Ok- my husband loves Ferrari. I want to surprise him with a trip to the Ferrari Museum when we go to Italy. When we go on trips I do all of the planning and he just follows me. Well this time we are going on our first international trip. It will be him, our 6 yr old daughter and me. I was thinking of sending him on the train while we are in Venice and I stay behind with our daughter. I honestly do not care about going to the ferrari museum but I know he would love it. I tried to get a factory tour but unable to. So I am going to lead him to the train station after breakfast and give him the directions-"Surprise! your going here" Now the real question is what do I do in Venice with my daughter? I don't want to do something he will want to do but what about going to Murano and Burano and Torcello? What would be fun for kids to do in Venice (that will not kill my wallet!). We are going to do a Gondola ride but I want to wait for my husband to be with us. Also do I need to worry safety wise for the two of us to be alone?
Posted by
Monroe, WA, USA
151 posts
Congrats on your first international trip. We took our 6 year old last summer it was amazing!
My husband and I went to the Ferrari Museum about four years ago. It is a good day trip. We spent two hours and photographed every single thing in the place. There is little else in Maranello. He will need to get a bus from the train station but it is easy to find.
As for Venice, the islands are a great thing to do with kids. My daughter loved the glass blowing. You can peak in or take a free tour as long a you watch a sales pitch. You might consider just taking the day to rest your little one. My daughter got so saturated that just sitting quietly was a wonderful change of pace. Venice is very safe, even at night, so don't worry about being alone. We did a similar mom and daughter day in Paris last summer while my husband went to a F1 race. A little alone time can really refesh the trip. Best of luck!
Posted by
Schweinfurt, Germany
56 posts
Colleen,
Buy the 24hr pass for the boats and go to San Marco square, there will be plenty of folks ready to wisk you away to Murano (for free and direct in a private or semi-private boat taxi) all you have to do is listen to their sales pitch. Then jump on the 42, I think it is, which will take you to Burano and Torcello. Burano is the most colorful and fun island IMHO. The same boat that took you to Burano will take you to Torcello...pay the few euros to see the church and climb the tower (it's a hike up that tower now) and then take the boat back to the main city. It takes about 4-5 hours to do all this and it is an easy and fun day. Save a few bucks and pack a sandwich to eat on the boat ride to Burano and while there enjoy some gelato while shopping for a tapestry or some lace...my wife and I did this with a 2 and 7 year old in Mar 08 and everyone had a ball. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
FLW, MO, US
69 posts
Thank you! Yes I figured that would be good to do while he was visiting the museum. Unfortunately this is at the beginning of our 2 week trip so I don't know how tired my daughter will be at this point but it will be a good afternoon for us and good mommy daughter time.
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
Safety will not be an issue in Venice or really anywhere in Italy. Most of the crime is petty theft. Just beware of pickpockets. Walking around at night is very safe. Remember in Venice it's hard for someone to escape..............NO CARS only boats!! Have fun!!!
Posted by
tipton, IN, USA
21 posts
We just left Venice. My younger kids had a blast just warting around San Marco and people watching. The bad thing is that unless you pull up a table at one of the cafe's you can't really sit down due to the regulations but my 2 and 8 year old would have played with the pigeons for hours. There are also boats to watch along the canal and shops to window shop.
We didn't get time to run out to Murano and Burano but I'm betting that a little girl would love the lace factories. My 8yo daughter is a Madeline fan and there's book where she gets kidnapped and taken to a lace factory. She would have really gotten into seeing the lace first hand.