August holiday, but not too hot?

[Scienceforthewin]

Hi, I have a big birthday in mid-August and want to go on holiday, but dh and the kids (9 and 12) don't like it too hot. Any ideas welcomed? So far have thought Norway cruise (but worried kids will be bored looking at scenery, plus it's really expensive) and self drive in Canada.

Our normal holiday would be camping in UK, or Tenerife in winter (so not hugely adventurous!) but open to anything, budget up to 4K but less would be nice thanks.

Denmark! You could take the children to Efteling or Legoland Billund, Lego House or Lalandia indoor water park. Danish schools go back in the middle of August, so any time after then will be considerably less busy.

Efteling is in Holland, not Denmark! Holland is great for kids though - the cheese market in Alkmaar, Harderwijk dolphinarium, pretty towns like Utrecht, a day in Amsterdam (if you want to see the Anne Frank House book tickets - it's very busy!).

Lots of places in northern Europe aren't too hot in August, but if you're unlucky it can be chilly and damp (as Normandy this August was for us). If you want guaranteed sun then the Canaries aren't that hot in summer - I think they get up to about 28 degrees in August. Or there's Madeira, which is in the mid-low 20s.

Copenhagen perhaps.
Iceland.
If you're not that keen on British August temps just look upwards on the globe/map for inspiration...

My kids are quite well travelled and still maintain that their best ever holiday was a week spent in a chalet in a little town in The Netherlands. We stayed near beautiful Amersfoort. We caught the train to Amsterdam, which has great activities for kids and they just loved exploring local towns, eating fresh fish, biking, boats, visiting cheese makers and a couple of retired chaps arranged to get the windmill sails going, just for their benefit! Such an easy, family friendly holiday spot. And ( apologies to any Dutch parents who disagree), Dutch adults are way more relaxed about kids being, erm, kids, so we all felt more laid back.

West coast Canada is wonderful and not too hot. I'd recommend flying to Vancouver then over to Vancouver Island - Tofino is wonderful- and then up to Whistler, or you could do the Rockies by flying into Calgary but accommodation will be pricey there at that time of year.

My kids loved this place for a few days but brown bears in wild does end around 19th August each year so would need to go before:

www.arolabear.com/

Ruka is nice - we combined with things like white water rafting, summer bobsleigh etc. Our holiday cost around £6k for 2 weeks but that included all excursions, all eating out and all hotels with pools so could reduce. Did Norway this year lovely but rainy and so very expensive, don't think possible for £4k. A takeaway noodles from van in middle of nowhere was £15. Never seen prices like it.