To drive or not to drive, that is the question: From Sicily to Tuscany in 9 days

With time short, I'd suggest flying Vueling Airlines from Palermo Airport to Florence.

You could rent a car after you get through visiting Florence--to see the Tuscan countryside.
Vueling is the big Spanish budget airline.

I loved driving around Sicily for almost 3 weeks, but I would vote for connecting to Tuscany by something faster. I don't think that 10 hour drive is really through Italy's best views. I'm basing that on what I saw on the fast train between Rome and Naples, and the week I spent in the Maremma in way southern Tuscany in May. I like driving in Italy just fine, but realistically, with some road construction, detours, and missed turns, that 10 hours can stretch into something much longer....

Fly out of Catania to Firenze, rent the car when you leave Firenze. Trying to do that drive in one day is very tiring.

The drive is longer than you think, it involves a ferry crossing and the motorway up to Salerno is quite bad. Fly.

With 9 days in total, you barely have time to see Sicily, and not even all of it.

If you have been to Tuscany already, you should devote your entire vacation time (9 days) to Sicily. That's the appropriate time to see a good chunk of the largest Mediterranean island.

Considering that you have so little time, I don't know how you can even contemplate driving to Tuscany. It's the same distance as from Virginia Beach to Boston. And there is a ferry crossing. Be aware that several rental car companies prohibit taking rental cars aboard ferries. Please inquire and read the rental contract before doing so.

Roberto is, as always, quite correct - if you only have 9 days total for this trip, just see Sicily, as you will only have time to hit some highlights there; you certainly don't have time for other parts of Italy.

You can fly into Palermo and out of Catania, or vice versa, and either drive or take trains and buses to places between these. There's plenty of places to relax in Sicily - no need to go to Tuscany just for this.

I don't know if you've seen my very detailed trip report, but in it I describe an agriturismo (farmhouse) in the middle of Sicily that would fulfill your desire to relax. A car is needed to stay here, but it sounds like you're planning to drive anyway.

Here's my review of the agriturismo: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/sicily-caltanisetta-central-sicily-agrigurismo

And here's my whole trip report: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina

I agree with others who advised just to stick to Sicily (and drop Tuscany this time around). Nine days is really not much even for Sicily alone, especially with two little children who I'm sure you need to consider when hopping from place to place.

Is the 9 days in total or are you spending time in Sicily beforehand? I'd probably vote for flying, hubby would vote for driving and stopping along the way. It depends on your travel style too.. we are fast and furious travellers and love to spend 12+ hours a day sightseeing. Our last trip to Italy was 10 nights - 2 nights Venice, 2 nights Florence, 2 nights outside of Siena, 1 night Sorano, 3 nights Rome (wish we would have only spent 2 nights here since we'd done all the major stuff before). We drove from Florence to Rome and it was amazing. There were places we wished would have spent more time, but that's why we're going back this year!

We drove from Bari to Taromina after weighing the flying option. The drive to Taromina was about 7 hrs. The roads are good but not much to see on the drive. We were glad we drove because the airport in Catania was closed due to an eruption of ash from Etna on the day we traveled.