TUSCANY WITH KIDS – NEVER A DULL MOMENT

Tuscany’s glorious countryside and history-rich cities brimming with magnificent sights make for a region-sized kid’s playground. From outdoor activities and Italian-themed cooking lessons to catching glimpses of dinosaurs in prehistoric parks and visiting quirky architecture, Tuscany’s year-round mild and sunny climate makes it all very kid-friendly and enjoyable. Sean Caulfield has been renting out villas in Tuscany http://www.to-tuscany.com since 1998 through his company To Tuscany and has been living there with his family for 12 years. With two eight-year old twin girls and a five year old son to entertain, he lists some of his favourite child-friendly activities in Tuscany and shows why a Tuscan holiday could be the perfect way to pry the kids away from their computers, into the outdoors and learning about food, art, nature and history. Something that may just stick when you get back home...

Foodylicious fun

Cheese-making in Pienza
The countryside area around Pienza is famous for its Pecorino cheese. Its vast open landscapes are perfect for the grazing sheep and mean the area offers some of the best Pecorino you’ll find in Tuscany. It is possible to visit the cheese-making process at the Cugusi Dairy and taste the different varieties. On my visit here, I stocked up on some of Italy’s finest cheese, while the children learnt how sheep’s cheese is made and met the animals – they loved it!
http://www.caseificiocugusi.it

Ice cream-making in Castellina
The best ice cream I have tasted is at the Antica Delizia Ice Cream Parlour in Castellina in Chianti. Simone is the ice cream chef there and we have been loyal customers since he opened in 1997. I asked him one day if he could show my children how he makes the ice cream - the kids had a great time and my youngest wants to be an ice cream taster when he grows up! Simone welcomes children to explore with him the mysteries of ice cream making in his store in Castellina. Bookings are required.

http://www.anticadelizia.it

Cooking classes in Chianti
We have known Simmonetta since we arrived in Tuscany and I think her Tosca Mia cooking school is the best place in the Chianti for a family cooking course. There are low tables for the children to prepare food so they can learn how to make pasta and it is great watching the kids eat their own food at the end of the day – smiles all round!

http://www.welcometuscany.com/en/courses/chianti/family.php

Outdoor fun and frolics

Thermal pools in Saturnia
We visited the Spa and Golf resort in Saturnia where my children swam in the hot thermal pools while my wife I and enjoyed a massage, hot baths, rub downs and mud packs in the Spa. If you can get hold of a babysitter for a couple of hours, this is a great way to entertain the children while taking some time off. As an alternative, the nearby hot springs and waterfall are free to enjoy as a whole family and there is a small beach where you can have a pic-nic. The waters and mineral-filled mud of Saturnia are said to have healing properties, so people scoop and smear the mud all over their body. The hot springs get busy in the peak summer months, but they make a nice alternative to regular outdoor pools or water-parks.

Spa: http://www.termedisaturnia.it/en/
Hot springs: http://www.to-tuscany.com/local-tuscany/tuscany-for-children/hot-mud-baths-saturnia/

Walking in Tuscany and Umbria
Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria’ is a great walking guide, with walks varying in lengths that are suitable for most family groups – that is if you take enough time, food and water of course. Our children love to explore the forest and while the girls are looking for signs of wildlife and collecting precious stones, my son Leonardo heads the party with a large stick fighting off imaginary monsters. The guide always mentions restaurants along the way and it was in these restaurants that my kids became experts in twirling pasta on their forks.
http://www.walkingandeating.com

Playgrounds in Tuscany
In almost every town and village in Tuscany there is a children’s play area right in the middle with climbing frames swings and slides. They are normally shaded areas and most are equipped with all-important drinking fountains. I’ve found countless times they are a great place to use up that access energy, for the kids of course...

Super duper sights

The Leaning Tower of Pisa
My children stood in amazement as they imagined the tower to come crashing down any moment. We took some great pictures here with the girls posing for the must do photo holding up the tower and Leonardo doing the exact opposite of pushing the tower down! The lean is becoming more pronounced and therefore climbing up the tower was stopped for a while but now the tower has been reopened.

http://www.torredipisa.com

Pinocchio Park in Collodi
My children went here with their schools and they loved the trip. Pinocchio Park is made up of a beautiful garden containing bronze statues depicting the famous story of Pinocchio and an amusement park filled with games and rides from the ‘40s. At certain times in the summer children can take part in puppet-making workshops and watch puppet shows as well. Although these are all in Italian, it makes for a great opportunity for the little ones to pick up some words of Italian and mix with local children.

http://www.pinocchio.it

Prehistoric Park in Peccioli
The Prehistoric Park was another successful school trip after which the children came back with smiles on their faces. Its owners found fossils on their land so they created this park with lifelike models of over 18 different dinosaurs, a volcano and cavemen. One of their dinosaurs is the largest reconstructed in Europe, which I would imagine will get some imaginations running wild! There is also a picnic area with play area and a small café.

http://www.parcopreistorico.it

Art attack!

