Stage One - Day Eight - Drive Nuremburg to Prague

Stage One - Day Eight
Drive Nuremburg to Prague
Total Miles - 1145

Day eight was a light driving day of only 185 miles!  So we decided to take in a cave near the Germany Czech Republic border called 'Cave Maximilian'  Our oldest is called Max(well) so it seemed appropriate.

Once again a great family day out in Germany…  The cave was interesting with lots to see including well developed Stalagtites and Stalagmites.  In keeping with the my theme of excellent eating in Germany, there was a German chalet style restaurant on site as well.  Julian had Sauerkraut and sausages.  Hearty, filling and reasonable.

German countryside, so similar to England

A traditional eatery

The trusty Touran

Who doesn't love a cave?

The German / Czech Republic border

Stage One - Day Seven - Playmobil Land Nuremburg

Stage One - Day Seven

Playmobil Land Nuremburg

One of the highlights of this trip was a trip to Playmobil Land in Nuremburg.  This is an excellent theme park where the entire place is populated by characters from that famous range of children's toys. This is a great, if different, day out.  Great family fun and all run with typical German efficiency.  The whole park was immaculate, and although crowded there were few queues.  Food was cheap and plentiful as well.

TOP TIP
Germany may not be on the radar for many Brits as a holiday destination.  In reality it is very family friendly, with lots to see, and everything just works!  Check out the south of the country, the Bavaria region, for beautiful Alpine scenery and picture postcard places like Castle neuschwanstein.  One bonus is that the cost of living in Germany is also very reasonable.  Eating out is not at all expensive.

One of the design objectives of the trip was to make the trip as much fun as possible for our children.  As such we tried to schedule in as many theme and water parks as possible on our way across Europe.

We camped a few miles away in an excellent, immaculate German campsite .

Key Facts
Accommodation: Camping Zur Muhrle 
Camping Zur Muhle
Approx €19 per night
Entertainment: Playmobil Land
Playmobil Funpark

English German sea battles!

Some people bring their own Playmobil...

Aztec temple...

Pull yourself across a lake...

Half size pirate galleons

Cooling off

My three...

A plastic giraffe

Immy looks cold

What is it with Kids and water?

Behind the waterfall

Stage One - Day Six - Drive from France to Germany

Stage One - Day Six
Drive from France to Germany
Total distance 960 miles

A day on the road between Saint Marie aux Mines and a campsite near Nuremberg.  
As normal we targeted 300 miles in one day.

Julian next to a tiny car on the German border...

Buffalo Grill...

Stage One - Day Five - A day out in Colmar

Day Five

A day out in Colmar

Colmar was one of those great travel surprises.  having flown over it many times in the way into Basle I was not expecting too much.  What I found in fact was a perfectly preserved picturesque medieval french town.  Given its location on, within a few miles of Switzerland, France and Germany, the place was a mixture of all three countries.

A much needed bath on a hot day in Colmar

French medieval architecture abounds

The Kids enjoying the joie de vivre... 

Fabulous woodwork..

Isabella found a Sorbetiere with her name on it...

One of my favourite pics form the whole trip.  A beautiful setting...

Julian looking unusually relaxed...

French Cafe life…

Julian looking gormless :-) 

On the road again, back to the campsite...

Stage One - Day Four - Drive from Paris to the French Alps

Day Four
Drive from Paris to the French Alps
Distance 350 miles - total distance - 665 miles

On our forth day the journey really got going, we left the Paris campsite and headed off east towards the French Alps for  a stay in a mountain campsite near Strasbourg, in Saint Marie des Mines for a taste of a totally different side of France.

KEY FACTS:
Accomodation:
Camping Les Reflets Du Val D'Argent. Saint Marie Aux Mines
Website: http://www.les-reflets.com/val-dargent/GB/index.php
Approximate cost - EUR 50 / night
Family rating 3/5

As we climbed into the Alps, the temperature dropped and mountain weather set in.  As ever driving in France was a doddle - if you don't mind paying the toll fees.  The toll roads are well maintained, quiet, and have stops or 'Aires' every 10 miles of so - these are a great thing when you have children with you, as they have a habit of announcing 'I need a wee' with no notice, and just before they wet themselves…

Les Reflets campsite was pretty good.  Outdoor pool (speedos only - so french), little shop, and and lovely rural site at about 2000m elevation.  The tent was pitched in double quick time, as we were practiced now.  Again a two night stay meant we could explore the area.  A swim and a BBQ and we all fell into our sleeping bags tired and we slept well...

