feedback - wrapping up my trip

Anne,

I'd suggest choice 3.-- Florence for 4 nights = 3 full days in Florence.(return car there)

I would stay in Florence all the days. I would have concerns with the weather in the CT at that time of year, and it's not a place I would want to be cooped up in the rain with two young children.

On the other hand, if the weather is decent, I love choice one.

You will be there after Easter this year, and the season starts around the beginning of April in the Cinque Terre, so you will be there in the season, but at the beginning.

Do you feel confident with your kiddos on fenced paths on a steep hillside?

I don't know how much you love Renaissance art. Love it lots and lots? Then choice 3. Rather see beautiful cliffside villages and beautiful water and can let lots of art go? Choice 1.

Choice 2 is too little time at either and less bang for the buck.

It's your vacation. What would you, in your heart of hearts, like to hear?

Florence has that big carousel in Piazza della Repubblica, the kids may find that endlessly entertaining. And you can take several daytrips if you like (Lucca and Pisa would be a good one, you can rent bikes and the children can ride the walls in Lucca (4-year-old rides with you, most likely). This can be one easy daytrip by bus or train (or both).

Stayed in Montecatini Terme on a trip a few years back, which is between Lucca and Florence (1/2 hour by train to Lucca). It was a lovely town with a beautiful carousel for the children, and also you could take the funicular up to Montecatini-Alta.....beautiful, and the kids would love that experience. There are some cafes where you can grab lunch up there. Adjacent to the carousel is a big beautiful park where the kids could run.......if you are driving to Florence, it would also make a nice stop. Lots of good, inexpensive restaurants and pizza joints. The things I mentioned - park, funicular, and carousel are all within walking distance to each other.
Sue