Hi-
Eagerly planning a first overseas trip with our two boys. Flying from NYC to Venice in late August. Planning three nights in Venice (booked a 2 bedroom place I found thanks to this board). Then, either renting a car from Venice, or taking the train to Verona, and picking up a car there for the drive to San Zeno di Montagna. Have booked 6 nights in a house with a gorgeous view of the lake plus horses, chickens and dogs around for the kiddos to enjoy. Plan to explore lake garda towns and do hiking, Mt Baldo, take the ferry to the Western side etc.
We have 3 nights after San Zeno and before our 11am flight out of Venice and I am not sure what to do with that time. The Dolomites seem too far to get there and get back. Maybe an agroturismo experience that would be fun for the kids? We’ll need to be near the airport the night before our flight. In fact, I was thinking of switching things up and maybe taking the train to Verona when we arrive and spending one to three nights there and then spending time in Venice at the end of our trip.
We are flexible!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16160 posts
Plenty to do at lake Garda, the Germans’ Sea.
Some ideas below:
https://www.visitgarda.com/en/garda_lake/
You can easily visit Verona in a full day, and San Zeno is less than 50 min away by car.
The Dolomites are less than a couple of hours away, so that is doable too on a day trip, if you don’t want to spend the night there.
Posted by
North Carolina
2502 posts
You’ll be pretty close to Trento, which I gather has a really nice science museum (MUSE). Might be a fun thing for the kids.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17567 posts
Google maps says it is a 2-hour drive from your bares in San Zeno to Ortesei in the Val Gardena, and a 3- hour drive from there back to the Venice airport (Marco Polo). That is if you use the autostrada rather than the local roads.
Personally, I would shorten the time at San Zeno (as nice as it looks) and add a night to spend in the Dolomites, making it 3 nights there before heading south to spend a night near the airport before your flight. That would give you more time to enjoy local attractions around Ortesei, such as this adventure park:
https://www.coldeflam.it/index_en.php
You could spend another day riding a lift to one of many spectacular hikes in the area. I cannot think of anywhere nearby that can compare in terms of scenery and opportunities for family activities.
Another comment—again,personally, I would not spend much time in Venice in August. Too hot, too crowded. Your thought of heading to Verona might work— there is a gladiator-focused tour of the Roman arena there that I have been looking at for our trip with grandchildren just a bit older than your children. Maybe arrival night and maybe one more in Venice, then Verona, then San Zeno 5 nights, then Dolomites? Smith
Posted by
OP
Westchester NY
2 posts
Thanks for the insight! I completely agree that adding a night makes the Dolomites doable. 3 nights sounds perfect there. I’ve always wanted to go there and the kids would love the adventure park!
I’ll take your advice too about a shorter time in Venice. I’d love to spend longer there and get to Murano and the other islands but this may not be the trip to do that.
Any advice about which Dolomites town would make the best home base? I was reading some other posts and someone said Santa Cristina was lovely. Does it matter enormously?
Posted by
11646 posts
We loved Ortisei, walkable to the mountain lifts, funiculars.