Family Trips

Stewart & Hunnisett

FINE TOURING AND EDUCATION
SINCE 1996

Capturing a view in Austria—bring the kids, it's never too soon (and have tons of fun too!)

ACCLAIMED EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES FOR FAMILIES

"We had such a fabulous time in Austria ... it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us and the kids. It was so much more relaxed and low-key than I thought it would be. We saw so many things that we would have never discovered on our own. And the kids had a blast! It was such a wonderful group of people and kids..."
L. & M. M., Pittsburgh, PA

Our with the kids trips are designed as carefree family vacations that are also outstanding educational experiences. We create itineraries that delight everyone, and love being with kids as they discover one amazing thing after another on our fun-packed days! And families have the best of both worlds: kids get to travel with other kids (children love this!) and everyone gets to enjoy personal time together in spectacular settings—a winning combination!

Seeing a mummy for the first time at the Louvre

Capturing the view in Gordes

Lunch under a loggia in Tuscany (the kids are at their own table)

Sitting for a quick portrait in Paris

Engaging with contemporary art at the Venice Biennale

Getting to know Zeus and Emperor Titus in Naples

Exploring a Venetian palace

Touring in Venice

Family trips can be planned in four- or five-star hotel versions.

Whether you are a family or a group of friends, take your inspiration from the adventures listed below and call us to see how we can create a stunning and memorable travel experience for you.

On these trips kids connect with the local culture in memorable and essential ways. In Toledo, we meet a sword maker, handle the swords, and explore his workshop. In Italy, we make ravioli and pizza in Umbria, paint frescoes in Florence, and create authentic carnival masks in Venice. In Ireland, kids are captivated by storytellers, and we jump on RIB boats for a sea safari in Dublin Bay to see puffins and other wildlife. In London, we learn about the mighty Thames as we speed along in very fast RIB boats. In the south of France, local ranchers take us on Land Rovers deep into the Camargue wetlands to see wild bulls and pink flamingoes. And the list goes on!

And, just because it's a family trip with children doesn't mean that we won't be enjoying some of our favorite restaurants (including kid-friendly Michelin-starred ones)—it can be done, and we do it with flair!

A TYPICAL DAY ON A FAMILY TRIP

We begin our days at 9:00 a.m., after you've had breakfast with your family, and generally adjourn around 5:00.

On most days, we have one meal together, usually lunch, which provides a great and delicious midday break. With seventeen years of family trips behind us, we know that kids eat quickly and then just want to have fun together while parents finish their meals, so we come equipped with cards and games (and often our restaurants have safe play areas for the kids to enjoy).

Occasionally, when an itinerary calls for it, lunch will be "on your own" and dinner will be a fun event such as a grigliata (BBQ) around the pool, or maybe a pasta- and/or pizza-making session for the kids while the parents enjoy a special dining event in a separate setting.

Most evenings are for personal time with your family and perhaps some shopping (stores in Europe are open late). And, of course, we're always on hand to recommend just the right restaurant for you and the kids and help with any special requests.

FAMILY DESTINATIONS ON THREE CONTINENTS

Some of the trips listed below (marked with an asterisk) are great choices for Thanksgiving, winter, and spring break.

And remember, if you have a hankering to travel with your family to any of our other destinations (for example, Sicily or Japan), just let us know and we'll create a

great experience for you!

EUROPE

Austria with the Kids!
Venice with the Kids!*
Tuscany and Umbria with the Kids!
Venice, Florence, Rome, Mount Vesuvius, and Pompeii with the Kids!
Spain with the Kids!
London with the Kids!*
Ireland with the Kids!
Paris with the Kids!* (with a possibility of a Normandy D-Day beaches extension)
Provence with the Kids!

NORTH AMERICA

Washington, D.C., and environs with the Kids!* (spring break)
Philadelphia, Amish Country, Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry with the Kids!* (spring break)
Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown with the Kids!* (spring break)
The Flagler, Saint Augustine and Florida's Space Coast with the Kids!*
Québec City with the Kids!

SOUTH AMERICA

Buenos Aires, Atlantic and southern Patagonia with the Kids! * (winter break)

Spain with the Kids!

An overview of Spain from Málaga to Madrid!

Our Spanish adventure features many of the country’s greatest hits and hidden gems, including Málaga, the Alhambra in Granada, Córdoba, Andalusian horses dancing in Jerez, flamenco on a flower-drenched patio in Seville, the hushed pueblo blanco of Osuna, a ride on Spain’s high-speed AVE train from Córdoba to Madrid, rowboats at the Buen Retiro in Madrid, Velázquez’s royal princesses at the Prado, Picasso’s Guernica, a glimpse of the first gold Columbus brought from America, a private lunch in Toledo around a pool with one of the greatest views in the world, a visit with a sword maker, and much, much more!

We suggest nine nights for Spain with the Kids! which is available in four-star and four/five-star hotel versions.

London with the Kids!

Essential London!
This trip is suitable for Thanksgiving and other major school breaks.

Fasten your seat belts, we’re on our way to London Town!

