Well I think we have finally decided on where to go this summer for vacation. Kids want to go to the beach and while that is fine with me, I figure 7 days on a beach with them (6 and 8) will get boring pretty quick. I was checking out places on the Tuscan coast but prices are really high. I need a place that will have something extra to keep the kids busy so was looking for tourist villages, residence with pools, etc. Well I finally decided that the Tuscan coast was not to be so thought about what I really want to do. I love (as does my husband) amusement parks. We went to Disneyland for our honeymoon, have been to Disney Paris and Gardaland with the kids (will not go back as it is TOO humid in the summer). Rita suggested Mirabilandia and I found a tourist village (1000 less than those on the Tuscan coast) that has things like shows for kids, people who teach kids how to do art, tennis, games, etc.
We will go to the amusement park a couple of times during the week but besides hanging at the beach and at the village, is there anything we should not miss? Any restaurants that people could recommend?
Hi Cristina, if you're not going to Gardaland because it's too humid, do not go to Ravenna!!! The Po delta is nearby and even if it's a great quite unspoilt coast area to visit it's very very humid! It can be great in September or early June but I wouldn't suggest it for July/August holidays! Ah, not to talk about mosquitos! By the way, Ravenna and the delta is one of my favourite areas!
We won't be staying in Ravenna but on the beach (www.marepineta.it ) do you think this area will be bad too? I just figured with the sea air it would be better than the lake air. They do have A/C which does help.
Personally, I wish we could go to Madrid! My favorite place around (my dad lived there from 1976-1982 so I spent a lot of time enjoying life there, helped taht we lived 2 blocks from the stadium so I got to hang around Real Madrid players !). I was talking to my husband about this last night. Oh well, maybe when the kids are bigger.
Here is a description (in Italian) of a "villaggio turistico" in Le Marche.
If you click on the name "Natural Village", it starts loading more information. There might be some in English, but I'm afraid I didn't have the patience to wait...
Cristina, in my experience the area is very humid but of course A/C helps a lot! I was in Albarella (an island in the Po delta) long time ago and the my most vivid memory is the mosquitos... Of course the area is very nice and if your blood is not very very sweet... About Madrid: the late 70s and the80s were a different thing here in Spain... you will have some problems recognizing the Madrid you remember... Moreover you'd better wait a few years before coming back to Madrid as they're reshaping the whole place (tunnels are being built everywhere... the M30 along the river, Atocha to Puerta del Sol) and the traffic, noise and dust is quite annoying!
Jane, a tourist village is like CLub MEd. Lots of things for the kids and adults to do. Restaurants, grocery stores, etc. all in one area. Basically you can stay there but have lots of things to do without having to leave. TO me, having to young children this is a must. Every morning and afternoon they have people who play with the kids, teaching them art or sports and also organizing shows that they put on each ight. The kids love it, get to make friends and get to be "on stage". There are also swimmming pools for kids and for adults, horseback riding at some places, tennis courts, other games to be played. They are SOOOO much fun if you are into that kind of thing. But then I loved Club Med and I LOVE amusement parks so that tells all a little about me. I was walking through Florence with RIta and another friend about a month ago and we got to the area where the Uffizi is and honestly I only knew that because of SlowTrav. I looked up and saw the replica of the David, registered the fact and kept walking. No interest but give me singing and dancing for all ages and adults dressed up like cartoon figures and I AM THERE!
Recently I was doing research for another trip and I began reading up on Cesenatico, a port designed by Leonardo da Vinci and which today is a center for a lot of water sports.
Cristina, something else you might consider doing is taking a drive up to the enormous fortress of San Leo. It's an exceptionally beautiful hill town with amazing views, you might get a nice breeze up there and your kids either will or will not want to see the torture chambers. (I skipped them!)
Cesenatico is a very very nice village during winter and a burstling summer holiday resort in summer (not as burstling as Rimini, though). My grandfather was born there and I admit that it's one one of my favourite places in the area because it "still exist" during winter even if it's far less lively!
You probably already know this, but when I went to Mirabilandia a few years ago the tickets were good for entrance on 2 consecutive days. It's a good thing to know for planning.
But you and I agree on Venice and Rome though (and a few other things ) I spent my teen years in Los Angeles and my mom's best friend worked for Disney so I had free passes all the time. We would go there just to pass the time on weekends when the weather was not good enough to go to the beach. I guess it just got into me then. I think places can leave lasting impressions forever.
"taking a drive up to the enormous fortress of San Leo. It's an exceptionally beautiful hill town with amazing views"
That was such a beautiful place! We stayed outside San Marino for a few days and drove up there a few times. There was this little trattoria on a hillside on the way up - no menu, you ate what the family was eating. We went there with the children each night we were there. Crikey - that brings back memories.
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!). I was talking to my husband about this last night. Oh well, maybe when the kids are bigger.
but give me singing and dancing for all ages and adults dressed up like cartoon figures and I AM THERE!
