Days 1 & 2: Arrival in Copenhagen

Before renting a car to explore the countryside, you can take in the glories of Copenhagen itself, the most kid-friendly of all Scandinavia capitals. After your arrival and after you've checked into a hotel for 2 nights, take one of the bus and boat tours to orient yourself. Follow this up with a guided tour of Amalienborg Palace, where Queen Margrethe II lives with her royal family. After lunch, descend on the Tivoli Gardens, where you and your kids can wander for hours and also eat dinner.

Day 2:

Pay a call on Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid), the most photographed statue in Scandinavia. After that, explore Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, one of the greatest art museums in Europe. If your child is older, he or she will find much art to fascinate here, perhaps a prehistoric sculpture of a hippopotamus. In the afternoon, visit Frilandsmuseet, an open-air museum and reconstructed village that evokes life in the 19th century, lying at Lyngby on the fringe of Copenhagen.

When you return to Copenhagen, you can do as many families do and pay a final visit to Tivoli Gardens, or else you can visit another amusement park, Bakken, on the northern fringe of the city. If you like merry-go-rounds and roller coasters, Bakken is even more fun for some families than the more carefully manicured Tivoli.

Day 3: Helsingør & Roskilde

On the morning of Day 3, check out of your hotel and drive 40km (25 miles) north of Copenhagen, taking the E4 express highway. Once at Helsingør, you can pay a morning visit to the Dutch-Renaissance-style Kronborg Castle, legendary home of Shakespeare's fictional Hamlet. Kids may think that Walt Disney created this dank, spooky place, which is surrounded by a deep moat.

After a 1-hour visit, you can head for our final destination of the day, the cathedral city of Roskilde, lying 72km (45 miles) southwest. It's reached by following Route 6 all the way. Check into a hotel in Roskilde for the day and set about to explore this ancient city. Call first at the Roskilde Domkirke. Kids delight in seeing the 16th-century clock where a tiny sculpted St. George on horseback marks the hour by charging a dragon. Afterward, drive 20km (12 miles) north of Roskilde to see the Viking Ship Museum, displaying the remains of five wrecked Viking-era ships. Return to Roskilde for the night.

Days 4 & 5: H. C. Andersen's Odense

On the morning of Day 4, drive west from Roskilde for 134km (83 miles) until you reach Odense. To do so, you have to cross the Great Belt Bridge into Nyborg, lying west on the Funen side. From Nyborg, E20 will carry you to Odense, where you can check into a hotel for 2 nights. In Odense, you can take in some of the major sights of the city, including the H. C. Andersen's Childhood Home. If it's summer, you might even hook up with a 2-hour walking tour, taking in all the highlights. Check with the tourist office.

Visit Funen Village, an open-air regional museum depicting life in Denmark in the 1700s and 1800s. In a busy afternoon you can visit both Egeskov Castle, one of the grandest in Denmark, and Ladbyskibet, 19km (12 miles) northeast of Odense, to see the ruins of a 10th-century Viking ship.

Days 6 & 7: Denmark's Beautiful Island of Ærø

Leave Odense on the morning of Day 6, driving south to Svendborg, a distance of 43km (27 miles), following Route 9. Once at Svendborg, take a car ferry over to the island of Ærø, a distance of 29km (18 miles) from Svendborg. Once here, check into a hotel in the tiny island's capital, Ærøskøbing, for 2 nights and set about to explore this Lilliputian town, with a driving tour of the island to follow on Day 7.

Begin first on foot by walking the cobblestone streets of this most enchanting of Danish villages, saving the driving tour of the island for the following day. The main attraction of the town is Ærøskøbing itself, although there are specific sights of minor interest, including the Ærø Museum and an 18th-century church, Ærøskøbing Kirke. Dine in an old kro (inn), and later walk down by the water to watch the yachts and other boats bobbing in the harbor at night.

On the morning of Day 7, while still based in Ærøskøbing, set out on a leisurely motor tour of the island, stopping at random to enjoy anything that fascinates you. We'd head east to the "second city" on Marstal, really just a modest port town. After a 2-hour visit here, you can take the southern road all the way to the little port ofSøby in the northwest. From Søby, you can drive southeast back to Ærøskøbing for the night.

After a visit to Ærø, you can easily return to Copenhagen the following day, using a bridge and a ferryboat. Copenhagen lies 176km (109 miles) to the east of Ærø.

Days One and Two

Depart from the US overnight, arrive in Dubrovnik, meet your tour guide at the airport and transfer to hotel. Relax in the evening, enjoy Dubrovnik by night, explore the Old Town with its unforgettable lights, music, small local restaurants, concerts, folk dancing and more.

