Alternate Scandinavian Cruise Itinerary

I consider Tivoli Gardens and Liseberg Park to be very different from American amusement parks, but you could possibly compare them to Cedar Point or Knott's Berry Farm, at a higher level. I think we took the train from Stockholm to Goteborg, but I don't remember. The Wasa museum and the open-air museum in Stockholm might interest them as well. I really wanted to see the Drottningholm Palace (and theater tour) but the grounds and the boat ride (?) there might well be a treat for them. I haven't been to Oslo in a long time, but I presume it has a similar nautical beauty.

Copenhagen has a nice, big botanical garden. Denmark has a lot of islands and outdoors that I know nothing about. There may even be some summer music and dance festivals in outdoor theaters. In Norway, I think Norway In A Nutshell is too grueling for that age, but I wonder if you can still find a day-boat fijord cruise, or even a three-day (?) sleeping cruise? Maybe such a boat would not be interesting enough for the kids. I would not take the kids to Bergen just for Bergen.

Thanks for the reply! I booked a hostel in flam area to enjoy the fjords. Anyone know the best most convenient way (train, plane, car) to get from Stockholm to Oslo for 2 adults and 2 kids? After Norway we are planning to take the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen.

What are you interested in and what do you want to see and do?

Take a look at the video posted at the end of this thread
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/sweden/stockholm-plans-with-kids-day-trips

The original poster asked for suggestions of things to do in Stockholm and then after her trip posted a great video of her kids in Stockholm and Helsinki. It might give you some good ideas. The video shows the kids having fun in various places including the Nobel Museum, Gröna Lund (an amusement park), the Natural History Museum, etc.

You might consider taking the ferry from Stockholm to either Helsinki or Tallinn.

SJ has two trains a day between Stockholm and Oslo: https://www.sj.se/en/home.html#/
Flying will be a little quicker and also entertains the kids a bit more.
One way car rental would be expensive.

Thanks for the replies. We like outdoors, short hikes with kids, national parks, kids really like playgrounds. We also like museums but they are hit or miss with the kids. We love to try local food but we are more picnic rather than five star restaurant. In Stockholm I have Skansen, Junibacken, Vasa, Saluhall Market. In Copenhagen I have Tivoli, Aquarium, Children Museum, my daughter will like the Little Mermaid. Oslo/Norway is new to our itinerary so I don’t have much research other than I would like to go to Flam. I just for all of us to have fun, experience the cultures and not too much stress!

If you plan to visit Norway, my suggestion would be not go direct there from Stockholm, but make a stop on the way. Two nights in Karlstad seeme like a good idea, on your whole day there, do a day trip to Rottneros and visit the park, it should tick many of the boxes. Then continue to Oslo, spend a night there before heading to Flåm. Maybe a version of the short NiN-tour would suit you? Oslo-Myrdal-Flåm-Gudvangen-Voss-Oslo? Maybe with a side tour to Balestrand or going all the way to Bergen.

After that, back to Oslo, maybe spend a few extra days there, before going to Gothenburg. Spend at least 2, even better 3 or 4, nights in Gothenburg. The children will probably enjoy Liseberg, make a day trip to the archipelago and enjoy a charming city, before you continue to Copenhagen.

That is a general suggestion that would probably be nice for two weeks.