I recently returned from a three-week European vacation with my family, including my four-year-old. A big chunk of this time was spent in Tuscany (swoon). There are plenty of posts out there about kids in Florence or the best Medieval villages, but I want to tell you about some amazing “off the beaten path” activities my daughter loved! After spending our first few days amongst the crowds in Florence, these less congested finds were a dream for us all! So read on to find out more about visiting Tuscany with kids!
Nicole Abiad
Expat, Mother, Traveler, Educator
I am a seasoned traveler with a firm belief that adventure doesn’t stop at parenthood! Through advice, reviews, and research, I hope to help you continue your adventures and share the gift of travel with your family!
Castiglione di Lago
So, this one is technically in Umbria, but it is very close to the border with Tuscany. It is situated on Lake Trasimeno, the 4th largest lake in Italy. There is a small village with cute shops and cafes, but the real draw is the castle. After you purchase a ticket at the gift shop you walk through the small museum with Etruscan artifacts. From there, you enter the castle by walking inside the walls! This was our favorite part. The walls are admittedly a replica of the originals, but that doesn’t stop the fun. Imagine what it would have been like to defend the castle through the archer’s slits.
Next, you ascend the castle’s stairs to a fantastic view of the lake. From there, you can walk along the upper perimeter of the walls and into some of the towers. You then descend into a courtyard with a stage for movie nights and other productions. Check the schedule if you’re staying in the area because they have English Speaking family movie nights. Unfortunately, there weren’t any when we were there.
Saltalbero Adventure Park
Who doesn’t love ziplines? Located 30 minutes from Siena, Saltalbero Adventure Park was probably our daughter’s favorite stop. The park has zipline paths for all ages and abilities. Unlike other zipline parks I’ve seen, there were plenty of small trails for our 4-year-old to test her skills. There is also a play area for the smallest kids. And, of course, there are paths for adults. Even I got in on the action, and let me tell you, they are challenging!
The park also has a small restaurant and a mini-golf area, but it was closed due to high heat when we visited.
Brolio Castle
Located in the heart of Chianti, this castle is where Bettino Ricasoli created the wine blend now known as Chianti Classico! It was also one of the most beautiful castles we saw on the trip. While you can’t enter the actual building, you can walk around the grounds and see the fantastic views. They provide guided tours that include a museum that you cannot enter on your own, which could be a good option for older kids. However, we knew it would be too much for a 4-year-old. Best yet for Mom and Dad, entrance tickets include a complimentary wine tasting at the castle winery in the village.
While the castle was interesting for our daughter, the best part was the small kids trail/scavenger hunt in the forest nearby. Grab a map to find all the animal statues and collect all the stamps!
Chianti Sculpture Park
While I was unsure of this one, I am so happy we visited. Also located in Chianti, the Sculpture Park is only 20-minutes from Brolio Castle, so combining the two into one day is easy. The park consists of a circular pathway through a beautiful forest – just the walk is worth the visit. Along the path are sculptures created by artists from around the world. We had a wonderful time walking through and having our daughter guess how they were made. A few of the exhibits are interactive, allowing you to walk inside. Our favorite was the maze which our daughter observed looked a lot like the Ice Cave in Frozen 2, so we spent a long time playing “Show Yourself” on repeat while she ran through. The rainbow was also a favorite.
Locanda Del Tartufaio
Ok, so this one is not an activity, it’s a restaurant, but it was one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had. And when I say experience, I mean experience. Located in a small village in Chianti, Locanda Del Tartufaio looks like nothing outside, just a tiny side-of-the-road café, but the ambiance inside and on the back terrace is fantastic. There is no menu, just a four-course set menu of truffled amazingness and house-made wine with a kid’s pasta for the little ones.
The whole experience takes about two hours, which can be a lot for kids, but there is an Owl hanging out in the tree, which the owner will take down at the end to show everybody. I brought activities for my daughter to do at the table, but we were lucky that there was another little girl around her age, so they played the whole time. Best yet, nobody cared that kids were playing. Because of its location, we combined this with Brolio Castle and the Chianti Sculpture park to make a full Chianti day.
These are just a few of our favorite Tuscany off-the-beaten-path stops in, but the region is full of more! Leave a comment if you’ve visited any of these or others or if you too have experienced Tuscany with kids! And if you’re planning a trip to Italy soon be sure to check out my post on Travel and Sleep Schedules and Travel Strollers!
One response to “Tuscany With Kids – Off The Beaten Path”
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