Alternative to European beach holiday

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

with young children? DCs will be 6 and 3.5yr next year, would love to do something different for our holiday next summer. Had been looking at Iceland but it seems our youngest will be too young to enjoy it. We're outdoorsy types but don't really want to be sat on a beach or by a pool all day every day. Any ideas? Or do young kids = beach/pool holiday and wait till they're older to do something a bit different.

Campground at Lago d'idro in northern Italy. Windsurfing lessons on site. Lake and pool for swImming (you and kids). It is quiet and lovely. Loads of places to visit. Hiking from site and into the mountains with a short drive.... any lake in France, Switzerland or Italy.

Really liking the look of Annecy in France at the moment.

Off to google it now....will be really interested to know if you decide something-I'm so disappointed from our Ibiza holiday I need to sort something different for next year!

We took dd to Zell am See when she was 6 and she loved it. Went walking in the mountains, went up the cable cars, cycling, boating on the lake, swimming in the outdoor pool as well as doing trips to Salzburg, the waterfalls etc.They also has a festival every Wednesday night in August which she enjoyed - lots of family activities going on.
We have also done Germany but more round the Mosel area - stayed in a holiday park there which we enjoyed. Even if we were one of the few British families there

Lake Annecy is a lovely spot, you can also easily get into the mountains from there.

We took our DC to Lake Constance at a similar age to yours. They loved it, there was so much to do. Plenty of excellent outdoor pools directly on the lake so that you could be in the lake or in a kids splash pool. Cable cars, beautiful walks in the hills, boat trips, farm animals - we packed loads in. Also Ravensburger Spieleland nearby is an excellent theme park just for children. And the accommodation was great quality but less than half the price of what we've paid this summer for a property in Northumberland.

We've also been to Centre Parcs Bostalsee and Kempervennen. Both good fun holidays. Kempervennen reminded me of the one in Sherwood Forest. Bostalsee is smaller with less trees so felt less like a UK Centre Parcs. But it's newer so the accommodation was better and it was great for cycling round the lake and playing on the beach.

Reading this thread has given me some ideas for next year

We went to Sun Parks in Oostendunkirke in Belgium last year. Same company as European Center Parcs. The kids loved it and we went to Ypres, Bruges and visited some WW1 places as well. We are going to one further up the coast this year.

Cyprus might be worth looking at as you could stay in the mountains and be close enough to visit the sea. Never done it the way though but it is beautiful.

More great ideas, spoilt for choice now! I knew MN would come up trumps with good ideas.

Whereabouts did you stay at Lake Constance JE17?

We did a week in Duinrell in the netherlands sandwiched between short breaks in Bruges and Amsterdam when the kids were smaller and that worked well. Just got back from 2 weeks in Switzerland (interlaken and grindelwald) which was great - tiring for little ones though - youngest is 6 now and he was pretty exhausted.

I'm booking a holiday to Seefeld for next summer as soon as the hotel publishes its prices.
We're going to Munich for a long weekend in October. DS will be 3.11 then.
Lake Constance is on the list for the year after.

pierre et vacances belle dune was nice when dc were small lots of activities on the lake a farm playgrounds cycling and sports etc - french.
www.pierreetvacances.com/gb-en/fp_BLL_self-catering-belle-dune-holiday-village?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvoDQhYby1QIVS7XtCh1ktAWLEAAYASAAEgL3P_D_BwE

The Dolomites are also a good region for mountain holidays. This summer they had play parks at the top of different chair lofts / cable cars, with things like trampolines, climbing walls, water parks, biking trails, geocaching, bouncy castles, deckchairs, etc. There are a lot of mountain huts (rifugios) to stop for a coffee / beer and cake / ice-cream. They have really invested in the summer offerings this year - we'll definitely be going back. Highly recommend!

Lake konstanz was good for us. Loads to see and do but also some nice lakeside beaches for more relaxed days.