raincitygirl

casperjj, we used Topbike Rental & Tours. www.topbikerental.com

They have a variety of tours. If your kids are all under 13 I think the ride we did would be too challenging for them, there was some riding in traffic which the guide was very good about helping us with but we were all adults. There may be bike rides on the Appian Way where you and the bikes are taken to it in a van rather than ride from the bike shop which was near the Colisseum.

If you do a day trip to Pompeii take tons of water as it will be roasting hot and there are not many places to get out of the sun there.

Sandralist has some good ideas for nice day trips out of Rome.

casperjj

Thanks raincitygirl. I did a google search and found a few, including top bike. I've sent out a few emails just to see. I did go ahead and add an extra day but I need to figure out what would be best for the kids. The appian way would be great to see but I'm not sure biking in mid July is the way for us to do it. We do plan to rent bikes in the Borguese gardens though.

raincitygirl

I think given the ages of your children and the time of year that biking in the Villa Borghese would be better.

You can go out to see the Appian Way without biking to it, and just stroll along part of it.

Enjoy your trip.

rktrip15

Thanks for all of the great replies everyone! Well we have decided to extend our trip by one day. And we are now considering staying a few days at an agriturismo or hotel somewhere near Florence or maybe Lucca. We do not want to have a car so I'm wondering if this is possible. I am a newbie to Italy but i have been doing LOTs of research. We like the idea of having 2 or 3 days in more relaxing setting, maybe with a pool but also being able to go to a restaurant and see some sights. Thoughts?

raincitygirl

We recently (October) stayed just outside Florence in Bagno a Ripoli at the Villa Olmi hotel. (part of the Sofitel/McGallery collection) They run a shuttle into Florence which was handy, a couple of times we took a taxi back and it wasn't expensive.

They have a pool, the hotel is set in lovely gardens, had a nice breakfast included, nice staff. You might be happy there, the pool will be very welcome at that time of year. There is a fantastic restaurant in the village of Bagno a Ripoli called Osteria Brucia Tegami.
There is free parking if you did have a car.

The year we took our son we stayed in a beautiful villa hotel in Greve in Chianti but you really need a car to stay there if you want to go sight seeing in the countryside.