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Looking for Unique Experiences/Tours

Planning my third trip to Rome-Florence-Tuscany-Venice with my family. My adult children have never been to Italy, so they will be hitting the tourist highlights. But my husband and I have been there and done it, so I'm looking for something unique that will give us a new experience. Does anyone have any suggestions for a special outing, tour, class, experience?

Posted by
2699 posts

You’ve been the kids have not. If you plan on spending time with them, you’ll be revisiting many places. Do you like food, food tours, culinary classes? You might want to research that. Or ditch the big city trip and book the RS Village Italy tour. You would all have a blast!

Posted by
15678 posts

Bea, it might be helpful if you could give us some idea of what sorts of things you're interested in and what time of year you'll be traveling? Also, even if it's your third trip there are sure to be attractions you've not yet covered. Can you give us an idea of what you've already seen? And where have you been in Tuscany besides Florence?

Posted by
1056 posts

Try a trip with TopBikes on electric-assisted Bikes to the catacombs, Aqueduct Park and a sheep farm for snacks and wine. Or plan a tour with an archeologist to the Domus Aurea ruins (Nero’s Golden pleasure palace). Domus Aurea is open only on weekends, as it’s an active archeological site. A food tour with Eating Italy in Testaccio or Trastevere is also fun.

Posted by
683 posts

If you are at all interested in art, the mosaics in Ravenna are sensational. And Ravenna itself is a really pleasant, quite un-touristy town.

Posted by
398 posts

Venice Kayaking? They set up day or half day tours to kayak around the canals of Venice if you're an active family. Because gondolas are soooo 15th century.

Posted by
232 posts

We had a wonderful experience doing an “Eating Italy” tour of Trastevere. It’s a walking and eating tour that everyone can enjoy no matter how many times they have been to Italy. It’s a GREAT “landing day” thing to do because you are out walking in the fresh air (and eating) so it helps you cope with jet lag, but I really appreciated the cultural things the guide taught us like the cost for an espresso is more if you sit at a table etc.

Posted by
22 posts

Thank you for wonderful suggestions. I love the Rick Steves' forum and appreciate fellow travelers' sharing information.

I am looking into Eatwith in Rome, incorporating a couple of small villages and truffle hunting in Tuscany. Keep the suggestions coming - my family loves food (one son graduated from culinary school, so I hesitate to sign up for culinary class), some of us are more active than others, but hiking and biking are options, and my husband is a oenophile. If we make it to Venice, I like the idea of kayaking there.

Does anyone have a farm, county inn, castle dwelling recommendation in Tuscany? We will visit Montepulciano and either Cortona or Montalcino.

Posted by
2281 posts

hey bea.d
In Rome you can look up oldfrascatiwinetours.com
Minardi winetours.com
It’s a 30-40 minute train ride from Rome. Make sure you stop at ceralli.it family owned store, bakery pizza oven, best porchetta. Saw on a travel show on tv.
Also withlocals.com has a countryside tour in an Italian car. Put on city or town to see what else they have. Hopefully someone in family will like it.
Aloha

Posted by
3112 posts

I once did a bicycle tour of the Florence Oltrarno hills that was different and quite enjoyable. Some of the uphill riding was strenuous through. One tour in Florence that looks interesting but I've not yet done is the vintage Fiat 500 tour. If you're interested in that type of tour and can drive a stick-shift, be sure to take your drivers license and to get an international drivers permit. You might also consider a day trip to one of the less-visited cities near Florence, such as Pistoia or Bologna. Pistoia has a really big market day. Think it's Wednesday, but double-check if that interests you or you prefer to avoid it.

Posted by
20 posts

Gretchen - is Eating Italy found on the Eating Europe website?
I am looking into eatwith.com - going to try dinner in a chef's home that looks wonderful in Trastevere.

Posted by
59 posts

We are doing a two day cooking class in the Chanti region (look up Toscana Mia in the town of Radda). My wife is an incredible cook and I can't wait to be able to share this experience with her. I have no doubt it will be the highlight of our trip next year.

Depending on our free time we are also looking at a truffle hunt at a local farm.

Posted by
2281 posts

@brett
with that 2 day class is lodging available at this place? Is it included with cost of class?
aloha

Posted by
4 posts

Siena is a great day trip option. We are going in December and booking a foodie tour with the Roman Guy for Florence. We used him several years ago and loved his tours.

Posted by
75 posts

We're staying at Villa Trasimeno in Umbria next month - spoke to several people recently who highly recommended it. They have an option where the owner will pick you up at the Rome or Florence Airport, and will drive you to wineries, towns, etc. for sightseeing each day. We're really looking forward to it and wish we could spend more time there (only 4 nights were available during the time we could travel).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lnq5jns511cf6kf/brochure%20villa%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

Posted by
59 posts

You pay a set price for the class (which includes a dinner with the family the night before the first class and a wine tour after the first day). They will suggest b&b's or hotels that you will need to reserve separately.

They have a number of different options if a two day class isn't what you are looking for.

Posted by
7737 posts

I can vouch for the eatwith.com dinner in Trastevere with Barbara. We did that in 2015 and it was a highlight of our (fifth) trip to Rome. Planning to do it again next year.

Posted by
1540 posts

In Rome - a spot that has almost 360 degree views of all of Rome.
Monument to Victor Emanuel II
It is next to the Colosseum - take the elevator to the top.
Happy Travels

Posted by
63 posts

Loved our tour with Paul Costa in Florence. It was very enlightening and I think very different than the normal tours that were going on around us. www.tuscantourguide.com. I think your adult children would enjoy him as well.

It sounds like you have lots of recommendations for food classes and I would highly recommend that as well.

I also agree that Siena is a great idea, especially for adult children, and you should go at night. It has great nightlife.