Need things to do for parents (mid 70s) in Val Gardena area

Five hours is a long time and waiting can be much more exhausting than hiking. Can’t they return , go back down, to where you are staying? Are there places where you will leave them that they can something to eat? We were surprised to see them at the top of the lifts in Ortisei.
Otherwise a tour guide sounds good if the guide understands their limitations.

Maybe they might really want to stay in town and go to a nice lunch and walk around town and shop.

Which town would be best for them to walk around?

What would they like to do? It seems to me that they should have a say in this. Would they prefer a "rest" day? Would they like to do a short walk around town? A short walk up at the gondola? What are they interested in?

"What would they like to do? It seems to me that they should have a say in this. Would they prefer a "rest" day? Would they like to do a short walk around town? A short walk up at the gondola? What are they interested in?"

Absolutely! I'm gathering info then I'm going to present them with options. Rest at the hotel. Do a guided tour. Walk town on your own etc. They like vieww/scenery and history too. So riding up a gondola would be fun and wandering a historic town would be fun too.

I was looking at this tour for them: https://www.italydolomites.com/episcopal-city-bressanone-novacella-abbey-funes-valley/

Ortisei (aka Sankt Ulrich) would make a great town for your folks to hang out in. Taking in the mountain air with the expansive views of the peaks while having coffee and a meal sounds like a plan to me. If they tire of that, they can stroll through town and check out the wood carvings by local artists. They also could visit one of the hotel spas and relax. Remember you'll be in Italy where discovering " Dolce Far Niente" is key.

I’m approaching my mid 70’s and I don’t feel 5 hours is necessarily a long time to wait. Certainly having a beverage at the top of the Seceda gondola and enjoying the view could easily eat up :45-an hour, especially if it’s warm, sitting back enjoying the sun. Trip back down takes some time. Ortisei is very picturesque and the accommodations will have window boxes in full bloom-beautiful. So a bit of a wander, have a nice relaxing lunch with tons of people watching, walk back to meet you on your return-easily eat up 5 hrs. I’m not one to lollygag, but that five hours could still go pretty fast. I looked at the tour you suggested and it didn’t really seem like a great alternative to staying in Ortisei while you hike. It will be wonderful! Enjoy.

Where are you staying?

The small wood-carving museum Ortisei is worthwhile.

They could also take the bus up to Santa Cristina and back down again--or possibly to other places. The bus schedules are linked here: https://www.valgardena.it/en/bus-schedule/. I have done that exact out-and-back bus trip and others in highly scenic rural areas. It gets you a free sightseeing tour at very low cost.

Alternatively, they could go to the outstanding Naturmuseum Südtirol in Bolzano. It has the superlative Otzi (Ice Man) exhibition, which is well-described in English. Bolzano has a very pretty historic center as well; it's a very nice place to spend a few hours wandering around and perhaps having lunch. I will just mention that Bolzano is down in the valley, so it can get quite hot in the summer.

Edited to add: I'm 70 and would not want to just sit and vegetate for 5 hours.

Thanks everybody, great info! We are staying right up the road from Ortisei in Selva.

I presented the options to them and they decided to explore Ortesei. Thanks everyone!

Spa visit ??? I think Hotel Gardena in Ortisei may book outsiders at their spa.

I have found interesting things to do at the website for Val Gardena, including walking tours and cooking classes:
https://www.valgardena.it/en/calendar-of-events/

The events for summer 2022 were recently posted.

In their meandering in Ortisei, there is a lovely flat panorama walk. When they come down from Seceda, they will descend to the town via the moving sidewalk inside a vast galleria. That exits onto the Luis Trenker path. Turn right, the town church is a short distance away with a gentle street leading into the town center. Turn left, and the path leads all the way to S.Cristina and Selva, but they can walk a short way for the views and exercise. Alternatively, once off the moving sidewalk they can descend via escalator to the town center.

How is the restaurant at the top of the Resciesa gondola? We will be up at Seceda early in the morning so they won't eat up there (plus I don't think any of the huts will be open at the beginning of June up there). So I figured they could descend to town then go up Resciesa and eat lunch up there for a different view. That would kill a couple hours.

Check this: http://www.restaurantseceda.com/en/.
Reads that they open on May 29. Hours from 8:30 am on. Might be too late unless early to the top is 8:00. I honestly think they won’t be bored or get tired of waiting for your return! Maybe you will need to find them on your return.

The restaurant at Rasciesa is fine, and much like every other mountain restaurant. Standard local fare, an impressive deck with killer views. But there are better restaurants in the village with more choices, more refined.