Has anyone stayed at Ca Formosa in Venice? Looks great, but am wondering if it is a bit out of the way (we'll have two children) from the St. Mark's area. Thanks!

I'd guess that it's a 10 minute walk. In any case, the only three things that are at San Marco are the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Correr Museum (which very few people visit). And the pigeons, of course. And the tower, if you want to go up.

Eloise, thank you! Did you like the hotel, or do you have any specific comments about it? Did you like the area from a sightseeing standpoint? Anyone else?

I don't know that hotel, but the location is great - certainly one of the best areas of Venice, beautiful, lively, unspoiled by tourism. And it's not even a 10 minutes walk - 5 minutes are just enough to arrive "in piazza" (i.e., at Saint Mark's square).

I haven't stayed there, but I agree completely with everything Franco says about the location. Even the 5 minute estimate to Piazza San Marco; I usually add 5 minutes time for getting lost in (I have a lousy sense of direction).

Eloise and Franco, do you think this is a better area for sightseeing with kids than the Campo San Maurizio area, where I've been considering Ca del Pozzo (I can't seem to find any reviews on this)? I like the S. Maurizio area because of it's proximity to Dosoduro, but perhaps with kids, it might be good to be closer to Rialto Bridge/market, Arsenale, as well as San Marco?

I wouldn't worry too, too much about it. Almost anything is within walking distance of almost anything else in Venice. And do use the traghetti (the public gondolas) to cross the Grand Canal. It's fast, it's cheap (0.50 Euro), and your kids will probably love it. The traghetto stops are always indicated on Venice maps.

Besides, there is really no way that you can be really close to BOTH Arsenale and Rialto.

Campo San Maurizio is fairly quiet, as I recall, and it is off the "main track" between Rialto and San Marco, which is always crowded with day trippers.

That's a tough decision, guanciale. As Eloise said, the walking distances are moderate in Venice, so you shouldn't base your choice on the "area of sightseeing" - but rather, on the flair of the neighbourhood where the hotel is to be found.
And that's why your decision is tough: Campo S. Maurizio is another very charming place in an area that I like very much, though not THAT quiet, excuse me, Eloise: but it's on another main track, the one from S. Marco to the Accademia (which might be the most important con for S. Maurizio).
I try to describe the two neighbourhoods for you: S. Maurizio borders on the S. Stefano area (Santo Stefano, in proper Italian; but always San Stefano in Venice, where they don't ever use "lo" as an article), which is another unspoiled neighbourhood, a fancy and indeed rich one with plenty of well-off people around. Not exactly where you would go for buying electric bulbs, but after all, you won't need to On the other hand, you might well find a de Chirico painting or something like that in one of the antique shops around (for a price so extremely high that you wouldn't buy it, either).
Santa Maria Formosa, where your first hotel is situated, is much more "every-day life" - with vegetable stalls on the square, plenty of every-day shops, no lack of bulbs or detergents or meat.
It depends on what you prefer... as long as I didn't know Venice as well as today, I'd have chosen S. Stefano/S. Maurizio. Today, I'd rather choose S. Maria Formosa.