Padua, Lucca, Pisa, maybe Bolonga (don't know how large Bolonga is, haven't been there).

Cinque Terre if you like outdoors and maybe some light to moderate hiking.

Bologna... Hate this auto "correct"!

Thanks Joannyc - for some reason I was thinking Cinque Terre was too far. Would you suggest a car? Thanks again!

Cinque Terre is probably too far and inconvenient in terms of access from Venice. Ravenna and Bologna would be more logical, as well as Ferrara.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157622914503405/show/

Siena, Verona....

Assuming you have already been to Venice and Florence, then Padua, Vicenza, Verona. All easily accessible by train.

If you haven't spent time in both, then two days in Venice and two full days in Florence.

Bologna and Verona are rather busy cities. The main reason for going to Ravenna is to see the mosaics, which are all indoors. Vicenza is usually prized for its museums and tours of Palladian architecture. You might like Padova or Treviso, and you should read up on both.

I suggest you take the 4-hour train ride to Lucca. Although it is a small city, it is completely pedestrianized and it has lots of walks. If the weather is nice, you can make a day trip to le Cinque Terre from Lucca, and another day you can take a bus, too, up into the Serchio Valley and do some hiking and small town exploring as well. If you ask on the Slow Travel message board for tips about taking the bus to the Serchio Valley from Lucca, you will get detailed instructions.

Interesting small towns you can visit from Lucca by train are Montecatini Alto, Pistoia and Pietrasanta if the weather is not nice enough to go to le Cinque Terre. And you can of course visit Pisa, and go early to Florence to spend some time there before your flight.

PS, snowskisunsea

I just noticed you are willing to rent a car.

You and your mom could have a fabulous time exploring with a car either by basing in lovely Asolo and make short hops to Bassano del Grappo, Marostica and Asiago and other scenic towns in the foothills, or you could also explore the Euganean hills just south of Padova.

Asolo used to be a beloved and prized European destination for writers and artists visiting Italy. Nobody really knows why it dropped off the tourist map, because the town itself hasn't changed. It's one of Italy's best "secrets"

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/veneto/asolo

http://www.travelgrove.com/travel-guides/Italy/Asolo-Travel-Guide-c1005927.html

Even more of a secret is the Euganean hills south of Padova, which are filled with thermal hot springs and rolling hills of vineyards. If you have any spirit of adventure, you could have a lot of fun exploring:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187867-i1294-k1423080-Euganean_Hills-Padua_Province_of_Padua_Veneto.html

http://www.turismopadova.it/menu-en/scoprire-padova/itinerari-1/itinerari-nella-natura/ColliEuganei

http://www.padovaincoming.it/info/wine-road/en

http://www.venetoguide.it/eng/itineraries/padua/euganean

Thanks everyone --- Your help is very appreciated and this is exactly the info we're looking for... Fortunately we have some time to plan / research (and anticipate the trip!). Thanks again!