Venice

No tours or reservations are needed for gondola rides. How old are the kids?

They are 9 and 10. Both are homeschooled so we try to incorporate that in our adventures!

I would just take the days as they come. Get 72 hr vaporetto passes

We stayed away from tourist central and used the vaporettos to get around. We took in the popular sights in the mornings to beat any crowds from the tour ships. You might check out the Hilton Molina Stucky hotel, right across the Grand Canal in Guidecca for their rooftop view from the bar/cafe/swimming pool. The hotel has a free shuttle across the canal. Our favorite eatery was Barcareto Da Lele wine bar, up the small canal from Hotel Gardena, across the canal from the Santa Lucia railroad station. Small sandwiches were 1 euro and a glass of wine/soft drinks .75 Euro and the locals lined up there before going to work.

Personally, I'd look to do a couple of vaporetto rides over gondola rides, but that's me...the gondola is expensive, but the vaporetto isn't and you can do the grand canal, around the islands, etc. and time your ride to sunset, which is beautiful in Venice...sit in the back for the best view if you opt for that instead!

Look into RowVenice. Your kids would love it. You’ll learn how to row standing up, like the gondoliers and will get to see Venice from a unique perspective, that of the gondolier.

If memory serves correctly, the RS Guide Book for Venice has several self guided walks that make taking organized tours unnecessary. Not sure, but I think you can download an audio guide for the walks. One of the best things to do in Venice is walk, walk, and walk well away from the major tourist site. The objective is to "get lost" and discover out of the way places. Since you're on an island "getting lost" is not a big deal. A day trip to Murano and Burano can be done by yourself using the vaporetto system and will take about three quarters of a day depending on how early you start.

Checking on my Venice reservation it seems to be the most expensive one of all our hotels...I can still cancel it and rent somewhere else. Where would you stay in Venice? Would you stay outside of The Island or would you stay in the island itself? I have found some very good Alternatives but right now we're staying for four nights in a romantic 2-bedroom on the island for $1,400 seems like a lot and was wanting to cut down the spending sms use it towards enjoying ourselves..

hey martica
stay on the island of venice, look at cross-pollinate.com, they have a 2 bed/2bath casa valentina in dorsoduro and 2bed/1bath near saint marks for $650 and below. read the fine print since some want cash euros on arrival. ask bank to up your withdrawal total. you can also check booking.com and put in filters to see what's available. take the vaporetto over to the lido, there is a beach there, don't know warmth of water but the kids can run along the beach. take them to some campos/plazas and they can play around, you'll get lost coming to dead ends, that's zigging instead of zagging. let the kids eat pizza and gelato and enjoy the views, night time when daytrippers leave, ride down the grand canal. make the most of enjoying what you have. buy things for breakfast and can eat in the morning before your adventure. have fun
aloha
ps some may have a washer, i bring tide pod or liquid in ziploc or bottle, plus a clothes line with pins, wash morning, hang to dry while out and about. sounds crazy but it works. that means you pack llight.

I stayed in a 2 bed 1 bath airbnb in the Cannaregio area very close to the Fondamente Nove Vaporetto stop (convenient for trips to Murano, Burano and airport). The owner was very sweet. Very glad we stayed there instead of a hotel. We tried to do a walking tour but the guide never showed up. We did the Secret Itinerary tour of the Doge Palace which I would recommend. Otherwise just get up early and do the "touristy" things early and get back to more remote areas while the cruise people are around and re-emerge after 5 pm. Be sure to visit Saint Mark's Basilica when the lights are on - weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Before you decide on an (expensive) gondola trip, try a (cheap) traghetto trip

Or spend a longer time on a topa tour --- we loved the one we went on. Look it up on tripadvisor and see what you think. It's a small Venetian motor boat.

I found this web site to have some good information regarding both your What to do? and Hotel? questions: https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/top-tourist-mistakes.htm

Since your kids are homeschooled, these tours are not only excellent but also free.

http://www.venicefreetours.com

The Basilica Museum would also be fun for the kids.

Edit: The Gondola Workshop and climb one of the towers. Clock Tower in St.Marks Square or the San Giorgio Maggiore bell tower on Guidecca

I also recommend the Venice free walking tours. Do register in advance to make sure you get on the tours. There's no penalty for no-shows. The secret itineraries tour at the Doge's Palace is also good but you need to book in advance as there are only 2-3tours a day and the group's are small. Another interesting tour, also from a historical perspective is the Jewish ghetto tour.

You aren't clear whether of not 10/2 and 10/6 are full days or travel days. If they are full days, you have plenty of time to venture our into the surrounding area. It's still early enough to get into the Dolomites via an escorted tour. Most of the tours I've seen go to Pieve di Cadore (the birthplace of Titian) and Cortina d'Ampezzo (site of the 1956 Winter Olympics and where scenes from '007 - For Your Eyes Only' were filmed). I would also recommend Padua and Vicenza as worthy side trips.

If Verona is not on your trip itinerary, it is also very doable as a day trip from Venice.

As for lodging, I would highly recommend a rental apartment over a hotel. The price difference probably won't be that much and the added space will be well worth it.

Thank you so much I just signed up for the free tours and we are also doing the Galeone Veneziano cruise which sounds lovely. About the gondola ride Im holding off on that.. They are very xpensive for 30 minutes.. Still looking into other options bc it is our anniversary!

Ride the vaporetto to the other islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello [have your ever heard of the last one?] These longer rides are nice relaxing rests after hours on your feet, as you experience different views of Venice, and get away from the crowds. Ride the vaporetto at night, when the places are illuminated from within. Maybe find a cooking lesson? Safe travels.

More things to do in Venice.

https://www.planetware.com/italy/venice-with-kids-top-things-to-do-i-1-38.htm

My Grandaughter loved the treasure hunt and the library. Have them run to the middle of bridges shouting "Take my picture"

Find the Library Aqua Alta Bookstore. Due to flooding, books are stored in some unique items. Books are also a staircase to the top floor.
"walk on Words". Also has numerous cats.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/libreria-acqua-alta