Advance apologies if I sound "all over the place".
During a recent fare sale, we got very inexpensive tickets into and out of Munich. We've travelled extensively in Germany and thought this time we'd do some combination of: Salzburg/Hallstein, Dolomites, Venice (our trip is the last 2 weeks of August). Because we'll have our kids in tow, we're now thinking of breaking the trip into 7 days in home base #1 and the remainder in home base #2.. We'd like to get some mountains and some seaside into the trip if possible, and we love hiking, walking, and eating.

But I'm totally overwhelmed by possibilities and logistics.

One idea was to connect by plane to somewhere in Italy (Venice? Genoa? Florence?) immediately after landing in Munich (Lufthansa has inexpensive flights to numerous Italian destinations) and then driving to a house rental or agriturismo where we'd stay a week and take day trips to hill towns, ruins, etc. Then fly back to Munich or Salzburg and enjoy a few days in Bavaria/Tirol.

But the Italy portion confounds me. Our dream would be to stay at a rental or agriturismo near the sea while avoiding the thickest of the madding crowd, and preferably to have easy train or flight access to Salzburg (our kids want to take the Sound of Music tour) when we're ready to leave. While in Italy, we'd like to take day trips to hilltowns, ancient sites, stroll at an easy pace, eat delicious food and generally relax.

Since we'll be there in the latter half of August, will seaside locations (e.g., Maremma) be so completely congested that we should take them off the list (and stick with the Dolomites and Venice)?

Help?

I would skip Venice in August. But the Dolomiti are wonderful. If you would like to spend your "mountain" week there, I might be able to help. Another possibility with lots on offer would be Garmisch-Partenkirchen---easily accessible by train on your way to or from Italy. Perhaps you could divide your mountain time between there and Salzburg?

Spending our "mountain" time in the Dolomiti sounds wonderful--what's the best way to get there from Munich? We are taking an overnight flight from the US arriving MUC about 6:30am. I think we could handle another short flight or direct train. Not sure how I feel about a 4 hour drive after getting off the plane, we've found driving in Germany to be easy but have not enjoyed driving in Italy in the past. Is it easy to rent a car and drive from MUC to the Dolomites? Is border crossing a challenge at all? Thanks so much.

We have done that scenario more than once--it is one of my favorite 2 week loops in Europe, especially with kids. Your options are endless but let me give you an overview of a great itinerary. I see 4 destinations for you, and all by car:

Land Munich--get car--to St. Gilgen--4 nites

Drive over Brenner Pass into Italy--to Val Gardena[Dolomites]--stay in Ortisei or Castelrottto---3 nites

OPTION HERE: Either Lake Garda[ with Gardaland theme park] or Veneto with day trip into Venice.

Drive back to Germany to castle country--3 nites

Last nite near airport.

That is rough but you get the idea. You will want a van or wagon, but rental prices are good in Munich. Holler if you need more.

No more border crossings, in the sense that you had passport control or customs.
It's motorways only from MUC until you get to Brixen/Bozen area. But then it will depend on your final destination in the Dolomites if you will have little or more driving on mountain roads for those last x kilometers.
Since rental cars tend to be cheaper in Germany than in Italy (and you have to get back to MUC anyway), it may be the best option though.

You pay extra for motorways in Austria (buy toll sticker before at the former border facilities for €7.70 for 10 days, plus single extra toll for Brenner pass motorway into Italy €8) and Italy (depends on distance).

If you don't like the long drive right after arrival, you could look for a place along the road to acclimatize, like in/near Kufstein/Tirol. Have a swim in (lake) Thiersee to get rid of jetlag in front of a picture postcard Alpine panorama.

By the way.. end of August is also high season in the mountains.. expect lots of tourists... not only on the beaches.

Thank you Bob and Cowboy. Any guidance on where/how to search for agriturismos in the Dolomites or the Veneto? Or are those kinds of lodgings mostly in Tuscany and Umbria? Have rented apartments in Paris and Bruges in the past with much success, but would also consider a character-filled inn with a playground or other facilities, esp if those are more common and allow for better people watching!

In the Dolomites, look at Haus Silbernagl--a very cute B&B. This area is more Austrian than Italian. In Austria, look at Garni Schernthaner.

Hey Bob - I didn't realise you'd stayed at Silbernagl's too. Great little place ...

Steve