Czech Republic

Czech Republic’s fairy-tale castles crown hilltops where medieval tournaments still clash in courtyards, creating living history lessons that captivate three generations simultaneously. Prague Castle’s sprawling complex requires strategic planning—arrive at 9am for St. Vitus Cathedral’s stained glass kaleidoscope before crowds descend, then explore Golden Lane’s tiny houses where Franz Kafka once wrote. Aria Hotel’s music-themed suites ($420/night) position families steps from Charles Bridge where dawn photography captures mist rising from Vltava River while street musicians’ violins echo off Gothic towers.

Český Krumlov’s Renaissance castle hosts summer Shakespeare performances in baroque gardens where toddlers chase peacocks while teenagers raft the Vltava’s gentle rapids below medieval walls. Pension Olšakovský’s riverside rooms ($95/night) include traditional Czech breakfasts where three generations master pronunciation of “knedlíky” (dumplings) while planning bear-moat visits—yes, actual bears guard this castle.

Bohemian Switzerland’s sandstone towers create natural playground where Pravčická Brána—Europe’s largest sandstone arch—frames dramatic vistas. Hotel Zámeček’s forest lodge ($180/night) provides guided family hikes through Narnia-like landscapes to Edmund’s Gorge where gondoliers pole through narrow canyons. Evening brings traditional pork knee dinners that defeat even teenage appetites while grandparents sample Becherovka digestif—Czech magic in liquid form.