How to Enjoy Europe with the Kids (Really!)

By Heidi Mitchell
April 17, 2015
Courtesy of Schloss Elmau
Planning a European getaway doesn't have to mean leaving the kids at home with Grandma. In fact, Europe has a slew of places to visit that are just as fun for kids (and kids-at-heart) as they are for bona-fide grown-ups. On the agenda: ice caves, train trips, and (no duh!) LEGO.
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Train Trips

Courtesy of Belmond

Modeled after the glamorous railway cars of the 1930s, the Belmond Northern Belle (from $470) now takes families on day trips from cities throughout the United Kingdom to beautiful destinations in the English and Welsh countryside like Conwy Castle, Snowdonia National Park, and the Chester Zoo. A favorite: the Beatrix Potter Guided Tour to the Lake District, which includes brunch, a visit to the author’s home and garden, and a four-course dinner on the return journey.

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Outdoor Adventure

Courtesy of Ice Cave Iceland

On tours to the man-made Ice Cave Iceland (from $136), opening in June near Reykjavík, thrill-seeking clans can ride eight-wheel trucks up Langjökull (Europe’s secondlargest glacier) and then hike to the cavern’s interior.

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Fantasy Ireland

Courtesy of Ballyfin

Enjoy carriage rides and costume parties at Ballyfin (doubles from $846, including meals), a Georgian estate near Dublin. The hotel just unveiled five new guest rooms, bringing the count to 20.

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Big Boy Toys

Giorgos Vitsaropoulos/Courtesy of the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum (pictured), in Athens, now has a scale model of the ruins built of Legos. Nearby, the colorful New Hotel (doubles from $244) offers stunning Parthenon views.

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Chill Out

Courtesy of Schloss Elmau

The German wellness resort Schloss Elmau (doubles from $769) has two spas that cater to kids, several pools, and a soccer camp—plus a new 47-suite hotel with a yoga pavilion for the grown-ups.

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By Heidi Mitchell