For context: 24 days in Northern Italy, with husband for the first ten days and kids ages 6 and 8 (all 24 days). Here is the link to the post I wrote prior to this trip. This trip is our second trip to Italy. The first one was back in 2024 and can be found here.
Specific places we stayed at were: Venice, the Dolomites (South Tyrol), lake Garda, Bologna, and the Adriatic coast. Each place had a “base” of 3 to 5 nights.
Activities aka how we spent our time: roaming the streets of ancient cities, a few museums, hiking, swimming, boats, animals, eating, playgrounds, and shopping.
Kids’ behavior. This trip felt harder – behavior-wise. We had many difficult moments where I felt… kind of powerless? Example. The kids were doing this thing called “a tickle fight” and they were LOUD and I was growing very frustrated because: there are other people next door. People who are trying to have a good time on VACATION and they don’t need two kids play-screaming in the apartment next door.
Also. My kids are 8 and 6 and are becoming so different in terms of parenting them.
My 8 year old is a growing girl, exhibiting some tween behavior already so strong emotions, things that wouldn’t bother her before are now BOTHERING her. And, number 1 thing that bothers her is her 6 year old BROTHER. I actually read up a little on parenting of 8 year old girls and yep, it is happening… The attitude, the eye rolls, the big emotions… L and I had a few conversations in Italy about the changes.
My son is 6. Generally, he listens but certainly has his moments… His sister annoys him as well.
I often got bitter when they were asking for things. Can we get ice cream? Can we get dumplings? (those squishy toys) Can we get make-up? (my daughter) Can we get a Lego set? (my son) Especially after my husband left, and I was managing them on my own, I felt myself getting quite frustrated with fielding all these requests. I said yes at times, and at times I said no. I said yes to make-up and a Lego set, but no to paying 6 euros for 10 minutes of trampoline or buying other stuff, like a giant plushie (that we can’t even bring on the plane).
Still, my kids returned from Italy with plentiful stuff: two books for each, a puzzle toy and a Lego set for my son, a dumpling for each kid, some Kiko Milano make-up items for my daughter, some stationary and planning things (markers, pens) from Legami Milano for both. A small coin purse for L (black and pink color because she loves Black Pink band). A small transformer toy for my son. A small Lego of a gondolier in Venice. A nail coloring book for L. Some key chains to bring back to their closest friends next door.
I reflected back to our first international trip- to Iceland. My daughter was 4 and my son was 2. They were perfect. Just slept in the back of our rental car. Nobody was talking back or having an attitude. Every rock and pebble was a novelty. We got solidified lava as a gift and they thought it was the best thing ever… But I also should remind myself that R wouldn’t walk for long so I had to carry him and he was a big boy. So yeah, there were hard moments, too.
Then we went to Spain and Portugal. Then Denmark. Then Paris. Then Italy. In 2025 it was France for 33 days. But this (second) Italian trip felt different. Harder.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s not the trip or the activities, or anything else. Maybe my kids are changing. Maybe, the kids are becoming too old to travel for an extended period of time like this?… Maybe they need something more structured… Maybe next summer they should be in camp, with other kids. Maybe they should travel separately. Maybe starting next year I only take one kid. Then another, the year after. Or, maybe I just go alone while they stay in New Jersey (I admit that I vocalized that idea during one of the difficult moments during this trip and the kids were NOT happy).
Anywho, enough complaining about my kids.
Activities. Overall, I am happy with the activities we did. We did NOT do Gardaland. Gardaland is an amusement park on lake Garda. Initially we wanted to do it but I had no energy after hiking in the Dolomites for 6 days. Plus, Gardaland was expensive.
Other than that, I am happy with the activities we did: the Doge Palace in Venice, Uffici Gallery in Florence, Bologna University, Bologna National gallery, Frida Kahlo exhibit in Bologna. Local libraries. Cable car lifts in the Dolomites. The beauty of the Dolomite mountains… The Witch’s Trail in the Dolomites. Beach days on the Adriatic.
Purchases. In addition to the above purchases for the kids, I also bought some stuff for myself.
I bought some fashion jewelry (not real gold): a statement ring, 2 pairs of earrings. Some make-up and skin care (we are in Europe, after all). Let’s not forget things like museum tickets. Although the kids went in for free most of the time OR at a very reduced rate. I did not purchase any clothing, and I regret it. Italy had some awesome clothes, shoes and accessories. Especially in Bologna. I had my eyes on a leather crossbody bag, summer shoes, and a belt…I did not buy them. I should have. I did treat myself to some stationary, a new 2027-2028 planner. Some pens. Ninety euros for the evening gondola ride.
Duration of stays. We should have stayed longer in: Venice and lake Garda. We stayed in each place for three nights. I would want to take some days from the Dolomites and Bologna to add some days to lake Garda and Venice. In lake Garda I would want a week, next time. In Venice, I would want at least four to five days – to see more museums, like the Peggy Guggenheim collection museum and the Murano + Burano islands.
Transport. This trip was completed entirely by public transport. I have felt validated multiple times for cancelling the car in Northern Italy. Trains worked just as well, if not better. All of the accommodations were a 15 minute walk (max) from the train station. And I didn’t have to stress about parking/tolls/directions. Yes, we had our carry-on but really it was fine.
Packing. I wore EVERYTHING I packed except one blue shirt and my scarf. I packed the scarf for the plane, because our flight to Brussels was awfully cold. I ended up NOT using the scarf. I thought of leaving the blue shirt in Italy as well.
Do you have questions about this trip? Do you have tips on parenting an 8 year old girl? How about a 6 year old boy?
Mom of Children 