My family of 15, including 10 active adults and 5 children ages 18 months, 4, 7, 9 and 11 will be staying in Giarre for a week at the end of May. We have scheduled a cooking class in Catania, a tour of Siracusa, a boat ride with snorkeling off the coast of Taormina and a hike on Mt Etna followed by a winery visit. We're looking at other activities and would love feedback on the following----a hike to Castelmola, a hike around Alacantra Gorge, a tour of Catania or Taormina. If we only have time for one or two, which would you recommend? We'd also be interested in visiting a local almond farm if anyone knows of one. Thanks in advance for your help!

Of the things you mention, a hike around the Alcantara Gorge might add some variety to the experiences to which you have already committed -- it's a beautiful area, and as I understand it, there aren't many places in the world where one can see fractured basalt formations. I think you can still swim there, too, though I'm not sure what the water temperatures would be in late May.

The views from Taormina are stunning, BUT it can be so overrun with day trippers as to be a truly unpleasant experience. Even as a solo traveler in 2007, I was so smashed by crowds that I ended up with bruises -- I'm not sure I would want to try to keep a family together during the daytime crush. It should be easy to reach, so maybe you could find a way to get there late -- with just enough time to see the ancient theater there?

If you decide to go to Castelmola (which you should be able to combine with a visit to Taormina), consider taking public transportation to Castelmola and then walking down, so you are seeing the sea, not looking at the path in front of you. IIRC, it's a well marked, easy path -- you really don't need anything organized unless that's your preference. And you can actually walk all the way to the coast -- or some of you could, while others take the funicular from Taormina on down.

Enjoy!

Thanks kja! This input is very helpful! I think we'll follow your advice about Taormina and just go late (hopefully missing the cruise ship tourists) to see the Greek Theater. We'd also like to hike down from Castelmola (some of our group might hike up as well). Is there parking in Taormina?

<<If you decide to go to Castelmola (which you should be able to combine with a visit to Taormina), consider taking public transportation to Castelmola and then walking down, so you are seeing the sea, not looking at the path in front of you. IIRC, it's a well marked, easy path -- you really don't need anything organized unless that's your preference. And you can actually walk all the way to the coast -- or some of you could, while others take the funicular from Taormina on down.>>

Having stayed in a hotel in Castelmola for a few nights I wouldn't actually bother going there anyway [no reflection on the hotel but there really isn't a lot there that's worth the effort to get there compared to the other things that you've mentioned] but if you decide to do it, definitely get the bus to the top then walk down. The other things you mention are all much more enticing, to me anyway.

If your guidebook doesn't cover that, use google maps and its "search nearby" feature. I believe any / all parking would be outside the old town itself, and I wouldn't be surprised if any such lots fill up quickly. I could be wrong.