looking for ideas for my family in july

I can vouch for comfortable weather in northern Spain in mid-summer, and there's plenty to keep you busy for 3 weeks if you don't need a bunch of big-name sights. In addition to historic cities with beautiful cathedrals (we're talking Camino de Santiago here), there's lovely countryside, especially in the Picos de Europa, the Basque Country, and Galicia. You could include the French Basque Country.

When you move east of the Basque Country into Aragon, Navarra and Catalunya, you may well encounter heat. Last July I spent a few days in Puigcerda, which is in the sunny (hot!) Cerdanya Valley near the Pyrennes. Can't say that the weather there was conducive to outdoor activities, but I spent a day on the Yellow Train through the Fr. Pyrenees to the walled and lovely (but touristy) Villefrance-de-Conflent. You can walk on the wall surrounding the town, and I'm confident that excursion would please your children.

A likely plus is that the areas of tourist interest in the northern Spanish cities (Barcelona excepted) are generally small enough to be manageable for young children. I'm sorry that I'm not up on specifically-child-friendly activities (I know Enric has posted suggestions for Barcelona and the environs). Perhaps one of the prehistoric caves would be of interest. The reproduction Altamira Cave outside Santillana del Mar is so popular that reservations must be made to see it. Santillana del Mar itself is a very cute medieval town.

Barcelona isn't likely to be miserably hot, though it was in the 80s and muggy for me in August, so there is some risk if you're not heat-tolerant.

Icelandair provides great service with easy transfers at Reykjavik and fast service to Scotland and Scandinavia. Food provided in flight free for children.

It would be straightforward to book a flight into Belfast and return Glasgow, for example, and never have to deal with a mega airport like Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt. Looks like fares now are about $1150 CAN.

I think that Denmark has a lot of sightseeing interest for the whole family, and not just LEGOLAND. Since it's small, you're never far from a coastline and can incorporate beach visits without going out of your way. Lots of youth hostels have family rooms and are also close to beaches; see www.danhostel.dk/en.

I also have used coastal Portugal and northern Spain to escape the summer heat (of Morocco, in that instance).

Lots to do in London for the kids-I especially like the Natural History Museum and our college daughter really enjoyed the London Zoo. Also, the British Museum has mummies and the Tower of London would also be of interest to them.

Helsinki > Stockholm > Oslo > Bergen > fly to Copenhagen > Hamburg > Amsterdam
Ferry from Helsinki to visit Tallin. Flam railway in Norway.

What about England and the Netherlands? I like the idea of London just because it's in English. Wherever you go, the kids can understand and join in the conversation. It's easy enough to get from London to Amsterdam, either with Eurostar or a short flight from City Airport. That adds a completely different country and experience to the mix. Rent bikes and ride around A'dam like the locals. Visit Madurodam in The Hague.

For the same money, you could have a month + in Portugal or a week maximum in Norway, one of the most expensive countries in Europe! I assume you are hiring a car wherever you go.

Northern Spain is pretty, but even in summer, it can be very wet which is why its so green (same with Ireland and Scotland).

The south of France can be very hot, as is inland Portugal. The southern region of Portugal, the Algarve is all about beaches and golf, so it sounds like it's not the region for you, but the area between Lisbon and Porto would have lots to offer you. You could spend a week with day trips by train to Cascais and Sintra. You don't need a car in Lisbon. The coast is breezy, which keeps the temperature more bearable. Have a week in Porto and the Douro valley and your third week divided between a few days on the coast such as Foz do Arelha and touring historical towns such as Evora, Obidos and Tomar.

The UK is an easier trip than any of the others language wise and has plenty of history and countryside to offer.

You have so many great options that you mentioned.

I lived in the Middle East and Europe for 9 years and have traveled to 70 countries. I have my own favorites, but everywhere that I have been has been great.

To avoid the heat, I would stay away from the Mediterranean. The Med is great in April, May, late September and October, but hot in the summer.

Scandanavia is expensive, as is Switzerland.

The British Isles seems to be the best choice of what you mentioned. Not sure what you want to see, but there is lots of history and the countrysides of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are wonderful. The people are polite, helpful and speak your language.

