Trapani, Sicily

Hi Katherine,
We visited Trapani in May 2012. From there we toured Erice, the Saline museum and drove to Segesta. Enjoyed all three very much. We purchased several packages of(very cheap)Trapani salt from the Saline Museum store to take home for our foodie friends. No problem wtih customs. There was a restaurant on sight but I don't know their hours or opening days and we weren't there at mealtime so didn't try it. On the roadside to the museum there were concrete bunkers from WW2. Not something we see here in NA. I would think that a taxi would work just fine, one to drop you off and then have them call you one when you're ready to leave. Unless they have built up the Museum tour, 1.5 hours should be lots of time there. We used the Lonely Planet guide for Sicily and it was very helpful. In the city not far from the port area there was a Travel Info office that offered marine tours to the islands offshore. Hope that this helps.

Here is a site I used to do a lot of planning for Sicily. It has hundreds of links to all kinds of info.
Maybe there is some tip here for Trapani or surrounding area.....

Sicily

You're right about Trapani, we were there last year and spent 4 nights there using it as a base to visit nearby sights. It's a nice town to use as a base but there are not enought sights there to make it a destination. Have you visited Segesta or Selinunte? The Salinas are very interesting as is Marsala. All of these are nearby but without a car you would need to look into tours or a private driver.

In recent years, you ask. What a coincidence Katherine, I am in Erice at this moment, and just drove back through Trapani this afternoon. As you said, Erice is a wonderful ancient little hill town. The people, the food and baked goods, the quality shopping, and all the tiny hilly streets with patterned cobblestones, the gorgeous views, all combine to make it a magical place. The evening mist and fog just add to the mystique. But if you've spent 4 nights there in the past, you would probably find joining the day trippers there a little disappointing. I had an unusual day today, enjoying driving to the ruins at Segesta and Selinunte, but then found driving up the coast very difficult. I had hoped to make stops in Mazzaro del Vallo, Marsala and Trapani, thinking they were small towns but then finding that each was really a significant city, with total congestion, no parking, very difficult to find my way around, or even exit the towns to move on to the next. I struggled just to get through each one and make my way home to Erice before dark, never actually stopped in any of them. I drove by the windmill where the salt museum must be, if I had seen this thread beforehand I might have made it a priority. Can't believe it would be hard to get to, I would think a local bus from Trapani to Marsala would pass right by it. believe I have read there is a public bus from Trapani to Segesta, or maybe there are tours. I am not a cruiser, but I think that RS or TA or both have sites and fora specifically dealing with cruise ports, tours, etc. I wish I had more information for you, but as a veteran of just 1 1/2 days in Sicily, my knowledge is very limited and not yet fully digested. Ciao for now!

Thank you for all the great advice. I appreciate it.
I should have mentioned that my husband and I spent two weeks driving around Sicily and have already visited Marsala and Segesta, which is amazing! Larry is right about driving in these cities. It's horrible. We got terribly lost in Marsala trying to find the museum where the ancient Phonecian ship is. But it was worth it to see. Larry, if you still have a chance to get there, that ship was in the ocean for 2,000 years.
It just doesn't sound like the Saline Museum will be enough to keep us entertained all day and as Larry said, visiting Erice with 200 of my best friends doesn't sound all that pleasant, especially if the funicular isn't operating. I read that if the wind blows, they shut the thing down. Also, I advise against taking the bus to the top. I drove that mountain every day and even as a driver it scared the s**t out of me. With a Sicilian bus driver at the helm, I'm afraid I'd lose my lunch.
I considered visiting Selunite but as you say, you need a car. I'm not taking any organized tours to see it.
The islands are an option, however. There is a regular ferry service and hydrofoils to the three Egadi Islands. They are tiny and laid back and untouristy but very nice for hiking and swimming. It's an option.

Unfortunately we don't have any suggestions for things to do around Trapani, other than what was already mentioned. I think the advice on this thread is good though and should help point you in the right direction.