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45th Wedding Anniversary Ideas

Posted by (East Coast USA) on

Hello, My wife and I will celebrate our 45th anniversary in 2027. We have not decided upon an itinerary. We have visited Venice, Rome, Castelrotto, Lake Garda, and Trieste in Italy during some past trips.

We have used Rick Recs on trips to Switzerland, Italy, and Slovenia and we love the style of staying in an inn or AirBnB, shopping and eating local and finding excursions on our own or from locals. We do not have a real limit for length of time but are thinking in the two week range.

We would love to explore other regions and be able to stay in 1-2 locations where we can find day trips to wineries/vineyards, hikes, maybe cooking classes. Perhaps on the last 3-4 nights we would relocate to a nicer hotel to finish our stay.

I know the guidance is vague but we are open and looking for ideas from you who travel or live here. Our preference is to use public transportation when possible. We will be flying in from East Coast USA and can go at the recommended time of the year.

Posted by
6648 posts

This is so wide open it is pretty difficult because honestly you could find this anywhere in Italy. Tuscany is a natural fit but so much easier when you drive, though of course with money and some coordination, you can do without. The Ligurian coast is a snap by train. I find May and September to be the ideal months.

ETA just about every year, I start out my travel planning by checking Italy flights—throughout the country. You never know when a good fare might inspire a trip.

Posted by
1921 posts

Verona for romance and good options. Lots to see in this lovely and lively historic city and the nearby Valpolicella wine region is beautiful and tasty. It has major train lines in several directions, not far from Vicenza, Padua, Treviso, Venice, Ferrara, Trento, Mantua, and Brescia.

Posted by
11 posts

I am not against driving just makes it more enjoyable for me who drives 100% of time

Posted by
1991 posts

You have posted in the Italy forum. Does this mean you are only interested in Italy for this trip?

There are a lot of trip reports on this site of travel without a car.

Years ago I spent a week in Lucca. I ran out of time before I ran out of things to see and do. It was a great base for day trips by bus or train to Florence, Pistoia, Montecatini Terme , Pisa, Viareggio. the Cinque Terre and more. Lucca may be more crowded now during the day, but when the day trippers are gone, living inside the walled town is lovely.

Siena is another good base to settle. You can take public transportation to several hill towns including San Gimignano, San Miniato, Monteriggioni, Buonconvento or Montalcino, known for Brunello wine. You could also book a day tour to get out to the countryside. And there is plenty to discover in town.

Posted by
707 posts

Take a look at Sicily. A couple of weeks there could tick all of your boxes and more.

Posted by
1991 posts

Since you're open to other areas, consider France. Spend some time exploring the Riviera and then move on to Provence.

I spent a week in Colmar in Alsace a few years ago without a car using train, buses and a day tour. You could also bike/e-bike. Burgundy is a possibility if you base in Dijon. Add a few days at the end for Lyon or Paris.

Posted by
856 posts

Lucca is a really comfortable and fun place for an extended hang. You have good rail connections for day trips, a great wine region for sampling, and there's quite a lot to do in town. I try to find airbnbs that aren't primarily income investments/flipping situations. We stayed at one such place in Lucca if you're interested. Alternatively there's a really cool apartment I could recommend that we peeked into but didn't stay. Lucca would be relatively easy to pair with any number of 2nd home base cities.

I really loved Sicily but it's harder without a car unless you stick to major cities.

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