For Families

This 10-day itinerary brings you to Tuscany's best family-oriented attractions. It's rather light on churches and art, and heavier on outdoor fun, often with parts of the day devoted to children and parts that will please the parents. In general, Italy is a family-oriented society, so kids should have fun wherever they go. Things to reserve ahead of time are Florence museum tickets, Pisa's tower, the car ferry to Elba, and possibly horseback riding in the Maremma.

Days 1-2: Florence

Making reservations beforehand for the top-selling attractions, such as Michelangelo's David, will help avoid the hassle of waiting in line for hours with the little ones. But there are a number of diversions better-suited to kids. See Galileo's telescope lens at the Science Museum. The Specola zoological museum is packed with an array of stuffed animals ranging from crabs to a rhinoceros. Be aware that both museums have some pretty gruesome displays on medicine, though teens will probably get a kick out of them. On a sad note, the soccer stadium is not always the safest place to bring families, as hooliganism can get out of control.

Day 3: Pinocchio Park, Spas & Lucca

Pinocchio Park, the theme park in Collodi devoted to Pinocchio's creator, isn't exactly Disneyland, but it is still a great stop for kids. The wooden dolls on sale around town are unique souvenirs. Afterward, Mom and Dad can unwind at the nearby spas of Montecatini Terme. Don't waste time on dinner here. In the late afternoon, make your way to Lucca for an evening stroll along its ramparts before sitting down to some orzo soup.

Day 4: Caving in the Garfagnana & Beachcombing in Forte dei Marmi

Take a sunrise drive to the Garfagnana and start the day with a 1-hour tour of the caves and tunnels of the Grotta del Vento. In the morning, be sure to also visit the prehistoric statues in the Piangnaro castle. Have a seafood lunch and a sunny afternoon at the beaches of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi. Keep in mind that in the height of summer, many of them can be extremely crowded. Vacancy will be difficult to find in the beach hotels, so prepare to find a hotel in Pisa, or, preferably, spend another night in enchanting Lucca.

Day 5: Pisa

The best of Pisa can easily be visited in half a day. Kids of all ages will want to see the famous Leaning Tower and climb up it, but note that the minimum age to go up is 8 years old. Afterward, you can explore the walls of Old Town and climb a medieval tower for a view of the city and the river. This is a good alternative for kids too young to climb the Leaning Tower. Continue rolling south along the coast to catch the ferry to your next stop, the island of Elba.

Day 6: Elba

Catch a ferry from Livorno or Piombino and spend the day touring Napoleon's old haunts and doing some snorkeling at the beach. Especially because you will have a car, you will need to reserve the ferry tickets well in advance.

Day 7: Hiking & Horseback Riding in the Maremma

The southern edge of Tuscany is cowboy country. Spend the morning hiking in the Parco Naturale della Maremma and see wild horses, white cattle, and hopefully a wild boar (at a distance). Contact the park's headquarters or the local tourist office (www.gol.grosseto.it) ahead of time about horseback riding in the area. In the evening, drive to Orvieto and arrive at night to see the hilltop city awash with spotlights. It is a great place for a late dinner of so-called "Etruscan specialties" and the town's namesake white wine.

Day 8: Orvieto's Tunnels, Etruscan Tombs & Cortona

Scramble down Orvieto's ancient tunnels in the tufa rock and have a look through some of the puppets in toy stores around town before lunch. Afterward, make your way up to Cortona for a hike through the Etruscan tombs outside town. Cortona's reputation for hotels is slightly better than nearby Arezzo's, though neither town has Tuscany's best accommodations. Try to spend at least 1 night in a nearby agriturismo or bed-and-breakfast. For a truly memorable experience, Cortona has a number of fantastic medieval festivals, so try to plan your visit accordingly.

Day 9: Cortona & Arezzo

Spend a lazy morning wandering through the sights of Cortona, the inspiration for Under the Tuscan Sun, which will only take a couple of hours. Then drive north to Arezzo. The SS71 is a quiet, curvy road through quintessential Tuscany. Arezzo is a great place to spend any afternoon, seeing the famous fresco cycles of Piero della Francesca, and the backdrop for Roberto Benigni's Oscar-winning film, Life Is Beautiful. Try to time your visit to coincide with the Giostro del Saracino, a medieval joust (and a real kid-pleaser) or with one of the spectacular antiques fairs, which take place the first Sunday of every month.

Day 10: Depart Florence

Take the autostrada to Florence in the morning to catch whatever sights you missed the first time around and, of course, finish up with some shopping.