Hello! We are staying in Vico Equense with our 9&11 year old kids. We would love to find some great, less crowded beaches and hikes, and do not mind taking a bus and hiking to a beach. Any local farms? Cooking classes? We are not as interested in all the tourist sites as experiencing the local culture.
Thanks!!
Posted by
169 posts
You didn't mention when your trip is or how long you are going or if this is your only destination. However, if you are only going to the Amalfi coast, my guess is if it's in the summer, "the beaches" are going to be crowded. Also, the Amalfi coast is known for its spectacular cliffs, winding roads, but not its beaches which tend to be small, and rocky. By rocky, that means lots of pebbles and rocks, not much sand.
Perhaps you will find some out of the way narrow strip of beach somewhere - and no doubt it will be a spectacular view but again, these are not sandy beaches and chances are everyone else will be looking for something similar so I'm not sure how less crowded it will be.
That being said, we were in Sorrento in May, and spent a day exploring the Amalfi coast, we also did a similar trip a year ago. Even in May the beaches were crowded you see more chairs and umbrellas than you do "beach". We had a great time for the day we were there, but enjoyed ourselves a lot more getting back to Sorrento.
As for hikes, depending on the location of your hotel, you are going to have to hike your way down to the beach and especially back up the other way. Same if you are going to a restaurant, or anything else. If you are getting down to the beach, chances are you are gong to be carrying things as well. You should let your kids know what to expect.
As for the cooking classes are for you or your kids? In walking down from the bus, ee noticed that more than a few restaurants were offering cooking classes, or letting guests cook there own meals and advertised as such in the window. Unrelated to that we went to one place for pizza just randomly and the waiter asked my daughter if she would like to help make the pizza.
Lastly, the Amalfi coast is full of tourists, so good luck avoiding them. Perhaps you can be mistaken for a local, but you are still likely to be among tourists regardless of where you go.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Paradoxically, a great place to experience local culture in that area is Naples - the big city. That's because the smaller towns on the Amalfi Coast are all about tourism, while tourists are afraid of Naples, so it's just you and the Neapolitans. Naples is not for the timid or shy, but it's unforgettable. The Archaeology Museum is magnificent - your kids should love the Farnese Hercules and Farnese Bull sculptures, which are gigantic.
I haven't been to Capri, but I've read repeatedly that the hikes on Capri to the Roman ruins are often deserted. Again, the tourists are in Capri town, Anacapri, and the Blue Grotto - leaving the rest of the island for you. Some of the hikes are supposed to be a bit strenuous, but beautiful.