Day Three

Walk to the Old City of Dubrovnik for a half day sightseeing tour. Visit the old Franciscan Monastery, with the oldest Pharmacy in Europe (founded in 1317). See the Rector's Palace, old Cathedral, Dominican Monastery, and walk magnificant city walls a mile long. This is a place where past and present unified in a wonderful harmony offer their soul to every visitor. This old city a real architectural, historical and artistic treasure.

In the afternoon, on your drive to Catvat, pass the Dubrovnik Riviera, small villages like jewels along the coast (Kupari, Srebreno, Mlini, and Plat). Cavtat, once upon a time was a Greek colony called Epidaurum, with a rich history. Today it is a charming small village scattered on the Peninsula surrounded with an azure blue sea, hundred year old pine and cypress trees, and a charming marina with sailing yachts from all over the world.

Return to your hotel and stay overnight.

Day Four

Visit Montenegro, the youngest country of Europe, which gained its independence in 2006. Drive through Konavle valley, part of the Dubrovnik region.

Enjoy the unique Fjord of Kotor where small medieval cities are scattered along the coast. Stop on the small island Gospa od Skrpjela and visit the seamen's votive museum and church, an exceptional experience.

Next arrive in Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Their Roman, Byzantine and Gothic churches, public buildings and steep city walls will tell you a lot about the rich history of this small city.

Drive to St. Stephan, an island hotel since 1950, when the Pastrovich family sold their houses to the government. Today it is a unique hotel connected with a narrow path to the mainland. Discover the medieval old city of Budva within the city walls.

Return to your hotel in Dubrovnik to stay overnight.

Day Five

Depart to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Take a beautiful drive along the coast, pass the border into Herzegovina, and cruise along the charming Neretva River. Reach Pocitelj, a small village with a typical Oriental influence. Tall, elegant Minarets, mosques, and Turkish houses all exhibit a real Ottoman, Turkish flavor. Painters, writers, and poets come here every spring searching for inspiration.

Half an hour later arrive in Mostar, the capitol of Herzegovina, with its bridges, mosques, Turkish houses, old Bazaar (market) on one side and a modern city on the other side. The Old Bridge (built 1556) was destroyed in the war in 1994, and with international help was rebuilt again.

Finally, drive to Split and stay overnight.

Day Six

In the morning take a half day sightseeing tour of Split: visit the historic Old Town, Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace, museums and galleries. We'll see the gallery of the famous sculptor Ivan Mestrovic and Marjan Park.

The afternoon will be free to enjoy the picturesque streets of old Split, its medieval squares, perhaps even go shopping.

Day Seven

Meet your guide and transfer to Split harbor, to embark on a ferry ride to Island Hvar, a stunningly beautiful boat ride among the Croatian islands. Hvar is well known for its oldest European theater, beautiful Renaissance squares and churches, Gothic buildings and a magnificent renaissance Lodge.

Excellent red and white wine, virgin olive oil and lavender fields are characteristic of this island, which is also called the San Tropez of Croatia.

Return to Split and stay overnight.

Day Eight

Meet your guide and drive to Trogir, a small medieval city 20 miles north of Split. Visit its famous Cathedral with a magnificent Radovan Portal, stroll narrow cobbled streets and medieval squares surrounded with dreamy, stony houses, enjoy the yacht harbor and the old fortress of Karmelengo that protects the town from the sea side.

In the afternoon take a drive to the pristine greens of the River Krka waterfalls. Lush vegetation, blue-green water, and the sound of the waterfalls will magically touch your soul. You can take a swim in a crystal green water that will welcome you, offering you the best refreshment of the day.

Return to Split and stay overnight.

Day Nine

After breakfast depart from Split to Plitvice Lake National Park. This natural wonder is one of the most exciting destinations in Croatia. The breathtaking 16 Upper and Lower lakes surrounded by thick forests and hills are unforgettable. We'll walk along the Lower lakes, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera.

In the afternoon drive to the Croatian capital of Zagreb and stay overnight.

Day Ten

Meet your local guide and discover this interesting city of Zagreb, visiting Gornji Grad (Upper Town), enjoying the roofs of old Zagreb, steeple of St Stephen Cathedral, and the old Baroque St Catherine's church. Walk by the famous Zagreb Theater on Zrinjevac Square where also numerous galleries and museums are located. Zagreb is a modern vibrant, city with a rich history.

Afternoon, explore Zagreb, its shops, coffee houses, flower market (beautiful arrangements of dry flowers can be taken home). Zagreb is famous for a fine dining restaurants and a good local wine selection.

Day Eleven

Transfer to the Zagreb airport for your flight home.