Boys in England --
Pretty much depends on the boys. Most boys like to do things rather than look at things. Consider a survival camp or dude ranch while you two go to Europe. Explain to them that you want to see the great sights and that they would be terribly bored. Don't take them unless they insist on going. Look at some of the profusely illustrated books about England's treasures from the library. As a general rule don't miss the 3-star attractions. The Tower, Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey (examine every tombstone), Wax Museum, Elgin Marbles (British Museum), St. Paul's, the War Museum at Old Bedlam.
Take a side trip to Cambridge and just walk around and look at the buildings and try Evensong at King's College Chapel. Try to visit the Cavendish Laboratory -- they must have something of a display or museum. Edinburgh Festival. Edinburgh castle. Use the underground around London and trains elsewhere. Visit some of the great houses -- e.g. Blenheim Palace.
These are things that some boys ought to enjoy. However, a little negative psychology will probably help. My little boy was outraged at our visiting museums and buildings around Europe. What he loved was Greece visiting ruins, castles, and forts and catching green lizards among the fallen blocks of marble. The Parthenon. The Acrocorinth.
I would say Paris is a must and I would visit the Louvre, the Tomb of Napoleon, the Hotel Biron (close by), Notre Dame, the museum of Arts et Metiers.
Have you taken them to Philadelphia? To the Air Force Museum at Dayton. To New York? To Quebec? Have they seen everything in Washington? What do they like best? |
