Have Toddler, Will Travel

Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Croatia, or Canada (Vancouver/ Vancouver Island). I know this is a European forum, but Canada is stunning as an outdoors destination (it's got the water, mountains, natural scenery, cool cities like Vancouver, all in one). Iceland too is thoroughly enjoyable but quite expensive (super kid friendly though and great food/vibe). I don't think "minimal crowds" really fits with all those other great adjectives you threw out because any place that's desirable on those dimensions is bound to have many people flocking there (who doesn't like gorgeous scenery, great food, fun cities, etc?)

We spent a glorious week in Kauai with our granddaughter last year. Same age. Beaches, hiking, sunsets. No city vibe but she lives in a city so time for that when she is a bit older. Hawaii is magical at that age.

Agnes--good point on the crowds. A daydream I suppose :) I would move to Vancouver tonight if I could so you're spot on with what we're looking for. And Tofino! Sigh ... there's a lot of Canada we're eager to see. Thanks for the other ideas. For whatever reason, I just can't seem to zero in on a location for this trip. Will investigate northern Europe and Croatia has always been high on my list. Thanks again!

I would move to Vancouver tonight if I could

I would too. In late May this year, I did some multi-day hikes on the Wild Pacific Trail near Uclulet/Tofino and it was so beautiful. I loved it. I was going to say other areas of Canada but those are a bit too cold (for me) until about late June-August. Croatia has some really beautiful parks as well (Krka, Plitvice, Mljet) and it's so relaxing being there. It's not high on cultural stuff/city life (compared to places like Italy, France, etc.) but it really excels in natural beauty...plus the islands. Only downside is no direct flights - it takes a bit of work to get to and flights are not inexpensive.

Good luck with your research!

Switzerland is very kid-friendly. Trains with the teddy bear symbol have a playground in the train carriage. Kids ride transportation free if their parents have a Swiss Travel Pass. Restaurants have great kids menus. Playgrounds abound at restaurants, train stations, cable car stations all over. There are loads of family themed/child-centered hikes in the alps. And it's so clean! I recommend you stay in one village in the Jungfrau area of the alps as your home base, like Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen, or Grindelwald; get a Berner Oberland Pass for unlimited travel in that region for day trips (includes trains, lake ships, cable cars, and buses). Rick Steves Switzerland guide book is a great resource.

I think Switzerland is a great choice! Set yourselves up in the Berner-Oberland for the whole time. Maybe a day trip to Bern if you need a city fix. I can recommend a cute 2 bedroom apartment in Lauterbrunnen if you PM me. Ride the lifts and little trains to amazing views and hikes. Some of the hikes can be done with a stroller. Fly into Zurich, I think.

If you are considering Switzerland, don't just limit yourself to the Berner Oberland. While it is quite beautiful, the rest of the Country has some wonderful things to do and see. . Lugano is very nice with hikes, boat ride on the lake, gelato etc. Lucerne is also very nice there is mt.pilates,. To get there you take a boat, cogwheel train and a cable care. The Swiss transport museum is very child friendly and the lion monument is fun. For hiking Engleberg is also great. There is also a cable care to the top of my. Titlis.

Things are quite close together. Lucerne is just about an hour by train from Zurich. The only caution I would give you is Switzerland is very expensive.

While I love Switzerland, we find it very expensive, although it is slightly less so in late May/early June as that is shoulder season. The trade-off is the weather may not be great, and the trails can still be muddy.

My suggestion would be Slovenia. We have been here for almost two weeks and have been so pleased with the experience. Ljubljana is probably the prettiest and friendliest city we have experienced, very walkable and enjoyable. And Lake Bled is lovely, with lots of walking opportunities nearby. Lake Bohinj is also beautiful, and quieter. With a car you could visit other areas nearby for more hiking opportunities. We saw parents and children everywhere we went, and some nice playgrounds. Nearly everyone speaks fluent English, so it is easy to get around. The roads are excellent and the drivers exhibit more sanity than Italian drivers.

For an ocean experience, include Piran on the coast. It is a charming town, with Venetian influence. The swimming there is fantastic---the Adriatic is crystal-clear, and in September it has been nice and warm (may not be in early June, though).

Prices are considerably lower than Switzerland, Scandinavia, and other countries. We had a lovely room in a pension at Lake Bled for 85€ a night, including free bikes for our use. The food is high quality---we have eaten very well here for 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of food in Switzerland.

In 2011, we stayed in Austria in the countryside (near Altenmarkt, S of Salzburg). We stayed at a ski chalet, in June. No skiing, of course. But the farm we were staying at had a number of animals, chickens, cats, etc. My children were in their early 20s, but loved the animals. I am sure your 2.5 YO would be happy to see chickens, goats, cats, and so forth, if your child is like most children. Such stays are both fun for children, and can be inexpensive. Look for "agrotourism" and such. The entry previous suggested Slovenia - excellent suggestion - one of our favorite European countries.

Ireland. Our favourite family vacation hands down

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses! I'll be thoroughly unproductive at work this week now that I'm feeling inspired to truly kick off some travel planning!

Also try to see if a mobile home would suit you. Much more room for a toddler, a playground and probably other children in the same age. At 2.5 the language barrier should not be too high yet.

My favorite is https://www.camping-serenella.it/en/ (if only because it was the first I visited in 1979), but there are thousands of camp sites in Europe.

I just got back from Switzerland, and that was my first thought in answer to your question. As for costs, yes it's true Switzerland isn't "cheap." However, I found the main expense was restaurant food - very costly. And accommodations can be pricey compared to, say, Spain. So, if you rent an apartment and get food from supermarkets, which I didn't find any higher priced for most items than the US, you may find it's not that expensive. Getting around can also be pricey, but a travel pass can work well for this (I paid 458 CHF for a 15 day pass, but even with only 10 days, I used much more than this in value).

Ireland gets my vote. Beautiful country, very kid friendly, slower pace and not really crowded.