Vesuvius worth it?
 

Hello Ever-Helpful Fodorites:

This time my son (now 15) and I are off to Italy. I am thinking of a splurge to save energy and hiring a driver and guide to pick us up at the Naples train station for a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and Herculaneum. As I recall, it it good to see both sites because they are very different. Since we are getting a car, I was hoping to also do something that would be hard to do without one, such as go to the top of Vesuvius. When I was there 30 years ago, one could scramble to the lip of the crater and peer in--very ominous. Before I make the trek this time I was wondering if going to the top of Vesuvius is still "worth it" in terms of time and energy. Oplontis is another possibility. Or, any other great ideas? We are also going to Ostia Antica, so I thought I could skip Oplontis in favor of a teen-friendly cool thing like Vesuvius.

Thanks so much!

We visited the area several times before moving to Ischia in 2003, but still haven't yet been sufficiently tempted to venture onto Vesuvius... if that says anything?

You'll perhaps get some idea of the walking conditions from these home movies, posted on YouTube - which I dug out for someone else who was considering the trip recently...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqaywuxUtNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7j-aZrJYCY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lorel...eature=related

Whilst there, I couldn't but watch this one....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bsmv...1&feature=fvwp

For some photos of mine from other places you might visit whilst near here, try.....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

.... however I guess teenagers are beyond steam trains?

Peter

We climbed to the top of Vesuvius this fall. Very enjoyable. It's easy and cheap to take public transport from Naples to Pompeii and Vesuvius. If you take the minibus, make sure to get back on time:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-paris.cfm

It is well worth the trek up to the crater. The scale of the thing is breathtaking and the wisps of smoke and the aroma make it very real.

My son and I did the Vesuvius trek when he was 18 and just 3 months out of chemo for NHL. The climb was well worth it even though we could not see the crater because when we got up there, we were in a cloud. The path is not too difficult and when we were there, there was an old man renting out walkning sticks for 1 euro. It was a nice thing to have. Having a one- on-one trip with a child is a terrific bonding experience. I have done that yearly with each of my 3 children and we have wonderful shared memories. Have a great trip.

My husband loved it I hated it :-) 50/50

Did it with husband and four teens once. To me, it is just a big hole in the ground, but DH and teen boys absolutely loved it.

Thank you all! Mr. Brit in Ischia, I love your photos. Your choice of Vesuvius videos did show a teeny bias, though! I would love to go to Paestum. How far is it really from Pompeii--does it take a long time to drive?

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Paestum is south of Salerno. It's about an hour and a half from Pompeii.