Taking a bus trip to Venice from Garmisch. I will have 3 school age children who love to travel, along with my husband. What can we cram into 8 hours?? Please don't say to skip it, because if all I get to see are St. Mark's and the Grand Canal it will be worth it!

Any time in Venice is worth it! For 8 hours with your crew, I'd recommend:<BR>-St. Mark's Square<BR>-Ride on a water taxi<BR>-See the gondola repair shop (if you don't know location, let me know)<BR>-eat gelato.<BR><BR>All good things with kids. <BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>Lisa

Allof the above - plus - go up the campanile, take the number 1 vaporetto - in both directions - sitting outside (up the front if you can), stop and enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by and meander through Dorsoduro to get a feel of the romance of the quieter residential streets - all easily done in 8 hours.

Absolutely take a vaporetto (bus boat) on the route that goes up the Grand Canal. big fun! Just walk around town. It's not that big and you could easily see San Marcos square, the Rialto bridge, etc. Maybe skip actually going inside the "sights" because there are often long lines. Eat lunch at a sidewalk cafe or outdoor restaurants. It'll be GREAT!

Forget the water taxi (too expensive) and take a vaporetto on the Grand Canal. Then, spend some time in St. Mark's Square. Your children will probably enjoy feeding the birds. For the rest of the eight hours just walk around and get lost in the maze of small canals, narrow alleys and streets.

Thank you for all of the great advice!<BR><BR>

One cool tip for walking (getting lost!) in Venice. Look up on the corner of buildings. You'll see painted arrows pointing to major sites (i.e., Rialto Bridge that way, San Marcos that way). Helps you get your bearings.<BR><BR>Eat pizza sitting at an outdoor cafe right on one of the canals.