europhile

I am working on a July 2017 plan for my family of 5 (3 kids who will be 6, 8 and 10). This past July we spent 3 weeks in Italy plus 1 week on a cruise out of Rome. Kids did great but our general consensus was that we should move around less and relax more. The kids' favorite part of our trip was the 6 days we spent in Positano (with Venice a close second). We loved our apartment terrace and the rocky beach and boating. Next year, we are considering a mountain stay in the US (Colorado or Tahoe), but are concerned that the outdoor summer pursuits there may be better for older kids. I'd love opinions on this as well! I'm thinking the hiking and lake time in Italy may be better at this stage for them. We all do love to hike (spend lots of time in NC mountains) and boat (we live in FL and the kids are like fish). So, I am hoping the Italy experts on fodors can help sort out a basic plan. We are thinking apartment stays in towns with restaurants. I would say ideally 2 places for lodging (3 tops) in 4 weeks. Would you split a stay between a lake (which one?) and a Dolomites base? Or is the Dolomites better as a sidetrip from a lake base? Is there good hiking from the lakes without staying in the mountains? DH and I have been to lake como but not the others. We love bellagio, but have had trouble finding apartment options there. Would Orta, Maggiore or Garda be easier to work with? Would they have the same sort of hiking options around them? I would also love to see the cinque terre on this trip. Doable as a daytrip? Thanks for any and all feedback!

PalenQ

Are you traveling by car or train?

Lake Garda has Gardaland - an Italian Disney kind of kids may like
for a day off of sightseeing - http://www.gardaland.it/resort-en/

Lake Garda is neat - Sirmione is the Bellagio of the lake but also has stellar Roman ruins in a pristine area overlooking the lake. Take boats around the lake - no need for a car even if you are driving.

Sirmione and southern part has nice beaches.

PalenQ

Near Garda is Verona - a neat city with lots of neat old churches and Juliet's alleged balcony - nice day trip from Garda.

I enjoyed Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites - would make a great base for hiking and a neat city too - once held Winter Olympics - gorgeous area.

Lake Stresa would also make for a neat several day stay - Stresa is a neat base on the lake- close to Milan if landing or taking off from there. the three Borromean Islands just off shore are a delight with a different delight on each of the three. Family resort with lots of things for kids.

Jean

I'd go to the Dolomites, Lake Garda and Verona. Depending on where you're coming from, you could likely fly into and out of Verona (via Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, etc.).

I'd be happy in the Dolomites for 2-3 weeks, and I'd make a point of visiting the Iceman Museum in Bolzano one day. Lake Garda for 4 days, visit Gardaland one day and take the cable car from Malcesine one day. Verona for 5-7 days because of several easy day trip options by train.

I wouldn't go to the Cinque Terre in July unless you really, really like Disneyland crowds. Anyway, it's too far from the area I mentioned for a day trip.

europhile

Thanks for your helpful comments! My next step is to find some apartment options (or hotels with apartments). The actual towns we choose may depend on that!

neckervd

It's easy to find apartments/holiday houses around all lakes.
The easiest hiking trails for families are
around Lake Lugano and around the Northern end of Lake Maggiore;
in South Tyrol (Provincia di Bolzano;
in Aosta Valley.

Adelaidean

We enjoyed our base in Ortisei in the Dolomites, a lovely small town, lots of restaurants, nice store to buy provisions for hungry teens, and 3 local cablecar/ funiculars for wonderful hiking. Noticed many families with young children walking, there are rifugios dotted around with great food, toilets, sun lounges, and even playgrounds. So family friendly. If you click on my name, you'll find the link to our apartment and photos of trails and town. The only negative was it was a steep climb home.
Our boys have always preferred less stops and becoming familiar with a place, so daytrips worked for us, plus if we felt like a quiet day, there was no pressure to move on.
I loved Verona, it's a gorgeous small city, lots to see, and a gateway for fabulous daytripping by train.

PalenQ

Would not call Verona a small city but a really really nice larger one - or medium-size one much less smaller than Milan, Rome and Florence but still a fairly large city - a gorgeous small city.