Hi everyone. I figured I’d put this problem I’ve been mulling over out to the group for opinions and input.
My Mom has never been to Europe, but would love to go somewhere and I’m trying to plan the best trip for us (her), likely for September. She keeps saying she “doesn’t care” where we go and will go “anywhere,” but I’m doing my best to read between the lines. Despite what she says, I know, for example, she would not enjoy a full blown WWII history themed trip with a heavy museum itinerary. I think she’d enjoy some museum content and things like art galleries, just not the overbearing daily focus of the trip.
I’m weighing the pros and cons of two options:
Taking her somewhere I’ve been before so that I’m not only familiar with the cities, public transportation, and general things do, allowing me to focus more on giving her the trip she wants and acting as more of a tour guide for her.
Going to a place that’s completely new to me but could potentially be what I think would be a better trip for her.
Right now, the two leading options popping in my head are Wroclaw + Berlin or Alsace + Lyon.
Option 1: I’ve been to both Wroclaw and Berlin before. I loved Wroclaw and thought it was a beautiful place to wander around and enjoy at a slow pace without feeling like there were a bunch of museums or tourist attraction things you “had” to do. I was only in Berlin for a short time, largely as a flight hub, but it was immediately and clearly incredible and I would definitely go back for a full ~5 nights and toss in a day trip to Potsdam. It would also give Mom a taste of a major European city. I’m familiar and comfortable with public transportation in both Poland and Germany, so that’d be a plus.
Option 2: Alsace + Lyon are probably the more immediate “Mom’s first beautiful trip to Europe” vibes. Mom enjoys white wine and would probably love Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguishiem, and a day trip to Gengenbach. I’ve never been to the Alsace region or Lyon, but Alsace has already been on my own travel list and I would happily go to Lyon (it looks beautiful). While I have a short list, and know it has a reputation for its food scene, I’m just less immediately aware of “things” to do in Lyon.
I feel that Option 1 is better logistically and gives me more confidence to worry less about my own trip and more about Mom's, but Option 2 jumps out as the more classically beautiful "Mom's first Europe trip." Option 1 gives me a little bit of guilt for taking her places I've been and enjoyed, even though I'm truly trying to fully prioritize her experience.
Places like Paris and London are obvious classic choices, but my thinking was to avoid cities of that scale that would lean towards more indoor/museum heavy itineraries that my mom might get tired of. I would spend 8 hours in the Louvre, my mom certainly would not. I know you could technically just spend all day every day wandering around Paris aimlessly and stopping in at little cafes and shops, but I’m not sure how to make a full trip of that.
I’d love everyone’s input and opinions. I’m sure I have some blind spots here. Feel free to make completely different and new suggestions, as well. Personally, I will truly go just about anywhere, I’m just trying to give my Mom a great first Europe experience!