St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, a James Bond tour on the Thames on very fast RIB boats, the London Eye (Priority Boarding), a behind-the-scenes tour at the Museum of Natural History, hands-on excitement at the Museum of Science, a splash in the Thames on a World War II era Duck, the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, the Crown Jewels, and Churchill’s secret wartime HQ deep under Whitehall—this trip can feature all of this and much more! Depending on your children's interests, add a private Harry Potter-themed tour in London and a special tour of Harry Potter film locations in Lacock, one of England’s most beautiful villages. Also, we can go as far afield as the dreamily picturesque town of Oxford, always inspiring for young scholars and, of course, great fun for Potter enthusiasts too!

We suggest six nights for London with the Kids! which is available in four- and five-star hotel versions.

Provence with the Kids!

The many facets of timeless Provence from the Celts and Romans to Cézanne, Van Gogh and the present day!

The sunflowers and irises of Vincent Van Gogh, the invigorating scent of Paul Cézanne’s pine forests, exquisite little villages perchés and larger towns with bustling markets, miraculously preserved Roman monuments (including the amazing Pont du Gard aqueduct), venerable medieval abbeys with sturdy bell towers, the Pont d'Avignon, a family kayaking expedition on the River Sorgue, a Land Rover safari in the Camargue (France’s extraordinary wetlands) to see wild bulls and horses and, of course, many of our favorite restaurants anywhere — this trip, like Provence itself, has it all, and your family will come away with memories for a lifetime!

Last time around, we featured several privately arranged events and special visits and, as befits a with the kids adventure, exhilarating fun and learning at every turn for the young and young at heart!

We suggest six nights for this trip which is based at a five-star hotel.

Venice with the Kids!

An exciting Venetian adventure! This trip is suitable for Thanksgiving and other major school breaks.

St. Mark’s Square and bell tower, secret chambers and scary prisons in the Doge’s palace, endless golden mosaics in St. Mark’s basilica, blazing furnaces at Murano’s greatest glass maker, a gondola expedition, world-famous art and architecture, the Museum of Naval History, a mask-making workshop, weird-looking fish at the historic fish market, Peggy Guggenheim’s palace on the Grand Canal, oodles of motoscafo speedboats— these are only a few of the goodies this trip has in store for you!

We suggest six nights for Venice with the Kids! which is available in four- and five-star hotel versions.

With far fewer tourists and a magical

off-season atmosphere, Venice is perfect for a Thanksgiving break like no other!

Austria with the Kids!

Extraordinary Austria, from Vienna to Salzburg and the Alps (with an excursion to Berchtesgaden).

Head to Vienna and the Austrian Alps on a dynamic journey filled with adventure and learning that will thrill everyone!

The world’s largest ice caves with towering ice formations, Lipizzaners at the Spanish Riding School, Mozart’s homes in Vienna and Salzburg, stunning locations where The Sound of Music was filmed, miners’ slides at the Hallein salt mines (whoosh!!!), cable cars that take you higher than you thought possible, cakes at Demel’s café in Vienna, eagles and falcons at Hohenwerfen fortress, paddle boats at St. Wolfgang, breathtaking vistas on the Zwölferhorn Mountain, Berchtesgaden in Germany, würstel and schnitzels (and yes, noodles too!)—and these are just a few of the many treats in store!

We suggest eight nights for this trip which is available in four- and five-star hotel versions.

Ireland with the Kids!

The Emerald Isle like you've never experienced it before!

Ireland with the Kids! is usually based in the heart of Georgian Dublin and near Kilkenny at two of Ireland’s top five-star hotels. Families can visit some of the country’s most magnificent sites and enjoy a grand parade of thoroughly Irish activities—exploring ghostly castles and ruins, listening to captivating and authentic Irish storytellers, discovering the world of the Vikings (and marveling at their priceless gold hoards!), riding the waves along Dublin’s rocky coast on a seafaring adventure and engaging in the timeless pursuits of manor house life such as fly fishing on the beautiful River Nore, archery, croquet, tennis, and putting. You can also have a special visit with our hotel's hounds at their impressive kennels (puppies too!).

Grown-ups can opt to play a round or two on a championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and both hotels have superb spas, perfect for relaxing after a day filled with learning and excitement!

We suggest nine days for this five-star hotel trip.

Italy with the Kids!

Essential Italy on a five-star adventure from the Grand Canal to the Colosseum, Mount Vesuvius, and Pompeii!

Travel to Venice, Florence, Cortona, Rome, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii to see some of the world's greatest cities and historical sites where the past truly comes alive!

Families on this trip will enjoy a compelling array of attractions and educational activities, including a mask-making workshop in Venice and a fresco-painting session in Florence with a local master. From your first thrilling motorboat ride in Venice to your last look at the shimmering outlines of Rome's skyline when you say arrivederci, you and your children will experience an amazing and unforgettable time in a country that has captured the imagination of travelers for centuries.

This trip is based at three family-friendly five-star hotels in Venice, Florence and Rome and, as always, can be tailored to your preferences.

Have you considered a private trip for Thanksgiving?

Several of our destinations are great for off-season travel!