Going on holiday with your little ones can be daunting. But when you travel with Eurotunnel, you can be reassured that the journey will be easy, with the added extra of seeing the stunning sights of Europe!
The lovely Alex Gladwin, from Bump to Baby, travelled with us to France, Belgium and the Netherlands with her husband Adam, and adorable boys Ethan and Logan. It was their first big road trip as a family, and Alex’s first time in France! They really embraced the culture of these countries, visiting aquariums, castles and fairy tale wonderlands.
Alex’s Tips for Keeping Children Entertained on a Road Trip
Even though travelling to France on Eurotunnel only takes 35 minutes from Folkestone, children still need some distractions in the car. Alex had some great ideas for making sure Ethan and Logan wouldn’t get bored, buying new toys they haven’t played with before, and creating games for them to join in which made the car journey fly by.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
A great place to learn and have fun, Nausicaa is a must-see!
Only half an hour from Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer is the perfect place for little ones to stretch their legs once you arrive in France. Ethan and Logan discovered their inner marine biologists when they visited Nausicaa, one of the biggest aquariums in Europe. As it’s close to the beach, they were able to have a good play. After a busy day, they settled down in their hotel, with a well-deserved takeaway pizza.
Lille
Stopping off at Citadel Park, Ethan and Logan were able to use up all their energy
An hour and twenty minute drive from Boulogne-sur-Mer, the family visited Lille, an ideal spot for families, as there’s so much to do here. Make sure you stop by Citadel Park, where your little ones can run around to their heart’s content. A great way to release all that built-up energy from the car ride.
Like the Gladwin family, visit Lille Cathedral (Basilica of Notre Dame de la Treille), where children (and adults) can discover some of the fascinating history of Lille. Plus, the cathedral’s imposing modern structure makes the ideal backdrop for your family photos.
All that exploring got our intrepid travellers peckish, so they definitely needed a filling breakfast. Le Pain Quotidien is a gorgeous, cosy café ideal for avocado on toast and a coffee to set you up for the day.
Watch Part 1 of Alex's trip here:
Ghent
The views from the top of Gravensteen Castle are reason enough to visit!
Driving through Europe means it’s even easier to hop from country to country, so the family were able to nip across the border from France to Ghent in Belgium and take in the beautiful historic sights there. They managed to get a perfect bird’s eye view of the town from the top of Gravensteen Castle, as well as meeting a knight! There are many ways to see the city, but one of the best is via a canal tour, where you can discover the city in a unique way.
Efteling
To conclude their trip, the Gladwin family experienced the magic of Efteling, the largest theme park in the Netherlands. Alex recommends taking a couple of days to see the whole park, as it’s so large. Efteling is based on magical fairy tales, and you can stop by one of the park’s shows to become fully immersed in the magical world. There are rides suitable for every member of the family, so everyone gets a taste of the adventure!
Watch Part 2 of Alex's trip here:
Think your family deserves a road trip adventure? It’s even easier to discover Europe with Eurotunnel