getaway
Exploring the Abundance of the Old Country A Family-Friendly European Vacation
W
hen your home life is a constant outdoor-focused vacation, when your kids have been born into a community fueled by tourism, it makes leaving the Valley to gain perspective that much more of an imperative. This winter or spring break, you have many options, but for the balance of accessibility, depth and fun with kids, it is hard to beat the triumvirate of France, Belgium and the Netherlands and, specifically, their respective capital cities. Linked together by the high-speed Thalys rail, Paris (Gare du Nord), Brussels
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(Bruxelles Midi) and Amsterdam (Schipol or Centraal) are easy to approach no matter your preferred airport/airline of entry. With only three hours between Paris and Amsterdam, with Brussels halfway in between, you can adventure in this region in any order. For our purposes though, let’s begin in Amsterdam and work our way south to Paris.
1.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Amsterdam, crisscrossed by canals, awash in flowers and possessing incredible bicycle infrastructure, is often
described as a large village, not quite a city. To Valley residents, it is still big, but navigating the city is very manageable. The Dutch will ride bikes no matter the weather, as the coastal climate begets not a small amount of rain, but the excellent tram network is also a good choice when the skies have opened. In terms of attractions, the city center is the common draw, with the big art museums (Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum will both blow young minds, but make sure to book in advance), Anne Frank House (generally suitable for children 10 and above, reservations required), canal tours (an interesting way to see the city)
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF T.J. VOBORIL
by T.J. Voboril
