Sorrento/Almafi Coast or Greece with Teenagers

Naxos is beautiful and not totally dependent on tourism. This might be a good time for your teens to learn about geography, travel time, and cost, however. If you are thinking of going from Rome to Athens, for example, you'd probably be better off flying (although a family cabin on an overnight ferry might be less expensive). I would look into keeping Sorrento on the list and visiting Southern Italy (especially Paestum, south of Salerno, which has beautiful Greek temples, a good museum, a beach, and mozzarella farms you can visit). Or substitute Sicily, which has Greek ruins as good or better than those in Greece (in my opinion). This doesn't address the Greek food question, I know. As for your other post on where to stay, some agriturismo places are out in the country and don't necessarily have families with teens available. Friends of mine with teens rent apartments rather than stay in hotels, but that doesn't guarantee peer interaction, either. They've also done cooking classes together and the teens have met some other teens that way.

My teens, ages 13 and 15, were a little bored with the Amalfi Coast, except for Pompeii, which they loved. Sorrento was fine for a day, but then they were done with it. I haven't taken my kids to Greece, but have been there myself, and would recommend that for teens over Amalfi. So much history, so many ruins. My kids loved Rome and I think they would also love Athens, partly for the feeling of "wow, I'm really in Athens and looking at the forum" and also because teens just really seem to enjoy touring cities more than quaint towns.

My granddaughter, age fourteen at the time, loved Pompeii and Amalfi coast for all of two days and then was bored. Not much to do there she said.

I don't think you should add Greece to your trip. That's a lot of money to fly there in July during peak season just for a few days in Athens+one island. Going by ferry from Brindisi is even worse, because you'll lose two days just to get across the Adriatic. It is not worth it. Leave Greece for the next trip where you'll do just Greece. Your fear that your children will get bored in Italy or that they must absolutely have Greek food is not reasonable. If they crave Greek food, just take them to Seattle. There is a very good Greek restaurant in the Fremont district right across the Fremont bridge that's called Costas. I always go there and it's better than a lot of restaurants I've been to in Athens. I doubt your children will get bored in the Naples/Amalfi area because there are a ton of things to see and do in that area. Not just stroll on Corso Italia in Sorrento. You can take them on boat trips to Capri, go up the top of Anacapri, visit the ruins in Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum. Visit the beautiful city of Naples and its museums and castles (Castello dell'Ovo, Maschio Angioino). Go up to the top of the Vesuvius. Athens is a big city. If that is what they want, just stay longer in Rome or Naples. You don't need to travel to Athens for that. If it's an island that they want, you don't need to go all the way to Greece. There are plenty of islands in the Gulf of Naples. Capri, Procida, Ischia. If all else fails, take them to Ischia to the Giardini Poseidon. It's a water park and Spa with plenty of pools, long beach, and kids their age. I'm sure they won't get bored there.