following all of the big city time with out in the country time. Big cities can be exhausting for kids (and their parents!). Our trip is next month, happy to let you know how it all works out!

Oliver - I would reconsider an all-city trip for your kids, especially being from NY yourself. I would also consider cutting down the number of countries in order to be able to see a little more in-depth of one or two countries. I love London, I love Rome - my kids loved them as well but they were two separate trips. I'm sure your kids would be able to handle the trip, you are not rushing things, but I know that when we did several cities, even within a region, my kids got it a little mixed up as to what was in what city. So we really tried to do 2-3 week trips to ONLY one country/region, to get a flavor for that area.

So, though others are warning you about the heat in Italy, I'll tell you that we've done two trips with kids (first time they were 10 & 12) in Italy in summer and both trips were great. My kids loved both Rome and Venice, but we also spent a week in Tuscany at an agriturismo with a pool, and a few days in the Dolomite & Lake Como area for a real change of scenery. They loved Italy - it is VERY family friendly, lots of big things that the kids will recognize as well as food that is very familiar to them but also new and exciting. England for a first trip is fabulous. My kids loved the Cornwall region and the castles in Wales. In France they liked Normandy and the Dordogne much more than Paris.

And if you are set on the London, Paris, Venice thing then I guess I'd opt for the Swiss Alps so that you could get a bit of countryside in, even though it is throwing in another country. But again, reconsider doing all those big cities (well, Venice is pretty unique and not that big) with no country or waterside breaks.