Milan makes a surprisingly easy and rewarding stop between Florence, Venice, and the Cinque Terre. With high-speed trains and compact sightseeing, you can see the Duomo, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, and stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, all in just a few hours. Milan also co-hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics, bringing the world […]
The Puez-Odle Altopiano trail is a 17 km (10.6 mile) hike along some of the highest mountain peaks in the Dolomites. We hiked this lesser-known trail on our first trip to the Dolomites and it is a spectacular hike from start to finish. With jaw-dropping views of the Dolomites, fields of wildflowers, and endless alpine […]
The Lagazuoi to Passo Falzarego Trail is an easy, downhill hike in the Dolomites that combines stunning alpine views with World War I history. It’s a great hike for families and those looking for a short, sweet hike combined with a thrilling cable car ride. This was the very first hike that we did in […]
The Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most iconic coastal hikes, connecting five colorful villages by cliffside trails overlooking the Mediterranean. Here’s exactly how to hike the Cinque Terre from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, including trail closures, ticket costs, one-way rules, and what to expect in 2026. We hiked the entire route as a family. Our […]
San Gimignano is famous for its medieval towers, and yes, you should climb one. But a great visit here goes beyond the main piazzas and the gelato line at Dondoli. On our first trip, we arrived by bus from Siena on a busy morning with our kids, climbed to the top of Torre Grossa, ate […]
Spending three days in Sorrento is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to experience the best of the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompeii, and you don’t need a car or a big budget to do it. Sorrento makes an ideal home base for this part of Italy, since it’s well connected by train, […]
Capri’s Blue Grotto is famous for its glowing electric-blue water and tiny cave entrance that visitors must duck through by rowboat. But between the crowds, the cost, and the wait to get inside, many travelers wonder: is the Blue Grotto really worth it? The Blue Grotto is Capri’s most famous attraction. Visitors climb into small […]
Rome is one of those cities where it feels like there is something worth photographing around every corner. Ancient ruins sit beside busy streets, church domes rise above terracotta rooftops, and some of Rome’s most famous landmarks look completely different depending on the time of day and where you are standing. We first visited Rome […]
The Appian Way is one of Rome’s ancient roads, connecting Rome to the Adriatic Port of Brindisi. This road was a marvel of Roman engineering at the time it was constructed, 2000 years ago. Today it is a place for biking, viewing ancient Roman ruins, touring the catacombs, and taking a break from the hustle […]