A quick photo stop in the foothills of the Alps

Climbing higher still, an Alpine pass at about 1500m

A quick stop at retail park near Colmar...

…for a typical on-the-road Cafe

Morag and the kids in a french roadside eatery

Beautiful sky on the way to the Alps

Setting up camp for five children with Morag

Stage One - Day Three - Sights of Paris

Stage One - Day Three 

Sights of Paris

This day was spent showing the children the sights of Paris..

TOP TIP
A cruise was taken on the Seine with Bateaux de Paris, great sights like Notre Dame, Le Palace D'orsay and the Eiffel Tower were seen from the comfort of a glass-roofed boat.
The day was made complete with an excellent meal at L'Entrecote, a phenomenal restaurant near La Place de la Concorde.  The special thing about this place is the fact that there is only one item on the menu - Steak and Chips!  Every night the queue is around the block for the seven p.m opening time, no other local restaurant can say that.  It's truly worth the wait though because the steak and chips they serve is a fabulous treat - succulent steak, chips cooked in goose fat, and a sauce that is literallt lethal, its so good.  The restaurant is cramped, and the menu limited, but for 25 Eur you get a culinary experience. You always get a walnut salad to begin with, the main is fixed, order a nice red wine, and maybe have a dessert from the extensive selection, and you will waddle out of L'Entrecote feeling so satisfied...
Here is a link to their website:
Le Relais Entrecote Restaurant

Stage One - Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris

Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris

The family had a phenomenal day at EuroDisney Paris.
Going to EuroDisney in Agust with three kids under ten was daunting, so we knew we had to get organised.  

TOP TIP
With the help of a great book from a couple who are experts in the field, we were able to have a fantastic day at this busiest of times whilst doing and seeing everything.
The tips in the book were helpful. Eg we paid 90 EUR for a lunch, with he characters in a private restaurant.  Not much more than the standard 50 EUR family lunch, and a great chance to relax when the park was at its most busy.  We got the characters to ourselves, and ate all we could manage.  The book also gave us tips on little known corners of the park, and how to use the Fastpass system to its full extent.  The book was only printed in 2007 and 2008, but is still worth a look for all the great tips in there:
Brits-Guide-Disneyland-Resort-Paris

A brilliant day... 

Izzy and Captain Hook

Imogen on the Teacup Ride

The Runaway Train Ride

The kids meet Luigi from cars

Th

Stage One - Day One - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France

Day One - Total miles 315 - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France

Leaving Haslemere

The Family Touran, fully loaded, ready to go!

The Price family VW Touran was loaded up to the roof with five people and enough equipment to camp our way across Western Europe for three weeks.
The expedition party consisted of three children:

Imogen 5 years old, Max 10 years old and Izzy, 8 years old :

The Price Children

Adults: Morag and Julian Price - approximately 40 years old!

The Price Parents (and Children)

A lot of preparation had gone into the journey, all equipment was tested, the car serviced  - and even emergency gold coins were hidden in the car!
Max, as oldest child was told where they were hidden and given instructions to use them.  Basically he was told to use them only in an absolute emergency!  Perhaps in the event that money might be needed and Mum and Dad aren't around!  This was unlikely, but possible!  
They were more for our use, in the event of some sort of troublesome situation, but I felt I ought to make Max aware of them, as the oldest child!
I picked up this tip from the SAS, in the book, Bravo Two Zero, I read that the SAS troops carried gold coins in their belts to use as currency / bribery / bartering tools!

TOP TIP
Equipment list:
Car VW Touran 2.0 TDi - Powerful, economical and room for seven.
Tent - Outwell Sun Valley Six - High quality tent, and sleeps six
Catering - Electric coolbox and Calor Gas Stove

Emergency Gold coins hidden in car...

On the morning of 13th August, the car was loaded and the...

Engine wouldn't start!

Lots of testing of things like the in car video system, electric tyre inflators and the like had depleted the battery.  Not a great start!  

A quick jump start and we were on our way.

A ferry was caught from Dover to Calais, the excitement of the Children was noticeable, as we set off on the journey of our lives.  Dad was more thoughtful, wondering what he had got his family into…

Excited Children as we leave behind the White Cliffs of Dover

Julian - What have I got my family into?