With so much to do, see, and explore; vacationing here with your family is a great way to have a trip you’ll remember forever. Here,  we look at 5 of the best family friendly vacations in Europe; perfect for those that love exploring, and those that love a little bit of relaxing:

1. Italian driving holiday

Road trips don’t have to be for college kids. In fact, you can take your family on a driving holiday and we promise there won’t be any cries of ‘Are we there yet?!’.

Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy by Rome Cabs

The Amalfi Coast in Italy provides one of the most romantic and breathtaking backdrops to a driving holiday, and is the perfect vacation for thrill seekers. Widely considered to be the most scenic stretch of Italian coastline, cruising down these winding roads can make anyone feel like a superstar.

You can stop off at some of the most whimsical hotel locations ever, sample delicious local cuisine, and bathe in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. It is recommended that you drive this coastal route during the peak of tourist season to get the best vacation possible.

2. Villa in Spain

If you’re still looking for a week of complete relaxation but want to avoid the crowds, why not hire a villa in Spain?

Forgot the main tourist areas, and explore off the beaten track; whilst still unwinding by the pool and spending time as a family. A villa break acts as a great base to explore from, and gives you the freedom and isolation you don’t get in a hotel.

Just be sure to hire a car, and explore some of the hidden areas Spain or the Spanish islands have to offer.

Villas in Spain (Santa Pola Life Resort, Alicante) / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

3. Camping in the Lake District

England has some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, and makes for a family friendly vacation spot with a twist. If you love being ‘at one’ with nature, and have a real adventurous spirit, you should consider a camping holiday in the Lake District.

This vacation will provide you with some real, quality ‘family time’; away from all the distractions of modern life. Hire some bicycles and go exploring; go fishing; and eat around the campfire.

There are a plethora of stunning locations to choose from, and so much to do in the Lake District; it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular destinations for people all around the world. You should also look into hiring a car and exploring the surrounding area too!

Red Pike, Lake District, England, UK by Phil and Pam

4. Euro Disney

Children of all ages love theme parks; and children of all ages love the magical world of Disney. So why not hop across the pond, and take your family to Euro Disney?

Situated in the romantic city of Paris; Euro Disney is a mini version of the Florida theme park but offers much the same experience. Your little ones can enjoy collecting signatures from their favourite characters, watch the spectacular shows, and ride some of the great rollercoaster’s.

Whilst over in France, be sure to head to all the sights such as the Eiffel Tower for a once-in-a-lifetime tourist experience.

Disneyland Paris, France by Randal Sheppard

5. Skiing in Austria

If active vacations are more your thing, why not consider going skiing in Austria? This kind of trip is ideal for families that want action and adventure; and not lounging around on the beach.

Whether you know how to ski or want to learn together, this is a great family-friendly vacation with a difference. There are a whole host of locations and slopes, suitable for all ability levels, and there is plenty to do when the skiing is over.

Austrian Alps by Edward Simpson

Europe is home to some wonderful locations for family friendly vacations. If you’re looking for a trip with a difference, why not give it a try? You might be surprised at what you discover.

Core Assets Fostering help vulnerable children to find a safe and happy home with a caring family. Find out more at www.coreassets.com/fostering

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Visit the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise

Although this area is not that well-known by tourists, the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise or the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise offers some amazing scenery indeed. Mainly composed of mountain ranges in the 900 meter to 2200 meter range above sea level, the park definitely offers a varied landscape for road trippers. For instance, you can readily witness both steep alpine mountain cliffs and rounded peaks in this park. Moreover, there are water bodies that include two fair-sized lake basins and the Sangro River here as well. Along the road, you can expect to also see cows grazing and picturesque small towns that are unspoiled by tourists. Remember to drive until you get to a town called Vasto where you can then get the opportunity to see the beautiful Trabocchi coast firsthand.

Abruzzo National Park, Italy by Marco Tersigni

Visit the Amalfi Coast

Often declared to be most scenic coastal area in Italy, the Amalfi Coast or the Costiera Amalfitana consists of charming villages, amazing cliffs, and gorgeous vistas. Further, there are also beautiful turquoise waters, fertile-looking hills, and well-manicured gardens. In fact, UNESCO declared this area to be “an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values.” Moreover, since plenty of the towns in this area such as Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano have inspired artists for over the past 500 years, the area must be a beautiful one indeed.

Amalfi Coast, Italy by Pietro Crincoli

Visit the Tuscany Area

Without a doubt an extremely popular area for tourists, this well-known area is located on the west coast of Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. While the country-side and world famous villas are indeed beautiful, the stops along the way to view art from the Renaissance period are another reason to travel to this area. Moreover, the area is also an excellent one for foodies as excellent Tuscan food and wines can be readily found here. Of course, if you are looking to unwind and spend some time in the sun, the Viareggio beach is also an excellent place to visit.

Rowing into the sunset towards Ponti Santa Trinita in Florence by Chris Wee

To conclude, Italy definitely is a great place to discover via a car road trip. From the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise to the Almalfi Coast, to Tuscany, Italy offers plenty of diversity for you as well.

John is the author of several used car rental sales blogs like Hertz rental sales and also enjoys writing about travel and vacations.

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Positano, Campania, Italy by Stefano Costantini

Positano is one of the world’s most beautiful resorts and, of course, one of the most expensive. The most renowned beaches here are sandy beaches Spiaggia Grande and Spiaggia Fornillo. There is also the rocky beach Scogliera. Of course you can do a wide range of activities here. The most popular is the diving and surfing. However the area is suitable for hiking as well. During the summer season Positano holds many festivals and celebrations. Among the most significant is the celebration of the landing Saraceno – “Festa di Santa Assunta” or Festival of Dance – “Premio Positano“.

The city was an important port during the 16th and 17th centuries, but later in the 19th century many people moved out and those remaining lived very poorly. Around the year of 1950 a poor fishing village has been discovered again and opened to a new and lucrative industry. Today the inhabitants live solely from tourism. Currently Positano has around 4,000 inhabitants.

Positano, Campania, Italy by Jensens

There are several sights that you can find here, but visitors are coming here mainly for romantic sunsets. One of the best ways to enjoy a sunset is sitting on the beach with a glass of Limoncello.

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