need ideas for Europe trip with 3 year-old

Jennifer, If you have been reading any of my postings, you'll know that I encourage anyone to go Paris. I'm visiting Paris w/ my young children. I recently purchased the book "Around Paris With Kids." It gives plenty of ideas on what sights and restaurants would be age appropiate. For example, there is the Cite des Enfants located in the Museum of Science and Industry complex. It says it is a very hands on experience. Also try the parks, there seems to be alot of activities available for the wee ones. Look at the various "Paris for tourists" websites. They all have a separate section for things to do w/children. Paris will be fun for both of you. Good luck!

Give us an idea on some areas you might like to visit, and perhaps we can suggest some kid-friendly local activities.

Jennifer, you might have a lot of fun in Barcelona. There are some kid-friendly sights (Parc Guell, amusement park down the hill from Tibidabo, just to name a couple) and you can spend any amount of time just strolling on the Rambla, watching the street performers and feeding the pigeons. Happy travels!

How about Paris. I'm sure your son would love Disneyland Paris. There are also direct Eurostar/Thalys trains from London/Brussels/Amsterdam to Cinderella's Castle.

If you do go to the Netherlands I would highly recommend taking him to Madurodam in the Hague which is easily done as a day trip from Amsterdam (I would also recommend staying in Haarlem instead of Amsterdam.) Madurodam is a child's wonderland. It is all of the Netherlands in miniature including all major buildings - boats, airplanes. I think with a 3 year old you could easily spend most of a day there.

We went to Sweden and Denmark this year and beside the millions of small children I saw there most of the places we went catered to children. My son is 17, but I took him to Europe when he was 1, 4, 6, 9, and 17. We had a great time in any country we traveled to because I prepared and found things that would intrigue him and spent as little time as possible on long drives or museums (besides the discovery/touchy ones) Go for it and give him a lesson in kids have play everywhere.

We went to Spain with our 4 year old earlier this summer. We tried to slow down each day and go to a park, and there were always kids to run around the town square with in the evenings. We didn't actually go to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona; there was a playground right across the street. We enjoyed the views while she played with other kids. We did do our share of cathedrals and museums during our 2 week jaunt around the country. We made our own fun just being together as a family.

keep in mind,what a three year old enjoys will be different than a 5, 7 or 10 year old will enjoy. So, although big cities have lots of things for older kids to do and see (museums etc) a preschooler will most likely enjoy petting zoos, swimming, trains and boat rides etc. With that in mind, I would go to England; York, the Cotswolds, the coastal areas. Jennifer, I started taking my boys when they were older; 10 or so and then I was able to see and do things I also enjoyed. For the time, distance traveled and money spent I learned the hard way that waiting until they were a little older, meant we both enjoyed it. At the current age of your son, you will be limited in museum seeing etc, and without assistance on your trip, you might want to wait until he is older, or take a one week trip and leave him with a trusted relative or friend for a getaway for you. A happy mom is a content mom! If money is no object, maybe you could take a teenage niece or nephew to lend a hand..