Currently in Florence: Ideas for Day Trip?

Suggested cities (in order of time of travel) with fastest Regional train times in parentheses (however Arezzo also has more expensive faster high speed trains that can get you there in just over 30 min)

Pistoia (35 min) - half way between Florence and Lucca on the same rail line
Arezzo (1h)
Cortona (1h20m) - past Arezzo on the on the old rail line to Rome
Lucca (1h20m)

My first thought was to catch a bus from the end of the train station in Florence (by McDonalds) and to Siena. My secondary choice would be Lucca for a day trip. The train going there should be easy to catch.

Lucca or Cortona would be good choices.

Fiesole, a village close to Florence, is still on
my wish list. Despite being able to visit Florence several times, I haven’t made the short trip to Fiesole.

On our Italy trip back in October, we stayed a few nights in Lucca. You can walk, or ride a rented bike, on the mostly wide path along the top of the city walls. If you lingered into the evening, there are opera performances featuring works by hometown boy Puccini - enjoyable and impressive even if you’re not a huge opera fan. Great pizza at Dante & Gentucca, gelato at I Gelati di Piero, dinner at Osteria San Giorgio.

San Gimignano. Have her take the bus.

Fond memories of day trips from Florence. I would also suggest Lucca or Cortona. Our tour group
had the opportunity in Lucca to rent bikes and enjoy the town. Haven’t been to Arezzo YET, but it’s been highly recommended. I remember how scenic Cortona was (that was 2006!). Unforgettable.
Can’t go wrong with the suggested choices so far.

Fiesole is lovely, in the hills above Florence. Could be a bit chilly.

Thank you everyone for your feedback-we sincerely appreciate it! All wonderful suggestions that sound so lovely. I’ll pass along your ideas to our daughter who’ll be grateful for the suggestions as well. Thanks again!