In fact, we have a four week drive tour planned for October. I suggest that you do some research and determine what you want to see. There are tours, or you can do your own touring. You can stay in London for some days to see that wonderful city, then take day tours to Cambridge, Canterbury, Bath, Oxford, Salisbury, Stonehenge and the Cotswolds. That would occupy about 10-14 days, then take the overnight train to Edinburgh and so the same for Scotland.

If you are interested in going to Ireland first, renting a car may be a good choice, but there are tours available. I would suggest about 10 days for Ireland, including N. Ireland.

Rick Steves has great advice on this site as well as his guidebooks.

I can't tell where you live, which I think is important in providing recommendations. With kids the age of yours, I would put Sweden first and the UK second. I keep hearing how expensive Scandinavia is, but I didn't find it expensive at all. In fact, I think you'll find it much less expensive than southern Britain and Paris. I think Sweden is a kids' and grown kids' playground as there is much to do indoors and out. And OMG, I love the short nights! It was certainly less expensive than Boston (hence where do you live?) Sweden is an outdoor country, especially in the summer. I hate the beach, but I love coastlines. There are adorable little cottages throughout Sweden on lakes or the coast/islands. There's Stockholm with Grona Lund and Skansen, and ferries, and islands. There's Astrid Lindgrens’ World(Pippi Longstocking), perfect for the age of your kids, in Vimmerby, Småland. And then Northern Sweden, I personally love! Or see Reindeer in the Arctic Circle. Too many to list... The UK is lovely with lots of hikes and has nice, cooler summer weather.

Italy. Stay in the north if you are so concerned about heat.

Hi once again !

First, i want to thank you about your generous and helpful answers, They give me a lot to think and search about. This forum help us to have a great trip in Germany last year and It seems that it will be the same this year !

Some Informations bout us to help you give us some answers:

1) We are not english speaking. My english is ok and I can have a conversation with anyone who speak that language and the same goes for my girlfreind, but french is our first language and the only language our kids speaks.

2) We are from Montreal.

3) We have manage a budget of about 10k (canadian dollars( for 26 days in germany last year (including flights) and we are looking to use more or less the same amount this year.

I would think airfares to be about $4k - $5k.
That leaves you only about $250 to $300 per day for a trip of 20 days.
In many places that won't cover much more than accommodation for a family of four.
On top of that you have local transport, sightseeing and meals.
You will find that quite limiting. For example, Scandinavia and Switzerland are realistically beyond that budget,

Plane will cost us around 4k it's true. Like i've said, we manage to pay 10k for 26 days in germany last years so we should be able to manage it again this year. we can add 1or 2 k if needed.

That's it's also why we haven't included Scandinavia and Swiss in our list ! I guess that if we were able to get away almost one month in germany without restricting ourselves we should be able to do the same 21 days in portugal or Scotland !

Perhaps along the route ...
Lisbon > Coimbra > Porto > Santiago de Compostela > Oviedo > Bilbao > San Sebastian > Bordeaux

I'd recommend Scotland and Ireland, especially with kids that age. At that time of year, the daylight hours are very long which helps get the most out of your time sightseeing at outdoor, scenic locations as well as being able to spend a full day somewhere and heading out to your next town or village later in the evening. Excessive heat is rarely going to be a problem. I have family that have lived in Western Ireland for a very long time and very rarely does it ever seem to get over 75-80 degrees. Lots of opportunity for you to find cottage rentals, B&B stays, farm stays, etc. for your family. Does it rain? Yes, it can rain. But it's not like every day is a total wash-out. Often it may rain for an hour, or a couple of hours, and then the next thing you know it's sunny. I haven't been caught in too many downpours.

Another option (not on your short list) might be the Netherlands, Belgium (there are parts where French is widely spoken if you get tired of speaking in English) and make your way over to Southern France. Netherlands and Belgium are small enough that you could base yourselves out of one place in each country for a week at a time and then just take some day trips to other parts. You could get a little beach time in the South of France. Netherlands is a great place for you and the kids to do some biking - very flat.

If you want to save some money; head east.

Hi there, Europe is a good place you can go for it.

Great time for either Scandinavia/Baltic or Spain's northern coast.

tnaks for all thoses ideas !

Flights are bought ! We will arrive in Barcelon july 13 and fly back from lisbon august 6 (25 days later !) Now we have to read a lot !