Babble Best: Tuscany

The five kid-friendliest spots in Tuscany. by Melanie Mize Renzulli

May 16, 2007


Forte dei Marmi

When all else fails, you can always pack 'em up and head to the beach. Forte dei Marmi isn't just any beach, though. This seaside town on the sandy Riviera Versilia is like the Tuscan Hamptons, with a walkable downtown, fine dining, and prime people-watching.

Within sight of the colorful umbrella-dotted beach, Hotel Il Negresco is a godsend for parents who want to soak up the sun without having to worry too much about the kids. The hotel provides children with drawing kits, bike rentals, nighttime cartoons, and kid-sized portions at dinner. A swimming pool and a supervised play area also keep them busy. Adults are treated well, too, with amenities like an outdoor Jacuzzi and discounts at the local golf club. You can even have the concierge call in a local nanny — for an extra €25 per hour. This place is like the Hamptons, after all.

Hotel Il Negresco, sea view rooms start at €290 (or $395)

http://www.hotelilnegresco.com/en/index.html


Tuscany: Runners-Up

Lucca

Arezzo

Siena

Collodi

Travel literature likes to talk up Tuscany's hill towns, but little Lucca, which lies in the valley of the Apuan Alps, lives up to the hype.
...read more

The genius of Il Borro, a 2,000-acre country estate just a few miles from Arezzo, is that you can physically contain your kids without containing their enthusiasm.
...read more

The Palio horserace, a twice-yearly event on July 2 and August 16, is Siena's biggest — and, arguably, most kid-thrilling — attraction.
...read more

It isn't exactly Disneyworld — or EuroDisney, for that matter — but the Parco di Pinocchio is the spot in Tuscany to bring your grade schoolers.
...read more

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About the Author

Melanie Mize Renzulli is the author of The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy. She blogs about food and travel on her websites missadventures.com and italofile.com.

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