ABCs OF FAMILY
TRAVEL IN EUROPE Ask our Europe Specialists to suggest attractions for you and your family! Amsterdam Canal boat tours highlight the city's unusual architecture and lifestyle. The Anne Frank House, dedicated to the diary of a 13-year old in hiding from the Nazis, speaks eloquently of one child's incredible bravery. Athens The Acropolis and Athens' many ancient monuments are wonders for visitors of all ages. The Museum of Cycladic Art bridges all eras of human history with its collection of 5,000-year-old sculpture. Barcelona During the day, get lost in the Bari Gotic's Gothic homes, Roman walls and street life. The Parc Guell, a great place for kids to let off steam, is decorated with the architect Gaudi's fantastical style. Brugge, Belgium At day's end, families can relax at a cafe on the cobble-stoned Town Hall Square and watch the city - old and new - wind down. Cesky
Krumlov, This picture-perfect, 13th-century village, which stretches from a winding riverbank to a hilltop castle museum, transports visitors to medieval times. Copenhagen, Denmark At the Tivoli Gardens, adults can sample an authentic Carlsberg beer as children enjoy a carousel of little Viking ships and brass-band concerts. Germany The German Fairy Tale Road which runs north from the Brothers Grimm's hometown (outside Frankfurt) to Bremen, highlights villages, museums and markets, as well as forest trails chronicled in their tales. Helsinki, Finland The high-tech glass facade of the Kiasma Museum of Modern Art and its futuristic exhibits will likely captivate every family member. Istanbul, Turkey The Grand Bazaar's nooks, alleys and vendors enable families to learn about Turkish crafts, rugs and copperware. The Topkapi Palace chambers and jewel collection bring the Ottoman Empire to life. Kemi, Finland After a day cruise and Baltic Sea swim on the icebreaker Sampo, this Lapland village offers a winter-season Ice Hotel with frosty family rooms. Limerick, Ireland The Bunratty Folk Park is a re-created 19th-century farming village with costumed interpreters and craftspeople. London At the Tower of London, history is conveyed with more fun than at any other museum in Europe. The London Eye casts a new light on "London Towne" from the heights of a stunning observation wheel. Madrid The Museo Nacional Reina Sofia houses Picasso's "Guernica", an abstract mural about war which can spark hours of family conversation. Paris The Eiffel Tower exudes magnetic appeal. Beaubourg and the Musee D'Orsay offer great art, stroller-friendly public spaces and cafeterias with wonderful views. Prague, Czech Republic Street performers, portrait artists and craftspeople along the historic Charles Bridge are so entertaining, you could spend hours there. Free concerts given daily in many churches provide children with a serendipitous introduction to religion and music. Salzburg Mozart's home and museum, classical musicians around Mozartplatz and day tours to visit film locations for "The Sound of Music" encourage children to appreciate music. San Gimignano, Italy Climb this village's tower for a bird's eye view of the quiet, pedestrian-only Pizazza Cisterna, site of horse races and summer festivals. Sintra, Portugal A fun outing by train from Lisbon, this town offers families a chance to stroll through the Palacio Nacional's chambers and the gardens of Pena Castle. Stockholm, Sweden Skansen Park is the site of transplanted Swedish homes, farm buildings and a collection of animals (many to be petted) from throughout Scandinavia. Vienna A morning mass by the Vienna Boys Choir or a rehearsal of the famous Lipizzaner stallions prove that practice makes perfect. The Prater amusement park's 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel and delightful, old-fashioned rides are in the heart of town. |
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