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Summer Travel In Europe
- Ideas for families

By , About.com Guide

For those of us with school-age kids, July and August are prime months for holidays. These are also the months Europe is in bloom: flower boxes bright with color, ice-cream shops open day and night, cafe's spilling out onto sidewalks and into squares, colorful festivals in towns and villages...

Below are some ideas for summer travel in Europe, for families.

Great Destinations for Summer Travel in Europe

Summer Travel in Europe - London SightseeingPhoto © Teresa Plowright.
London; Paris and more France (including, yes, Euro Disney); Greece; Venice; Visiting Hill Towns in Tuscany and Umbria....

Stay in a Castle in Europe

Europe has more historic castles than North America has Burger Kings; and --what with the high cost of keeping up a hundred-room mansion these days --many of these castles offer accommodation for visitors.

Summer Travel in Europe - Biking Trips

Picture yourself cycling through quaint countryside, eating at be-flowered restaurants without any guilt because you're getting so much exercise; meanwhile your luggage is being whisked by van to the delightful inn where you'll rest that night...

Festival in Ascoli Piceno, Italy: Medieval Parade and Joust

Photo © Teresa Plowright
Once a year, on the first Sunday in August in the lovely town of Ascoli Piceno, some 1500 citizens parade in 15-century garb through the town; then the whole town cheers the riders in a medieval-style joust, followed by celebrations into the night and fireworks.

Summer Travel in Ireland: Horse-Drawn Caravans

It's definitely a vacation your neighbors haven't done yet. And what a wonderful way to see the famed Irish countryside: in your own comfy gypsy-style caravan, drawn by a patient hors

Rent a Cottage in the UK

Rented cottage are a great fit for family travelers: with the convenience of having your own kitchen, multiple bedrooms, play-space outside, and a home base for exploring the surrounding area.

Adventures By Disney - Escorted Tours

Summer Travel in Europe - Adventures by Disney, Viva Italia!Photo © Teresa Plowright.
Adventures by Disney offers several trips in Europe to great destinations, with all details handled, excellent sightseeing, and special activities just right for kids. Read about Viva Italia! family adventure in Italy including Rome, medieval hill-town Orvieto; Tuscan countryside, Florence, and Venice. Bellissima!

Family Cruises

Do a Europe trip the really, really easy way... The logistics could hardly get easier than on a cruise, where your hotel room travels with you, and the same bed, and all your stuff, awaits every night after you return from a shore outing.

Summer Travel in Europe - Barging

Barge rentals range from the do-it-your self approach (called "self-catering" in Europe), to pampered trips with fine wines and gourmet meals. Often, bicycles are included in the holiday, so you can explore the countryside near the canals or rivers you're drifting down.

Europe The Really Easy Way: By Cruise

Long to see Europe with your kids, but scared by the logistics? Well, the logistics could hardly get easier than on a Europe trip by cruise, where your hotel room travels with you, and the same bed, and all your stuff, awaits every night.
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