Where would you go if you had 6/7 weeks?

[whompingwillo]

My husband is taking a 6/7 week sabbatical over summer. We have 2 girls who will at the time be aged 6.5 and 2.5

Where would you go?!

North Australia and one of the islands.

With kids rhat age I’d do Europe. I was always jealous of families that went to France for 6 weeks in a caravan.

You don’t have to do a caravan but as PP says they are small enough to love camping. Southern france, then alps and Italian lakes, possibly Rhine valley and Low Countries but taken time. Do at least 5 days in each place

When they are older doma
California road trip from SF TO SANDIEGO

I would hire a camper and travel through Europe...🤗

When I was 8 or 9 my parents hired a camper van and we spent the whole of the Summer holidays in France. It was such fun. We camped in pine forests, near the beach and lakes and were just completely carefree. It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had.

New Zealand. It's wonderful but so far.

Japan

I'd travel around South America.

US/Canada by RV/camper - you have the time to cover the distances.

I'd travel around best bits of Europe. Short driving distances. Unfortunately, your 2 year old isn't going to remember any of it.

Australia, with a few days stopping over on the way there and back, probably in Singapore.

I would make the most of a rare 6 or 7 weeks off.

I can go to Europe anytime, maybe not for so many weeks at a time, but it's such an easy holiday destination, I would save that for normal years and regular holidays.

If it were just adults, then New Zealand without a doubt.

Such a stunning country.
Really easy to travel in.

But, it is SUCH a mammoth journey, I wouldn't do it with littlies.

I think I'd tour round some European countries.

How lovely to have that longer stretch of time!

Personally, I would not go to Aus/NZ. First because it’s their winter and second because they are both amazing but your kids are too young to remember it. I would save that for another time.

I would recommend interrailing in Europe. I know a few people who have done this recently with kids. The interrail ticket makes the travel more affordable and convenient. You can cover a lot in the time you have.

if you enjoy the hotter weather I’d suggest Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy. Or, for a little cooler, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland. Lots of other options/routes. You could choose six destinations to base for a week each, or (my choice), 12 destinations for half a week each. Mix it up - some cities, some seaside, some historic, some fun (legoland?).

I’m jealous! You’ll have a wonderful time.

Brazil or Turkey, I've done both and highly recommended

A lake house in northern Michigan.

What about if you’re not that rich? Can you then not think for yourself?
What a petty and unnecessary comment to someone asking for genuine suggestions in the right place.

I am in Oz and wouldn't come here in our winter. A lot depends though on whether you want sunshine or not. I am planning a similar trip next year with my Long Service Leave, and am looking at Vietnam/ Cambodia/ Laos, but I don't have kids to consider.

Lots of places I'd go if I were by myself or older kids, especially in SE Asia or Latin America, but with 6.5 and 2.5, I'd be thinking short distances, temperate weather, a mixture of cities and countryside/beaches. So I'd pick either;

• Europe and as a PP suggested, travel to multiple locations - I'd go by train and pick up a car or camper van for short periods to get a break from hotels and be a bit more rural but 6 weeks in a camper van with small kids is not for me.

Or

• Canada and focus on one side of it, like the west coast Victoria Island, Vancouver through the Rockies or the East and do Ontario/Quebec/Nova Scotia. Either way I'd find a lodge resort like Algonquin for a week at the mid point and just spend a week jumping in and out of a lake

We did this......from one side of Canada to the other. We had a motorhome for part way and took the greyhound bus/ train for other parts. Hired a car from Quebec City to go whale watching in northern Quebec. Was amazing!

At that age travelling each couple of days would have been a nightmare with DD, so I would stay at least 10 days in each location and have plenty of space, so a campervan or a cramped hotel room would be out for the full length.
I would try to get a decent size s/c option.

How are they with southern Europe heat? That would for me a deal breaker.

I personally would go to Asia, yes, it's rain season but it's not that it's full on each day. You can also carefully add areas which are drier.
Sri Lanka would also work.

We have family in Sydney, the weather in July/August can be beautiful but we often wear jumpers, can be chilly particularly in the shade. Gets warmer as you head to the tropical north.. I love New Zealand, but it is quite a bit colder, I backpacked there through June/July 2003, and have been back a few times in winter since, and it was scraping the ice off the windscreen cold in the mornings, and below 10 degrees all through the day on South Island, might have been a bit warmer near Auckland. Still fine to be out doing things though. Have a look at Canada, we went in autumn and it does get really hot in summer, but loads to see there.

When mine were little we had a month off and took our motorhome to Spain then up the west coast of France. Happy times!

Hmmm, I think I’d do a Canada / California combo or look into something south east Asia, perhaps including a week or so in Australia. Though I’d ask DH if he could put it off a couple of years till your youngest was older!

i guess it depends on whether you want adventure and new experiences or just a change of scenery. If it was the latter I’d maybe look at a house in Europe somewhere and have a leisurely continental summer with a few mini breaks scattered through it!

Why do people think dc enjoy travelling long distances? Doing interrail or RV touring with a 2 year old is horrible. Staying put and moving every week makes much more sense. Have the luxury of downtime and enjoy where you are. A remote beach in Scotland? Mountains and little towns in Ireland. Croissants and coffee in France. Plus those great beach play areas. Young dc won’t remember much so keeping them happy would be my priority. There’s plenty here and I would never go to Aus/NZ with little dc. Horrible journey there! Canada is very possible but it’s a lot of driving! And some of it very boring. I’d look at USA north east (Maine) and go into Maritime Canada. I’d never cross Canada with little dc. The East is great for families.

Canada: When my boys were 4 and 2 we spent 5 weeks travelling around Canada. We started in Toronto and stayed about a week, then flew to Calgary and drove all the way to Vancouver island visiting places like Banff and Lake Louise and Whistler along the way. We also spent a couple of days on a dude ranch on the way from the Rockies to the coast. We ended with 5 days in Vancouver before flying home from there.
It was a perfect family trip for us; my husband likes driving and the boys were more than happy listening to audiobooks in the car. We decided not to do the RV thing and stayed in pre-booked hotels instead.
USA: We have also done a shorter holiday driving up the west coast of the US, visiting LA, Yosemite and San Francisco. You could easily make this a longer holiday and end up in Seattle or Vancouver.
Happy Holiday Planning!