Fun for the Whole Family
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So many readers ask us for tips on entertaining their young children during an Italian vacation. Of course there are spectacular attractions for youngsters all over the country, but Lake Garda probably boasts the highest concentration, while offering glorious scenery and interesting historical sites for grown-ups as well. Located halfway between Lake Como and Venice, it makes a wonderful base for visiting art cities, recreational facilities and pristine wilderness. Here are some suggestions:
Take a boat ride. Steamers leave all day from Desenzano, Riva del Garda
and Peschiera, stopping at many small towns along the 98-mile shore. In summertime you can also cruise to
lovely Isola del Garda, the island in the middle of the lake. Tickets
cost about $1.-10., depending on the length of the cruise.
Visit an amusement park. We've told you before about Italy's premier example,
Gardaland, which truly does rival Disneyland. It's close to the autostrada in Castelnuovo del Garda. You'll
find detailed information on the park's website.
See
a medieval pageant. If you'd rather see Medieval Times in a country where the Middle Ages actually happened, there's Canevaworld, less than 10 miles north of Gardaland. They also offer a huge water world featuring the Captain Hook Game and the Baywatch Action Set, and a Rock Star Cafe. And then there's Movieland, sort of a Universal-Studios-by-the-Lake where you can be the star of your own film. Tel. 045-759-0622 or on the web.
Visit a wine museum. Well, good parents deserve some fun too, don't they? Il
museo del vino at the Zeni Wineries in Bardolino charges no entrance fee and offers free tastings of their
wines, along with a guided tour showing how wine has been made over the centuries. Open mid-March through
October, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. every day. Tel. 045-622-8331 or visit the Zeni website here.
Take a hike in a nature park. The Upper Brescian Garda Nature Park includes 100,000
acres of rolling pastures, ancient chapels, olive groves and picturesque villages. It is rather unique in
that you can start out on the very Mediterranean shores of the lake and, in less than an hour, find yourself
in a sub-Alpine climate that looks like Austria. The park includes Salò, a lively little resort town with
great ice cream parlors and pizzerias, and Limone, the quaint village whose citizens possess a "long-life
gene." The park publishes InformaParco, an excellent guidebook in English with well-written descriptions of
the area's flora, fauna and geological history, as well as thorough route maps for several different kinds
of hikes. Pick it up free of charge at any local tourist office.
Click here for more photos of Lake Garda.
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