Europe, despite being one of the most heavily populated and developed continents in the world, still has plenty of wild areas where you can find some superb family adventure holidays. The great thing about Europe is that it offers terrain to explore and offer challenges at any time of year, from deepest winter to the baking sunshine of summer. Find the right location and the possibilities are as varied as Europe’s land and seascapes.

Czech Paradise National Park, Czech Republic / Photo by admin

Mountains, Rivers and Deep Forests

Central Europe, especially Germany, offers some of the deepest woodlands in Europe. In particular, the Black Forest, in the south west of Germany, has some wonderful facilities to offer to visitors. Bavaria’s meadows and mountain peaks are great for people who love hiking or cycling, while the water courses are ideal for those travellers who enjoy adrenaline fuelled water sports.

Southern Sun and Shorelines

Heading further south, you come to the Mediterranean countries with their spectacular coasts. The rocky Adriatic coasts of Croatia and Greece are great for people who enjoy sea-based water sports, while many of the islands in the Mediterranean are popular with people who like sailing. The beaches are also great in this part of Europe, if you need a something more restful for a while. A great way of exploring what the beaches can offer in this part of Europe is by canoe and many sailing tours offer this facility.

Beach in Pollina, Sicily, Italy / Photo by admin

Winter in the Wild

When the weather turns to snow, that does not mean things shut down in Europe. The snow comes as a boon for the skiing resorts of the Alps and the Pyrenees, while in Scandinavia, the weather is simply a part of life, influencing culture on almost every level. In countries such as Sweden and Finland, you can explore winter woodlands by skiddoo or learn to cross country ski, one of the world’s most beneficial types of exercise.

It is also possible to spot different kinds of wildlife in winter and the landscapes covered in snow form great backdrops for nature photographers. The mountain resorts of France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland really come alive in the winter months, with the adventure holidays for families available at this time are centred upon skiing and snowboarding type activities.

High Tatras National Park in Winter, Slovakia / Photo by admin

Whatever kind of adventure holidays you are seeking, from birdwatching tours to learning to water ski, Europe really can provide it all. With accessibility and transport links invariably very good by global standards, Europe answers many of the questions keen holiday makers often ask.

AUTHOR BIO: Graham Devonshire has been at home in the Alps for years. A mountain lover, whatever the weather, he write regularly about adventure holidays for families, along with other travel matters, for a range of blogs and websites. A keen skier, as well as white water rafter, his own family adventure holidays have attained an epic status in the annals of his own household, where his family attempt to keep his boundless enthusiasm for the outdoors bottled up, at least until he’s in range of the mountains.

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Lago Maggiore, Italy by Falk Lademann

While Lake Maggiore is situated more than 193 meters above sea level, the lake is very deep with some points of the lake bed exceeding 179 meters below sea level. The basin of the lake is said to have been formed by a mix of both glacial and tectonic means. There are many rivers that flow into Lake Maggiore and even more rivers that flow out of the lake.

The weather surrounding the giant lake is traditionally very mild all year long. Since Lake Maggiore is so large, it creates a micro-climate that is entirely unique to the region. During the summer months, the temperature of the lake generally helps to keep the region cooler than the surrounding areas. At the same time, during the winter months, the lake helps to warm the surrounding areas.

Isola dei Pescatori, Lago Maggiore, Italy by kkmarais

Every year, millions of people make their way to the shores of Lake Maggiore. There are countless hot spots located all around the shorelines of the lake. You will even find the Borromean Islands in the western portion of the lake. The Borromean Islands are a very popular tourist attraction which features some of the finest gardens in the region. Countless people make their way to these privately owned islands every summer. From rest and relaxation to some of the most popular of water sports, there is so much to see and do around Lake Maggiore.

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Lake Orta is situated only 35 kilometers northwest of Novara. The city is a popular stop on the Turin-Milan rail line. However, the lake is only 6 kilometers south of the Toce which is the more popular stopping point for people making their way to Lake Orta.

Lake Orta, Italy by Blooming-Garden

In the middle of Lake Orta is where you will find the Island of San Giulio. The island of San Giulio is only 275 meter long and 140 meters wide. The first chapel built on the island was first erected back in the 5th century. Today, the picturesque buildings on San Giulio are part of a Benedictine Monastery. It was named after the 4th century Saint Claire of Novara.

It is believed that the glacial sheets which formed Lake Orta were also the same that were known to have led to the formation of Lake Maggiore. It is believed that as the glaciers retreated, the water created from their melting was only partially diverted to Orta. Regardless of their formation, both lakes are very popular destinations for Italians and tourists alike.

San Guilio island, Lake Orta, Italy by Alessandro Vecchi

The shores surround Lake Orta are covered with lush green fields and many olive groves. While there are several beaches to choose from, most people who make their way to the lake instead opt to head out into the lake for a relaxing day away from the distractions of the countless tourists that line the shorelines. There are many attractions in the area and some fine resorts and restaurants located along the shores of Lake Orta.

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Stromboli, Sicily, Italy by Steven W. Dengler

Because of its continuous activity, the island of Stromboli is home to less than a thousand people. The most recent major eruption of the volcano was back in 2009. However, because there is a constant stream of minor eruptions that occur on a regular basis, the island has become known locally as the Mediterranean Lighthouse. There are three different craters in the peak of the volcano which currently rises 926 meters above the sea.

For more than 2,000 years, Stromboli has been erupting and has maintained a fairly recognizable pattern. Since lava does not tend to flow during the eruptions, there have been very few explosive occurrences. However, there have been a number of exceptions to this.

Today there are three villages located on the island. The villages of San Vincenzo and San Bartolo can be found along the north-eastern shorelines while the village of Ginostra can be found along the south-western shores.

Back in the early 1900s, the population of the island was quite large. It was home to several thousand people. However, by the 1950s as a result of multiple migrations, the population of the island dropped to only a few hundred. Coupled with the recent increase of volcanic activity over the past few decades, the population of Stromboli never reached more than a thousand inhabitants.

Most people who plan on visiting Stromboli chose to take the ferry to the island in order to spend the day marveling at the volcano before returning to Sicily by nightfall.

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