I am traveling to Europe mid-June with my husband and 3 kids (ages 9.5, 12.5, and 14.5). We will be there 5 weeks. We will stay several nights at quite a few places. I have most plans in place for all, and am relying on the selections of guidebooks I will bring with.
Rome is near the end of our trip (mid-July). We will be there 4.5 days/5 nights, staying in the Trastevere area (closer to the Botanic gardens). While I do have plans, I don't have many, meaning we are scheduled for the Vatican, Colosseum, and Borghese, each on different mornings and I intend to divide our sightseeing by area (so if we are doing the Colosseum in the morning , we will spend our time walking around that area). But I don't have specifics, like 1. Colosseum, 2. Trevi Fountain, 3. Lunch Here, 4. rest, 5. ??
My usual travel method is to have one or two scheduled things per day, but no more, and then a list of things I could do, like a menu, so I have structure but can respond to how I feel/what Im on the mood for on any given day. In cities, where you can walk and stumble on great things to see, I look at the guidebooks every night for the area I will be spending the most time in the next day and form a general plan. I did this last year with my eldest, and I couldn't believe how much we'd done without ever planning (stumbling on the Rodin museum en route to somewhere else, for example)
Obviously, traveling with kids, Im trying to have more flexibility. But I am also mindful of knowing where, for example, the closest gelato is, or where to eat, or generally, of having a 1, 2, 3 .... list in mind for when the kids are tired and don't want to wander. And after planning 5 weeks worth of activities, locations, transportation, Ive reached the end of my stamina for reading about anything else.
So here's my question: what would you do on your Colosseum day, or your Vatican day, or your Borghese day? (that's three of the 4.5 right there). I was hoping to go to Ostia Antica but its closed Monday and right now, thats our only day without a reservation. Maybe we could go there after the Vatican because we're doing the Vatican early in the morning (although Ostia would make for a hot day later). We also might ride bikes on the Appian way on that Monday. I know several European cities well, and know what I would recommend. Can you do this for me for Rome? Im looking for specific places (churches, monuments, whatever) that you particularly love, or specific restaurants. This is us so far:
1) Thursday - arrive afternoon, drop bags, walk around Trastevere
2) Friday - Vatican a.m., Ostia p.m. (?)
3) Saturday - Colosseum, etc. a.m., walking ...
4) Sunday - Borghese a.m. , and then ? ...
5) Monday - Appian way (?), or ??
One final note: we are low maintenance people. No fancy restaurants, no fancy needs. We are a backpacking family - our kids can now backpack 10 miles per day with 20-30 pounds on their backs over mountain passes (of course they moan). We are telling them this will be urban backpacking. My son does not think art and architecture will be as fun as mountains ;)
Thank you,
Jessica