With such a long break over the holidays from school, we had time to discuss all our travels during 2019. It was an unbelievable year! Between the four of us, we visited 11 countries in 12 months. Rather than give you the recap of everything, I polled the family (very democratic), and we bring you some of our 2019 travel favorites:
Favorite Place to Eat: Paris
Our family loves to eat. In Paris, the food standard is set high! In any city, we are religious about seeking out good restaurants via Yelp or Google. But even a nearby burger restaurant served some of the best burgers and fries. (Which may have been so yummy because our journey was so long.) Whether it was a gourmet meal or simple brunch, everything we ate in Paris was delicious.
Runner Up: Alsace
While the kids didn’t come along for this couples only trip to Strasbourg and Colmar, it was a close second to the best region to get great food in almost any restaurant.
Related: The Sweetness of Paris: Macaron Tour
Favorite Food: Octopus
When I polled the family on favorite food through our travels, no one could give me a specific answer. However, whenever we travel, and I order octopus, the family devours it as if its the last octopus on earth. Battered and fried calamari has always been a great starter option, but octopus has become a family favorite with a fight to the last tentacle.
Related: 13 European Foods to Try in Their Native Country
Favorite Place for Architecture: Vienna
Around every corner in Vienna, beautifully designed buildings line the street. While we had been told the architecture was amazing, I didn’t realize how much it would affect us. Even strolling down the street in sub-zero temperatures seemed nice. Walking through a beautiful city really does something for the soul.
Favorite Place for History Lovers: Rome
Our family was a bit divided on the “winner” for this category. In case you missed it, the Romans were kind of a big thing. Whether you’re in Germany, Croatia, or England, the Romans had a profound impact on Western civilization. While not the nicest group of people, they were around for a long time so it’s important to have an understanding of who they were and the full emperor line up.
Related: Favorite Off-the-Beaten-Path Activities in Rome with Teens
Favorite Place for Outdoor Activities: Croatia
Croatia is a great place for hiking, rafting, boating, sailing, canoeing, swimming, or just lying on the beach. While its seaside cities can be a bit overrun with tourists during the summer days, it’s still a less-than-well-known destination compared to other “beachy” places like Greece, Southern Spain, or Italy. I wish we had more time in Croatia to explore.
Related: 7 Things to Know Before Adventuring to Croatia’s Krka National Park
Prettiest City: Vienna
As mentioned above, we have seen a lot of cities through our travels. So many of them covered in graffiti and lacking any organization or planning. Without any green space in a city, it can really take its toll on the aesthetics of a place. Vienna was very beautiful and picturesque with its beautiful buildings, palaces, parks, and the river Danube, which runs right through town.
Related: Christmas in Vienna: Something for Everyone
Best Places to People Watch: Paris
We love to people watch and Paris is the ideal place to see some characters. Whether it’s enjoying a drink at a cafe and looking out to the street or observing tourists at the major attractions, it’s never a dull moment.
Related: Top Must-See Paris Sights in 2 Days
Most Unexpected City: Split, Croatia
Our trip to Croatia was a bit of an afterthought. After abandoning summer plans to Bavaria and Salzburg, we quickly regrouped to try out Croatia. Friends raved about their adventures, and it met all the requirements for a short summer vacation. We were all blown away! Even in the summer with the frequent cruise ships, Split was completely charming: great food, great hospitality, and a great spirit to boot.
Related: 9 Things To Do With Teenagers in Split, Croatia
Favorite Museum: The Louvre
The Louvre was on our must-see list for our brief trip to Paris. Our kids, slowly conditioned to wander the halls of art museums, were old enough to appreciate it for a few hours. Visiting this beast of a museum involved quite a bit of planning, but even with that, we did a few things wrong. I guess it was worth it though since it made some the favorite museum for our family.
Related: The Louvre and Teens: Tips to Navigate the World’s Biggest Museum
Favorite Activity: Walking Tours
If you’ve been traveling with us all year, you know we love walking tours. Typically, we start every vacation with a walking tour of the city. I think we’ve logged now around 15 walking tours over the course of our travels. The only one that we bailed on was in Rome. The kids are happy to get up to meet our guide, and it’s honestly the one activity, besides eating, that everyone looks forward to in every city.
Related: What to Know for the Best Walking Tour Experience in Any City
Most Recommended Place: Split
With a wonderful selection of cities to recommend from the year, the family consensus is Croatia is a destination to add to your bucket list. The mix of great food, history, outdoor activities, culture, good spirit, safety, and amazing weather certainly did help. Having dodged tons of tourists in Paris, Barcelona, Rome, and London, we all enjoyed something a little less crowded and relaxed.
Quick Highlight on Our Travels
Barcelona: 5 Days in Barcelona with Teens
Paris: Top Must-See Sights in Paris in 2 Days
London: Top 8 Places to Visit with Teens in London
Sweden: One Teen’s Story of Canoeing in Sweden
Croatia: 9 Things To Do with Teenagers in Split, Croatia
Alsace: Wine at 10 am Plus 9 Unexpected Things to Experience in Alsace
Rome: The Complete Guide to Traveling with Teenagers to Rome
Budapest: 8 Things to Experience in Budapest with Teenagers
