There are many reasons for tourists to visit exotic locations and travel on insanely long flights to experience a new part of the world.
Europe is famous for historic buildings, great food and a variety of different cultures. From the opinion of a child, Europe is a fantastic place for a family vacation.
Whether you like to spend your vacation drinking coffee in a café outside of Paris, watching bullfighting in Barcelona, hiking through the Alps, swimming in the Mediterranean, or sunbathing in Greece, Europe is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation with your family.
Here are some reasons from a 12-year-old’s perspective on why you should visit Europe instead of Australia, India or China.
When I was very young I travelled to Europe with my family. The only thing I was interested in was the tasty food.
France has amazing bakeries serving éclairs, fresh baguettes with melted cheese, croissants, as well as vendors who sell crepes with delicious toppings. There are so many pastries and delicacies to indulge in!
You can eat olives in Greece, pizza and gelato ice cream in Italy, french fries in Belgium, and fresh oranges and paella in Spain.
Of course, parents always enjoy sampling a range of different wines. Across Europe you will find foreign and extraordinary foods beyond your imagination. Make sure to take the time to seek out tasty appetizers, scrumptious meals and decadent desserts.
Would you like to visit the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, the Parthenon, the Colosseum, Buckingham Palace, Notre Dame, or a Kunsthalle? All of these famous buildings are located in Europe and there are many others as well.
Europe has a wealth of historic buildings and cities dating back 1,000 years and more! These historic buildings may not seem like much until you read about them, experience their grandeur, and learn about the people who inhabited them.
Some buildings I visited were the dark and mouldy bunkers from World War II and the aging castles where royalty once lived. Every one of these buildings has a great story from the past to share.
Languages are a very important part for all cultures. In Europe, tourists hear many different languages. Depending on where you visit, you may hear Greek, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese or Italian.
My experience is that as a Canadian, Europeans are very welcoming. They always seemed friendly and greeted me politely even when I didn’t speak their language.
Whether you prefer sun or rain, mountains or beaches, busy cities or small countryside villages, Europe has a place for every keen person.
You can bike, travel by train, drive, or fly across all different regions of Europe.
Biking is a great way to get out into the small country lanes, see the sights, meet the people and taste local food. In Europe there are underground trains, sightseeing buses and cog-wheeled trains that can take you to see popular locations.
Europe offers numerous annual events for you to experience! The Tour de France is always exciting, the Three Hallowed Men Festival in Germany attracts visitors, the marathon in Venice is something to see, and that is just a few.
There are many more festivities across Europe; it is fun to watch and see all the different cultures involved.
Travelling to Europe is something you should definitely experience in your lifetime.
This fabulous continent has a variety of adventures for every person out there.
You can enjoy taking long walks on the beach, hiking up treacherous mountains, drinking coffee in a café, visiting memorials and exploring historical buildings (not to mention going shopping down the Champs-Élysées).
I am sure that when you tour around Europe, you will fall in love with everything it has to offer.
Cayley Sparks is a Whitehorse student and aspiring writer who just completed Grade 7.
