London & Paris

    Westminster Abbey was next on our mom & daughter travel adventure list, which was within walking distance. Westminster Abbey www.west minster-abbey.org is not only a beautiful church but we learned that it’s the site of all royal coronations. The royal coronation chair is on display, and although most of the past royalty are buried in tombs below the Abbey, the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I can be viewed here.

Read more about Alyx's Sweet "16" trip to London and Paris.

Find more articles to England and France:

Jaunts around England and Scotland

On the Road about France

Britian's Countryside and Wales

England's Nursery Rhymes

Grandkids in Paris

Our First Home Exchange

Barge the Canals of Europe

Scotland Highland Family Travel Adventure

Scotland offers families fantastic hiking with moderate treks that are ideal for young kids like our Sarah, Luke, and Peter. Michael scoped out a "Harry Potter" - inspired romp, a scenic path that encircled a viaduct and went up through the hills. The scenic path led up through the hills and lakes were nestled in the distant mountains. We trekked up and down through calf-high grass, with the viaduct in and out of view, until we finally navigated just below it.

Because the ground was also quite boggy, the five of us emerged wet and muddy and we
realized that our hiking gear was woefully inadequate. British hikers equipped with wellies (waterproof boots) and ski-like walking poles merrily passed by us by as we slogged along the route. We took plenty of photos of the viaduct and reenacted the scene from "Harry Potter".   

On the way back to the car park we came across a farmer who gleefully recounted the “Harry Potter” film crew filming the characters Harry and Ron flying a small automobile over the viaduct around which we had hiked that afternoon. The farmer also pointed out that the film’s special effects team had turned his barn into a rather large rhododendron bush.

Read more at Mary Beth's Scotland Travel Adventure. 

Beach and Camp travel adventure at Lous-Seurrots.

We enjoyed a stay at the small seaside town of Contis-Plage in France, about halfway between Bordeaux and the Spanish border.  The seaside town is in an area called Les Landes, which has grown out of what is essentially reclaimed land. It’s a little-known area, and very surprising. Although the Landaise landscape is  like that of western Oregon, mostly evergreen trees, the architecture is a fascinating mix of Tudor and Disney kitsch, with most unusual houses popping up out of the clearings in the forests.

We reached Contis-Plage and checked in at the Lous-Seurrots Campground, where we had booked a chalet. The chalet, which sleeps six but is very comfortable for 4. The campground was not a Eurocamp full of English people, but a French campground, with mostly French, Germans, and Dutch visitors. It’s exceptionally well run and we found continental Europeans to be great campers - very respectful of others.

The campsite provides loads of activities, including four swimming pools. The restaurant next to the swimming pool has hot frites, the kids' favorite after a couple of hours in the water. You can find chalets and mobile homes for rent, and a large tent area. There is a shop on site providing most essentials, including fresh bread and pastries all day.

Contis is basically a surfing town with long, sandy beaches, which are great for flying kites, surfing, or swimming – but the surf can get pretty rough, so watch out for safe-bathing markers. The town also offers canoeing, bike riding through the woods, and fishing. There’s also a miniature golf course. The town offers tours of a spectacular lighthouse.

Read more at Jaunts about France & Wales. 

NORTH to the LAKES and MALCESINE

   After a two-hour drive on the autostrada we crested Passo S. Giovanni and enjoyed our first scenic view of Lake Garda, our home for the next week. The town of Malcesine, located lakeside and at the foot of Monte Baldo, was chosen to cater to son Morgan's love of going up and down mountains.

   I found the Villa Stellina apartments online and our host, Signora Franca Zeni, welcomed us to her family run complex, which consists of three apartments. Each offers underground parking, lakeside views, and access to the above-ground swimming pool and barbecue facilities. For just Euro 92 per night, plus Euro 36 for final cleaning costs, we enjoyed basic but comfortable accommodations just a ten minute walk from the center of town, the cable car, and Lake Garda. We thought it a great deal and perfect for our two active boys. Lake Garda is so popular with German-speaking tourists that most restaurant menus in Malcesine are in both Italian and German. The cable TV channels were almost entirely German.

   Lake Garda is probably best known as a world class wind-surfing and sailing destination because of the predictable winds. The surfers and sailors appear in the early morning and late afternoon when the winds are strongest and the surfing at its most challenging. It was thrilling for the boys and Andrew and I too watched as they spun and raced on the crests of the waves with the winds.

Read more at Jaunts about Northern Italy.