Three weeks today we’ll be packing our car to bursting with our camping gear and setting off on a month’s road trip round Europe. To say our planning so far has been minimal would be an understatement! However on a rare kid-free night a couple of weeks ago we managed to hammer out a rough route. Far from set in stone, we will start off on this route, but will probably detour from it depending on what we find along the way. My plan is to spend the evenings sat outside the tent (hopefully around a campfire or BBQ with a glass of something as chilled as it can get in our coolbox), researching the next mini stage of our tour.
Our rough route as it stands at the moment includes…
1. Nancy, France. Overnight stopover.
2. Interlaken, Switzerland.
3. Locarno, Switzerland. Meeting some friends.
4. Lake Como, Italy. Just because.
5. Lake Garda & Verona, Italy. Hopefully some opera.
6. Venice, Italy. Because I can’t be that close and not grab the chance to see it.
7. Cinque Terra, Italy. Explore the coast.
8. Annecy/Chamonix, France. Ice caves, lake swimming.
9. Vichy, France (attempting to find a campsite I stayed on as a child).
10. Tours, France. Rivers to swim in.
Inspired by Xanthe Berkeley’s video session at Blogtacular, I hope to shoot some fantastic footage that I can edit into films of our travels. Maybe I’ll get a chance to do some of this along the way, or maybe they’ll wait until we’re home – who knows?
I will, however, definitely be blogging during our trip on both blogs (the more practical, travelling-with-kids content will be over on Young & Younger), even if it’s just a quick picture postcard and a single-sentence update. I’m not sure which bit of the journey I’m most excited about. I haven’t explored much of Italy before, so I’m really looking forward to that – especially getting to see Venice (even if it is just a day trip). The kids have got their sights set on gelato, pizza and Prosciutto so I think Italy will be a highlight for them, too.
Given our own lack of planning, I would love to hear your tips if you’ve been to any of the areas we’re heading to. Places to visit, places to eat, places to swim – any pearls of wisdom you have to offer would be very gratefully received…
That looks fantastic!!! What a great thing to do.
I’ve been to all these places but cannot off hand recommend anything. Also I travel without kids:-))
You’ll have the most amazing time. Let’s pray for good weather x
PS. You must do Opera in Verona:-) Told you I’m kidless…
Yeah, travelling with kids is a different experience totally. Although I do think they would enjoy some opera so we’ll see! Good weather is number one on my wish list. Please oh please….
Wow. You are going to have an amazing adventure. I’m also planning a 3 week trip around France over the summer. Although my ‘planning’ sounds very similar to yours, ie minimal. I will follow your travels with interest. I might be able to get some tips myself. x
I’ll definitely share as many tips as I can. I’m already thinking about next year, and wondering whether we can manage a 3 week trip around France! There are so many places in France I want to go to, but the distances are so huge. x
So jealous.
I can’t give specifics as it was a long time ago, but one of my most memorable childhood holidays was camping around annecy. Swimming in the lake, cable cars up the mountains to the snow, mountain walks. You’ll love it x
Me too Amy! We camped around Annecy when I was a child and I loved it. A lot of the places we’re visiting in France are places I went to when I was younger – trip down memory lane.
I did a European road trip as a kid and it was seriously the most memorable fun family times (and I don’t recall there being that much planning to it!). Hope you guys have a fab time.
Oh brilliant, that’s just what I want to hear! It’s all about the memories 🙂
Wow, it sounds amazing! I absolutely love Venice, I would love to go back. Have an amazing time! x
Thanks Jess. We’ve actually already tweaked our route and have decided to leave Venice for another time. I really, really want to go, but I don’t think trying to squeeze it into this trip is going to work. Have told my OH that he’ll have to take me there for a weekend away instead!
Wow! This sounds fabulous! Have a wonderful time.
Thanks Vicki – I am getting super excited now.
I’m so excited and jealous of your trip! It’s going to be amazing and you’re going to love Italy, especially Lake Como. I’ll send over some cool places in Como to visit x
Can’t wait for your Como tips. We’re rejigging our itinerary slightly so that we’ve got a bit more time there hopefully! x
Just found you via Instagram wow, what a fab adventure you are going to have! I’m off to read more of your blog 🙂 x