Bicycle Tours In Tuscany With Small Children
tips for making the trip enjoyable for all

Anyone that's a parent knows only too well that if the children in your travel party are not happy then no one is having a good time. With that in mind here's some ideas on how to keep the little ones smiling.

1. Make lots of stops!
Tuscany is full of lots of interesting old castles and forts. For young children this offers the perfect environment for running and exploring. Let them burn off energy especially if they are riding in a trailer and not doing their own cycling.

2. Negotiate the day's Ride.
Establish each morning, your bicycle trip and the distances you expect to travel, taking into consideration the slowest and weakest cyclist in the party. This is particularly important with older children that have a better understanding of time and want to have some say in their holiday activities.

Even better is to get involvement in the planing process before you land in Italy and unpack the bikes. Let them do some of the research.

3. Stop often for food, especially at the Gelato Bars

4. Skip the fancy Tuscan restaurants
Save these for an all adult holiday. Instead for lunch pick up pastries, cheese and meet at the local bakery and hit the town square so the kids can run off some steam while nibbling local produce. For dinner, Tuscany abounds with pasta bars and if they are happy with ravioli every night and that keeps them happy let them have their way.

5. In the same vein, keep the cultural content to a minimum.
Children are less excited to visit Michelangelo's David then they are to scramble up the turrets and over the ancient walls of a castle from the 2nd century. As parents we all want our children to absorb world culture and grow to be sophisticated adults, but at 7 years old they don't really care. Playing at the beach and mountain biking down a challenging path hold much greater appeal.

6. Maintain traditional get up and go to bed times
You don't want small children to get over tired and then cranky for the next day's adventure.

7. Allow each child to bring along their favorite toy, book or music.
MP3 players are a great PORTABLE option Load them up before you leave home with music and talking books that can keep little ones amused for hours.

8. Find an Internet connection!
For teenagers and older children make programmed stops at the local Internet outlets so they have the opportunity to connect via e-mail with friends back home.

9. And lastly, remember children see everything.
If you are impatient or rude in difficult situations where you are struggling with the language, or comment inappropriately on food that seems strange to you, your children will mimic your reaction. Encourage the younger population to try new Italian phrases when ordering food, and expressing common courtesy. Encourage them to sample what is made, caught or grown in the area, and you'll set them up for a lifetime of exciting travel adventures.

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Bicycle Tours In Tuscany