Four day trips from Rome (with or without a car)

We're in the midst of organizing our first family European trip, which is great fun. After all, your trip starts the minute you begin planning it! I've always loved Rome, so I know the Colosseum, Vatican, and lesser-known stops like the Mercato Testaccio will be on the itinerary. However, I also know my favorite way  of experiencing the Eternal City (which consisted of multiple days of city … [Read more...]

Italy with kids: Cinque Terre itinerary for families

On a trip to Italy with kids, you're likely to devote a good deal of time to art and history in Florence and archeological ruins in Rome. Afterward, escape the intensity of the city with this three-day Cinque Terre itinerary for families.   Day One: Florence to Cinque Terre We took a morning train from Florence to Lucca and spent several hours walking around this lovely walled city. … [Read more...]

Gift-free holiday: Why we opted for no presents at Christmas

When we decided the best time for our family's bucket list trip to Europe was Christmas break, we, as parents, realized how unrealistic it would be to buy Christmas presents on top of the cost of the trip. While we would be budget traveling through Europe, we would still spend far more than the average amount we set aside for holiday spending. In addition, it simply wouldn't be practical to try to … [Read more...]

Florence Italy at Christmas

Last holiday season, we made a last minute decision to add Florence, Italy to our European family vacation. We arrived in Florence on December 24, Christmas Eve, and left December 27. While planning, I worried that perhaps, spending Christmas in Florence wouldn't feel festive...after all, their seasonal Christmas markets close before Christmas Day. However, I couldn't have been more wrong. … [Read more...]

Guide to Villa Borghese with teens who want to do everything extreme

We’re a very active family who spends significant time outdoors when we travel. In Rome, we noticed the lack of green spaces right away. Luckily, our apartment rental was located directly across the Tiber from Piazzo Popolo with an entrance to Villa Borghese. This sprawling green space and garden is Rome’s version of Central Park, and if you have active kids and teens who need to burn off energy, … [Read more...]

Three days in Florence with kids

I’ve heard it said that Florence is not an ideal destination for kids, but I couldn’t disagree more. Our three days in Florence were among our best in Europe. Even with only a basic education in Renaissance art, which Florence is known for, we found plenty to do in this charming and picturesque Tuscan city. For us, the key to enjoying Florence with kids was to temper museum visits with lots of … [Read more...]

Exploring Pompeii with kids

The ancient city of Pompeii, under the looming shadow of (what remains of) Mount Vesuvius, was not precisely as we imagined it. The layout, exhibits, and interpretive materials were not clearly marked, and it took some persistence to find what we were looking for (and even then, we missed things). It’s also most certainly a lengthy and expensive commute from Rome. All this said, we were glad we … [Read more...]

Getting from Pisa to Florence with a side trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

If you're flying into Pisa's airport and then getting from Pisa to Florence Italy, you have several options, all of which are pretty cheap and pretty fast. However, if you want to take advantage of your time in the town to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, there's really only one way to do it. Here's how (and why it's worth the time): From Pisa International Airport (PSA), also called Galileo … [Read more...]

Guide to surviving (I mean enjoying) the Vatican Museums with kids

You can't go to Rome without seeing the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, but make no mistake, the Vatican Museums are difficult to tackle, with or without kids. With over 2000 rooms and nine miles of art, these vast and imposing buildings within Vatican City are overwhelming on the best of days...on the worst, you'll be wading through crowds that make Disney World on New Year's Day look … [Read more...]

Exploring Rome with kids: Overome Colosseum tour review

Touring Rome's Colosseum and Forum is always in the top three attractions for families. This center of ancient Roman history is a must-do, but also big, crowded, and complex. We were very glad we opted to see the Colosseum and Forum with a small group tour. If Rome is in your family travel plans, read on for our Overome Colosseum tour review. We chose to see the Colosseum with Overome based … [Read more...]