Smart Tips for entertaining children in Europe
My children are young adults now, but I remember it was brought to Europe at different ages. When they were in single digits, our trips have been consumed with basic survival issues, such as eating and sleeping. By the time they entered their teens, the biggest challenge became to make our trip educational and fun.
Europe is full of amazing museums, churches and art. But unlike you, the children can not appreciate the grandeur of a statue of Michelangelo or the meaning of an ancient temple. Still, there are ways to liven up the most important places.
A Notre-Dame, Quasimodo stunt replays and climb the tower. Children love to be on a high pole, face to face with a gargoyle. Using the computer ArtStart National Gallery in London, the kids can insert their own interests (cats, naval battles, etc.) and print a custom map tour for free.
Audio guides are great for older children. My kids liked them because they could choose what they wanted to know. For younger children, hit the gift shop first so they can buy postcards and have a treasure hunt to find the design shown. When boredom sets in, try "I Spy" games or to count the number of children or dogs can be identified in all the paintings in the room. Whenever possible, go early or book in advance the most important places to avoid long queues.
Look for kid-friendly museums. London's Natural History Museum offers a wonderful world of dinosaurs, volcanoes, meteorites and creepy-crawlies. You will not find "do not touch" signs of Florence, Leonardo Museum, where kids can use their energy to power modern recreations of the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.
Get somewhere can be more fun than the destination. Children love the subway maps, train schedules and routes of the press. The Paris metro is particularly interesting, since many stations have boards that light up the route when you press the button to its destination.
Views ridesBoat Fun and buses can also be a success. Your son may not care about the Crown Jewels, but you can go nuts on horseback double-decker bus to get there. The boats are well remembered, such as a Venetian vaporetto ride or glide down the canals of Amsterdam.
European parks provide a haven of fun. Paris' Luxembourg Gardens is one of my favorite places for boys mix business with pleasure. He has coffee and people watch for the parents, and a playground complete with slides imaginative, swings, jungle gyms, and chess games for children. There is also a carousel, pony rides, rent a toy sailboat in the main pool and guignols (French puppet).
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is like a fairy-tale by Hans Christian Andersen, with games, bands, shows and rides that range from vintage cars to a Ferris wheel that looks like a clock. The recent opening Petzi's World, based on a popular cartoon bear Danish, offers a wide plush rides and activities.
Of course, costs can add up quickly. There are discounts kiddie – but you have to ask. In some places, you can find discounts for family tourist passes. train rides are free for infants and young children (and sometimes school-age children) and sometimes museums offer free admission for children under a certain age.
Go for the quick foodEating restaurants in Europe is a cultural experience, but can be stressful, because the service is much slower than at home. Dinner can easily take two hours, so bring something to occupy children while waiting. Hit self-service cafeteria and bar (children are welcome) from 19:00 to miss the adult audience. In the fast-food restaurants, kids can move without disturbing others.
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Another fun (and inexpensive) option is to get take-away food such as bratwurst, crepes and sandwiches from a street stand. Or visit a grocery store or market and get your children to assemble a picnic. You can dine in a square, a park, or on the top deck of a tour bus
When it comes to housing, to avoid B & B, which usually cater to travelers who want peace and quiet. Many large hotels offer family rooms spacious. London budget hotel chain to allow two children to stay free in the room is already a reasonable price. Bonus: They sometimes have a pool.
Story: 9 ways to save on summer flights to Europe
Instead of collecting and moving every few days, some families prefer to settle in an apartment or a house, they use it as a starting point, then-side intervention to nearby destinations. Self-catering apartments rented for a week as holiday cottages and villas in France, Italy, to give families a house on the road.
The key to a successful vacation European family is to slow down and limit their expectations. Do not overdo it. Addressing one or two key locations of every day, mix in a healthy dose of fun activities, and extended pause when needed. If done right, you'll take home happy memories that you share for a lifetime.
© 2011 Rick Steves … Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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Submited at Saturday, May 7th, 2011 at 6:00 am on Family by hilman
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