travel tips for our first time to Italy

You don't really say when you are going. The month that you go really impacts lines. You shouldn't need to make reservations for Doge's palace, don't know if you can but that line shouldn't be too long. St Marks line will be long but will move along. I would absolutely make reservations for the Accademia and uffizi if you go. It will save you alot of time

When we went to Accademia in Florence we took the advice and prebooked our ticket...showed up about 15 min before. This was the 3rd week of Sept and there was quite a long line of people waiting to get in...memories are a little vague of how long, but I'm sure it would've been a good hour+ wait. I would book ahead to save standing out in the hot sun (or, conversely...the rain if it's inclement weather that day).

I'm not sure of a website for booking the Doge's, but one trick is to buy the combo ticket nearby at the Correr museum and waltz right in to Doge's! And, the Correr is very interesting in it's own right. Our first trip to Venice we stood in line for an hour at least to get into Doge's (and this was 3rd week of Sept - so slightly off season and still a long wait)...not knowing about getting the combo tix.

Tom & Nicole have you on the right track.

Oh - and my Venice tip - even if you aren't an early riser (hopefully you are staying on the island and not in Mestre) get up and go out at 6:30-7am and hoof it to Rialto Bridge (tho with all the graffiti on the pull down doors over the shops - it isn't that picturesque) and St Marks Sq...we did this on our last trip - there were MAYBE 20 people in St Marks Sq - we practically had it to ourselves...compared to a few hours later when it'll be jam packed. And you can stand on the bridge facing the Bridge of Sighs without being jostled.

We also really enjoyed Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari church in Venice - amazing art. And of course Burano (depending on how many days) and Murano and Torcello make a nice little trip from the main island.

We are in Florence now. I highly recommend the Friends of Uffizi card. You can get here across from Uffizi gallery. It gets you Into Uffizi, Bargello, Galleria Della Academia and several,other places/museums no waiting. Well worth the price as there are long lines right now.
Florence gelato - gelato Della passera - phenomenal only 1 euro a scoop. Look up on trip advisor. Best here after trying a few.
Dinner - ostrria Giovanni a little pricey and el buca del,Orafo both near Arno.
Happy Travels!

Great- thank you for the advice!