European vacation

[mckindog]

Maidenfans, I need your help.
My family has finally booked our flights for a month-long European vacation this summer.
None of us have ever been and would appreciate any advice you guys might have on just about anything.

We arrive in Paris in mid-July.
The loose plan is to spend a few days in Paris, then board the train south and/or east, eventually ending up in northern Italy. While there, we want to take in Venice and Florence and Rome.
Then it's off to Greece for a week, a flight to Amsterdam, a day or two there and then a flight back home to Canada.

The thing that's up in the air most right now is what route to take and where to stop during that early part of the trip between Paris and Italy (southern France, southern Germany, Switzerland?) So suggestions on that front would be welcome.

But any tips on any must-see stops anywhere on our itinerary, accommodations, food, transportation or anything else useful to know for Canadians travelling in Europe would great too.

 

[Night Prowler]

You haven't specified what you're gonna visit in Greece... but if you're close to it, make sure you check out The Metéora. It's breathtaking.

 

[mckindog]

You haven't specified what you're gonna visit in Greece... but if you're close to it, make sure you check out The Metéora. It's breathtaking.

Wow! Never heard of it before, but that is spectacular.

 

[Forostar]

Are you also interested to visit some sites that have to do with WWI or WWII? Perhaps with a Canadian link?

In August 2014 the world will mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Especially in Belgium and France, I'm sure there should be interesting places to visit, connected to that subject. You can visit a cemetery, a museum or a battlefield area. Guided tours are also possible of course.

 

[Perun]

The thing that's up in the air most right now is what route to take and where to stop during that early part of the trip between Paris and Italy (southern France, southern Germany, Switzerland?) So suggestions on that front would be welcome.

Any route is recommended. This part of Europe is full of wonderful, breathtaking locations. France and southern Germany offer very much in terms of historical locations, castles, palaces, old towns, etc. Southern France has Carcassonne and Montségur for instance. If you choose to go via Germany, you will find some of the most famous, but therefore also most crowded places in the country. Plus some amazing landscape. Switzerland, on the other hand, offers you scenic views on every square mile that you will never forget in your life. Having said all that, I guess it depends on what you're interested in the most.

 

[Forostar]

Avignon comes also to mind and could fit in your route towards Italy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avignon

Italy:
Lucca, famous among other things for its intact Renaissance-era city walls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca

The walls around the old town remained intact as the city expanded and modernized, unusual for cities in the region. As the walls lost their military importance, they became a pedestrian promenade which encircled the old town, although they were used for a number of years in the 20th century for racing cars. They are still fully intact today; each of the four principal sides is lined with a different tree species.
More: http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/itineraries/place/TheWallsOfLucca.html

Siena, also famous for its medieval cityscape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena

If you're into old stuff, here's a list of cities with defensive walls.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_with_defensive_walls

 

[mckindog]

Good stuff. Thanks guys.
History, culture, architecture, scenery — it's all good.

 

[Forostar]

Perhaps a little off route, but maybe not. At least you've got stuff to choose from.

Heidelberg Castle, a famous ruin in Germany. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.
+ Heidelberg: popular due to its romantic and picturesque cityscape, including Heidelberg Castle and the baroque style Old Town.

More:

Spoiler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg

It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. It is served by an intermediate station on the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway that runs from Heidelberg's Kornmarkt to the summit of the Königstuhl.

 

[Forostar]

Switzerland.
The Château de Chillon (Chillon Castle) is an island castle located on the shore of Lake Geneva in the commune of Veytaux, at the eastern end of the lake, 3 km from Montreux, Switzerland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chateau_de_Chillon-1_(2).jpg

More:

Spoiler

The Three Castles of Bellinzona are a group of fortifications located around the town of Bellinzona in canton Ticino, Switzerland. The group is composed of Castelgrande, castle Montebello, castle Sasso Corbaro and fortified walls. The Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of fortified walls that protect the old city and connect to the Montebello. The third castle (Sasso Corbaro) is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two. The Three Castles of Bellinzona have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Castles_of_Bellinzona

More:

Spoiler

+ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kastelen_van_Bellinzona#mediaviewer/Bestand:Castelgrande.JPG

EDIT:
I could recommend you more in Luxembourg, Belgium and perhaps even my own country but for now it was especially focused on the question (between Paris and Northern Italy) . ;-)

 

[Deleted member 7164]

As Perun said, you can't miss with that part of Europe.
If you decide for east of Paris route on start, go through Strasbourg.

https://www.google.hr/search?q=stra...KPPo7AbF8IAg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=957

But you didn't specify means of transportation? I'd take a train. For that east route, Strasbourg-Frankfurt-Munich-Venice. Be sure to save a few days in between cities, there's a lot to see
You can take a ferry between Italy and Greece. Or a plane. All land routes from West Europe to Greece go through Balkans. Eastern Adriatic railway ends in Split, and E65 motorway close to Dubrovnik.

Keep in mind that prices will strongly vary depending on where you are.

 

[Cornfed Hick]

Siena, also famous for its medieval cityscape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena

My wife and I liked Siena so much we named our daughter after it.

In terms of accommodation, don't know your budget, but we really liked this place, which is a convenient and luxurious (not cheap) home base for day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, and other parts of Tuscany. The resort is a small village, and there is a highly regarded winery on the premises; the food is really good too. We plan to go back.

 

[Cornfed Hick]

More info, from a relative who is a frequent traveler to France and Germany:

"Last summer I was in the region called Languedoc, which is in southwest France and close to the Pyrenees mountains separating Spain and France. I'm not sure this is a good fit for kids unless they are into river rafting, mountain hiking, cycling, etc., a la Colorado. From previous trips I'd say the Loire river valley has the famous chateaux and is very scenic. Also Burgundy and the countryside south to Lyon and the Riviera are great for food, wine and sightseeing. The Dordogne region is also famous for cuisine and scenery. If he is interested in visiting Germany also, the Alsace-Lorraine region of France is on the border and VERY tourist friendly."

 

[Forostar]

France is well suited for cycle-holidays. My parents took us every summer to France from roughly 1988 to 1995, mostly to a different region. Always great to make trips from either one central point, or to continue from a to b to c etc. But that's the kind of "active" holiday for which I'd reserve at least 2 weeks. I don't think mckindog intends to that with his current Europe trip; to take it that "slow", because there's so much more on the menu. I can understand that. If I were him, I'd come back some other time to really take the time and spend longer in the same region/country. No rush.