Specifically I am spending the next three weeks with my youngest son During that time we will spend at least one week, just the two of us, travelling from Munich to visit friends in Lyon and could do any number of things in between. His older brother got a paragliding tandem for Christmas so that is not really an option but something along those lines, like a balloon trip or similar, would be on the list. We can travel through Switzerland so that might enable some adventures.
Looking forward to your ideas!
Grindelwald in the Jungfrau area zip wire at First + the area is good for mountain biking or walking, summer lifts operate; depends on your adventure criteria. If he is a James Bond fan, then Piz Gloria - with the revolving restaurant above Murren, is reached by cable car, choice of routes from the valley. Wonderful views.
White water rafting might go down well. I would think you could find somewhere close to your route that would offer this. I also think your ballooning idea is a good one.
Thanks for the great suggestions so far. Zip-wiring and white water rafting are definitely candidates. The salt mines are quite a large detour and we did sailing in June.
Travel time is week after next.
If I ask him, I don’t really get anywhere. He likes basketball, social media, men’s perfumes and sports shoes. He would like me to take him to the US and go to a game but that’s not possible this time. If I get him another pair of shoes it won’t be special. I’m trying to come up with something that he will remember while at the same time give him quality time with his old dad
I’m not really sure what is meant by “adventure getaway” I think it means a lot of different things to different people. One kid might think that means “activity holiday” and another, “different experience holiday”.
When I was between 13 and 20, a few holidays in Europe stand out in my memory.
Wind surfing and catamaran in the South of France. It was at a sort of holiday camp on a lake just inland from the Atlantic coast. For total beginners of all ages. Instructors spoke both French and English. Loads of fun. We actually camped every night on the way down from Brussels, a week on the lake, and caped again on the way back. I’m not really a fan of camping, but camping on a beach was an experience. This would fall into the “activity” side of adventure.
Amsterdam. My mum is a bit of a free spirit so she took me to Amsterdam when I was pretty young. Thought it would be funny to walk the red light district to “take in the sights” in her quirky sense of humour. I was mainly in it for the waffles and pancakes and went back to school the week after decked out like a total hippy from the swag I got at a flea market there. “different experience” holiday.
Travelling through Germany and visiting castles along the Rhein. Nuff said. If your son is into fantasy, plenty to feed the imagination there.
It’s hard to tell what someone will feel is an adventure. Plenty of time spent in Belgium, France, and Bovaria. But the above two stick in my mind from those formative years.
These all sound like great adventures.
I suppose what I meant by adventure was anything that could capture his imagination enough to keep him off his iPhone!
We live in Munich but the castles are not really en route. We might look at the zeppelin museum in Friedrichshafen on the way past. The Grindelwald idea was good. We might stay in Lauterbrunnen and go up the Schilthorn but the obvious route to Lyon is via Geneva. Unfortunately Deep Purple won’t be going down to Montreux at that time!
Thanks again, I love hearing your experiences. Keep the ideas coming!
Interesting thought - as usual in Switzerland, deep pockets mandatory; just checked latest ticket prices!
Despite many weeks in Wengen and Grindelwald as a ski rep, I have never been above Eigergletscher.
It’s on my bucket list, unless I get the timing right and get the chance to ski the Aletsch Glacier from the top station.
You could also make it a road trip, weaving in some Alpine passes along the way. Starting from Munich into Austria, take the road up the Ă–tztal, across the Timmelsjoch down to Meran, then westward, scaling the many hairpins of the Stelvio pass, via Bormio to Sankt Moritz in Switzerland, then zigzagging even more westward, perhaps by Julierpass, to Grindelwald, do the Eiger and Jungfrau stuff there, then via Kandersteg/Goppenstein tunnel with the car on the train, then via the Rhone valley westward to Martigny (perhaps build in a detour to Zermatt by train), take the road up from Martigny to Vallorcine, via the wonders of the Chamonix valley towards Geneva and take the A40/A42 to Lyon from there.
Let your son make a play list for every day, sing along etc…
Edit: I did much of this route in the opposite direction in 2010. My son was too young at the time, but will drive it again with him once he’s got his drivers licence…
Thanks there are some good suggestions here. I like the idea of the motorail trip and visiting the Eiger and Zermatt. Not sure if I could take 10 hours of hiphop at a time though
You’re most welcome. As to the risk of a hip hop overdose if you’d give your son free reign over the car stereo: what is also fun in my experience is alternating the person who chooses the songs. Could also be a great conversation starter: what do you like/hate about this song, what memories does it bring etc.
