CasaDelCipresso

how old are your boys? my son's favorite spot in the world was Venice when he was younger...but now that he's all of 7 ;-) he CAN'T get enough of Pompeii...I too would either go straight from Rome to Venice...or down South to Sorrento...and Amalfi and spend a few hours at the beach...and do Pompeii, Vesuvious, Villa Jovis on Capri and maybe the museum in Naples (however, my son HATES Naples with a passiona nd I can;t drag him there even for the museum anymore...it's just WAY too much for him...so will wait until he's older)
p.s. if you do go north, not a big deal at ALL to do Murano in a morning...or afternoon

luv2plan

My boys are 4 and almost 8. The older one likes science museums, but not art, yet. They are content to just swim on vacations. They love the beach. We are planning on Ft Lauderdale later this year.

Thank you for the other suggestions! I have a lot to look in to. Picking up a book today.

Thanks again!

giannetta

I agree with the "fly into Venice" 3 nights and fly back to Rome 4 nights and home! I don't believe that you need to go to Murano. I have stayed in Venice many many times...we go there each year and stay for 2 -3 weeks. Murano, if you have lots of time is OK - but pretty much a tourist trap where you are taken into the glass factory, you watch glass being blown and then you are expected to purchase glass! You also have to be especially watchful that you are not purchasing glass that has been sent over to Venice from China...this is a serious problem for the honest Venetian glass makers. We always find our way to a small family owned glass shop in the area of Castello on the Via Garibaldi. Also, there are many fine glass shops and also a glass factory (behind the Basilica)on Venice proper so Murano is not a must to watch glass being blown or to buy Venetian glass. Murano,however, is a pleasant ride on the boat and ona nice day a comfortable (small) island to walk around.

Coquelicot

While in Rome, you might enjoy the Villa Giulia. It's a beautiful papal palace, now a quiet museum full of mysterious Etruscan statues and other art. This museum came as such a surprise to us. After all the grandeur and ornateness of most of Rome, this was a restful treat. It was one of the highlights of our time in Rome.