European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                To Sjon the Road with kid remember tots have different tastes by Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer travelling with children Calls for special planning. But with a Little forethought you can make your trip enjoyable for everyone. As with any trip a major decision when going somewhere with kids is How to travel. Weigh the advantages of various modes of transportation in terms of Cost stress and enjoyment. Driving your car and filling up with cafes coupons May be cheaper than the train from Kaiserslautern West Germany to Amsterdam in the Netherlands but the Cost savings May be outweighed by having to keep the kids strapped in place for five or six hours. If you do drive think of games you can play with them to pass the time on the Highway. Make frequent stops for exercise snacks and trips to the bathroom. For some Long trips air travel is the Only logical Choice. As with cars the confinement Factor is a problem. But at least most flights within Europe Are no longer than two or three hours. Take toys and books and ask the flight attendants for help. Many airlines provide free items to help youngsters while away the time. Most children love trains and ships. There is something about the rhythm of the rails or the Roll of a ship that seems to create a sense of excitement and wonder. Also children have a certain amount of Freedom of movement that is impossible in cars and planes. With supervision they can explore the train or ship and make new friends. Make sure someone stays behind to keep an Eye on the Luggage. My feeling is Young children under 10 should almost never be subjected to Long distance bus trips and never the overnight ones. When choosing a destination for a weekend Outing or a longer trip keep in mind that kids ideas of fun Are vastly different from most of yours. Most Young children Are As interested in the cultural and architectural wonders of Europe As they Are in eating spinach. It is not reasonable to expect them to be quiet and attentive for Long periods while touring museums and monuments. During one trip to Florence Italy my Little boy preferred a comic Book Over the Botticelli and in the uffizi galleries. If you Are going to be visiting a City try to go during the warm weather months. Then you can pause to watch the Street musicians or linger in the Park to feed the pigeons. Adults May not mind traipsing around London in the rain to get to museums plays and restaurants but i Borders on children can study Europe on their own level at Maduro am near the Hague Netherlands. They will also enjoy visiting the miniature houses of Lego land right in Lillund Denmark cruel and unusual punishment for children. Remember that Little legs get tired More quickly than yours. If you Are thinking of hiking with your youngsters up the Hill from Frissen West Germany to the Neuse Hanstein Castle maybe you should reconsider and pay for one of the horse drawn carriages. Take them to places that Are visually impressive or that have activities for children. Your hotel or the local tourist office can help you find them. Zoos Are Ideal and Europe has some excellent ones. So Are amusement Parks playgrounds animal Parks farms and even some museums. Most kids love exploring castles but use your judgment in what sections to avoid. In Burghauser West Germany which has one of Europe s biggest castles i watched two parents Hemming and hawing As they tried to answer their Little girl s questions about the specific uses of various implements in the torture chamber. When booking a hotel try to get one near a Park Beach or other open area. Kids will amuse themselves for hours outdoors but any intelligent Active child will be bored and unhappy spending a lot of time in a hotel room. Some hotels and resorts Cater specifically to families with children. Travel agencies and National tourist offices can help in finding them. The austrian National tourist office distributes a pamphlet titled Kinder hotels in oesterreich children s hotels in Austria that includes descriptions and lists of facilities. Ski resorts often provide kindergartens ski schools for Young children and other Day activities to free up parents for skiing. Many hotels will arrange baby sitting services. For those who prefer More rustic accommodations a Campground May be preferable to a hotel. Most children Are adventurous by nature and take to camping like seasoned outdoors men. Let them help with setting up the tent cooking Etc. Most european campgrounds Are family oriented and make a Point of providing facilities for children playgrounds swimming pools playing Fields. When picking a restaurant for Young children Don t get too exotic. On the other hand you Don t have to eat hamburgers. Children Are willing to try a amps files amps file new dishes but if they taste very different from what they Are used to they will pass them up. Pasta is usually a Good bet. Often simple and inexpensive local dishes from takeout shops or outdoor kiosks can be delightful for children Wurst in Germany roast chestnuts in Switzerland italian ice Cream waffles in Belgium fish and chips in London. Below Are some of the special attractions for children in Europe Tivoli gardens Copenhagen Denmark smurf Park in Hagon Darge France near Metz Lego land Park in Lillund Denmark the Deutscher museum in Munich West Germany Holiday Park in Hassloch West Germany near Karlsruhe the natural history museum in London Hansa Park in Siersdorf West Germany North of Linbeck the Butterfly Garden in Friedrichs Ruh West Germany near Hamburg Heide Park in Soltau West Germany North of Hannover mini Europe in Brussels Belgium Maduro am the miniature Village outside the Hague Netherlands. 20 stars and stripes travel Europe april 18, 1990