France: Vosges/Alsace vs Jura (or elsewhere)

[House4DS]

We're going to be camping.
Like hiking, water based activities and canyoning/kayaking/high ropes adventure type stuff for teens.
Really looking forward to just being in France too - food, towns/villages, bike rides.
Which would you pick? Are they too similar to do both?
I'd originally wondered about crossing in to Germany too.
We have 2 days in paris then we can go anywhere.

2 centered holiday? Both will be lovely, but I guess a trip into Germany would be different. We do that type of holiday but a lot further south - such fun! Enjoy.

@Radiatorvalves I'm definitely up for 2 or even 3 centres. We're camping light so easy to move on. Lost my planning mojo a bit. Where are your favourites?

The Jura is lovely. lovely villages around Besancon, and some really beautiful lakes and mountains.

Voges/ Alsace every time!
You like hiking? How old are the DC? The Voges are riddled with ruined castles that are hidden in deep dark forests.

Then you have the river Rhine with its unique forrest landscape for your water based activityes....

PS if you go just outside Paris and you have some WW2 enthusiasts, go and visit Wolfsschlucht II (was also a militarybase until mid 1990's) - there is a small museum but you can give this a miss and just explore the site. It's mostly overgrown and feels eerie in places.

@DancefloorAcrobatics
15/17! They'll do anything and enjoy it but do like to be active, not relaxing. It does mean we can do long hikes and bike rides and more challenging activities as they are not little.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm very grateful.

I've been to the Jura twice and the Alsace three times. They're both gorgeous but the Alsace is probably my favourite area of France. The villages are just gorgeous, the wine is wonderful and the countryside is beautiful too

Years ago I went to a village called Ottrott (I think). Near strasbourg. It was beautiful and the food amazing. I’d love to return. But I don’t know the region well.

We have a house in the southern alps. Very unpretentious and good value. Loads to do and we never get bored. Google Serre Poncon lake. Brilliant location for active families.

Both? We enjoyed both Jura and the Alsace on a recent driving holiday. Would quite happily return to either / both.

Gerardmer and Xonrupt are both great, especially if you like lake swimming.

I would go for the Vosges and then the Black Forest, with a visit to Strasbourg in between. There is a really good theme park, Europa Park, a bit south of Strasbourg on the German side.

That sounds like a fun trip! If you’re into hiking, kayaking, and outdoor stuff, I'd recommend checking out the Verdon Gorge or the Pyrenees—both are great for teens and full of adventure. Verdon has amazing water activities like kayaking through the gorge, and the Pyrenees is perfect for hiking and even some ziplining or climbing parks. Dordogne is also a nice option if you want a mix of nature and cute villages—lots of canoeing, caves, and castles. You probably don’t need to cross into Germany unless there’s something specific you want to see France has plenty to offer for an active trip. Also, I found this article really handy for planning: How to Plan a Trip: 5 Essential Steps. Hope you have a great time!