Many families use Rome as the starting point for 10-14 day trips to Italy. Rome is my favorite big city in Europe with kids. The layers of history, the chaos, the loitering — it’s impossible to be an outsider here as you are always drawn into the action in some way, shape, or form.

I actually recommend spending at least 4 days in Rome (see my post on creating the best family-friendly Itinerary in Italy). However, I know how hard it is to allocate precious days on vacation and many people end up in Rome for just 72 hours.

The timing of school spring break holidays are all over the map this year. That’s a good thing when it comes to travel planning as it means it may not be as difficult to book a trip now for an April vacation.

Need inspiration?

My list of favorite 2011 spring break ideas for families …

I know, kid-friendly + romantic getaway is an oxymoron. If you have unlimited access to childcare you need not worry about combining the two. If not, you’ll want to read on.

We just got back from a romantic and kid-friendly Valentine’s Day weekend in Northern Italy at the Four Seasons Hotel Milano and L’Albereta near Lake Iseo. We don’t have family here to help with overnight childcare so all-family excursions are a must. How do you create a kid-friendly-yet-romantic getaway?

In honor of Photo Friday, I’m doing something new — a slideshow! We showcase so many wonderful photos on Ciao Bambino, I thought it would be fun to have the experience of viewing them be more interactive.

The first slideshow topic? My favorite subject, Italy! I asked a few of my fellow Italophiles to submit a favorite photo or two. I love …

It’s time for part 2 of our report on where kids can ski free in Europe (yesterday we covered Switzerland and France).

I spent the morning calling ski resorts in Austria, Germany, and Italy. Most resorts in these countries offer some kind of free skiing for very young kids.

At home we covet the latest tech gadget and are frustrated by anything that seems arcane – but drop us in Italy for a vacation and suddenly we’re waxing poetic about how delightfully romantic and old-fashioned it is to chug around the country by train. Until, that is, something doesn’t go according to plan at the train station.

Getting around Italy by train can be just as delightful and romantic as you imagine it will be if you know what to expect and you’re willing to improvise.

One of the things I love about traveling is discovering new things. When planning a trip, there’s always a strong urge to jam in as much vacation fun as possible. But packing your days too tight can be a recipe for disaster. When kids get tired, they get cranky and cranky kids take all of the fun out of even the best family adventures. I always plan trips with the thinking someday I’ll be back. It sets the tone for more relaxed, better vacations.

At Ciao Bambino, we all have long “must go back to” lists. The destinations that top our lists …

The season leading up to Christmas is a light-filled festive time in Rome that can provide an ideal backdrop for an enchanting vacation with kids. Beside its great museums, on-going exhibits, and the ancient Rome landmarks, there are several annual Christmas events that are not to be missed, particularly when visiting Rome with children.

An “I’m grateful for …” Photo Friday is in order on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

I’m grateful for those magic moments when we experience a wonderful destination as a family. Those times when we are all present and savoring a locale together will be much-loved memories forever.

When we were in Italy last month, we had one of those moments biking on top of the walls in Lucca. We did this on our last visit too—it’s an activity that does not get old.

We’ve had a glorious week in Tuscany. We took advantage of our crisp and clear day in Florence and climbed the 460+ steps to the top of the Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) in Florence. What a view (and workout)!

This is a fantastic activity with school-age+ kids and was the highlight of this trip to Florence.