The Leonardo di Vinci museum in Vinci
The children loved this - a glimpse into the amazing discoveries and art works by Leonardo di Vinci. The museum houses one of the largest collections of his machines and models, which include anything from guns and war machines to clocks and bicycles. A great one for any budding engineers or scientists!

http://www.museoleonardiano.it

Ceramics painting in Radda
In an art studio in Radda, Chianti lives a kind and gentle ceramics artist, called Lies. Originally from the Netherlands, she speaks Dutch, English, German and Italian and has some beautiful creative designs and irresistible ceramics on display. It was there in her studio that my three children donned some painting aprons and learned about art, ceramics and colours. At the end of it all, they had their own ceramics to take home. Lies also teaches drawing, painting and clay modeling classes to all levels and ages. She doesn’t have a website, but you can get in touch via email or phone.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text7412 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Studio: (+39)577 739006
Mobile: (+39)335 1741573

FAMILY EASTER COTTAGE BREAKS IN WEST COUNTRY FROM HELPFUL HOLIDAYS
From £439 per week for four plus pet

West Country cottage specialists Helpful Holidays have a good choice of places to stay for families seeking an Easter break. Sleeping four and five are (high res pix on request):

The Thatched Cottage for five, West Cornwall £545pw for Easter from Sat 3 and 10 April
A very pretty 18th century thatched and detached cottage for five around two miles from the sea at St Hilary, in far West Cornwall is available for the Easter weeks from Saturday, 3 and 10 April priced a £545. Inside the cosy cottage has ancient oak beams and an inglenook fireplace. A track runs alongside linking to a number of foot paths and cycleways while St Michael’s Mount is around two miles. For details call Helpful Holidays on 01647 434063 or look and book online at http://www.helpfulholidays.com/ searching for ref Z101. Pets welcome.

Blackbird Barn - Contemporary Devon Slate Barn £649 for Easter week from Friday 2 April
Take the family away for an Easter break at Blackbird Barn, near Woodleigh in Devon’s South Hams; this stylishly restored holiday home sleeps four and is priced at £649 for the week from Friday, 2 April. Within easy reach of the coast at Salcombe and South Devon’s family attractions, the slate barn is surrounded by farmland on all sides. It has a bright, open plan living area/kitchen with oak floor and exposed roof timbers and two bedrooms below. For details call Helpful Holidays on 01647 434063 or look and book online at http://www.helpfulholidays.com/ searching for ref L53.

Myrtle Cottage – Beside the river at Flushing, South Cornwall £439 for Easter weeks from Saturday 3 and 10 April
For families seeking an Easter break by the coast, Helpful Holidays have a neat, late Georgian cottage sleeping four at Flushing in South Cornwall available for the Easter weeks priced at £439 from Saturday, 3 and 10 April. Guests can take the regular ferry across the river estuary to Falmouth and visit the National Maritime Museum, shops, galleries, cafés and eateries, which serve an abundance of fresh fish and sea food. For details call Helpful Holidays on 01647 434063 or look and book on http://www.helpfulholidays.com/ searching for ref S21. Pets welcome.

EDINBURGH’S CAMERA OBSCURA SEEKS OUT SCIENCE SLEUTHS FOR SECRET EASTER MISSION

Children visiting Scotland’s oldest purpose-built visitor attraction will be offered the chance to become super science sleuths this Easter. Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is planning a Secret Science Mission as well as introducing unique and surprising new exhibits for the Easter holiday.

As one of the official venues of this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival (3-17 April), the Camera Obscura’s Secret Science Mission will run every day throughout the Festival. Both educational and fun, the mission is a hands-on challenge inviting budding junior sleuths to investigate and explore the historic and quirky venue for themselves, making some outstanding discoveries along the way.

Spread over three floors, the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions leaves both children and adults amazed by its endless optical illusions, tricks and puzzles with which they can interact. From finding out how to freeze your own shadow to spying on the city through powerful telescopes, the attraction boasts a multitude of exhibits as well as the much-loved Camera Obscura itself.

The Secret Science Mission is just one of many exciting activities happening at the visitor attraction which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. As part of the anniversary celebrations, visitors will be further enthralled when they discover the special Easter surprise – an exhibit that is currently lurking in the attraction’s basement and which will be revealed in the week before Easter.

Andrew Johnson, director of the Camera Obscura commented, ‘This year we are celebrating 175 years of seeing things differently. Our visitors love the Camera Obscura for its ability to surprise and delight, plus the fact it allows them to make their own fun. Our Secret Science Mission invites children to look at things from a fresh perspective and guarantees a fun-filled day for all the family.’

Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from 3-17 April
Camera Obscura and World of Illuisons is open every day
Secret Science Mission runs all day 9:30am - 6pm
Visits last approximately 90 minutes
For more information on the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, visit:
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Robert Ingpen

Synopsis: This beautiful new edition brings together Carroll’s complete and unabridged classic story with more than seventy remarkable illustrations by award-winning artist Robert Ingpen. New readers and devoted fans alike will enjoy exploring Carroll’s Wonderland in this sumptuous volume.

Hot Brands Verdict
Words cannot really do justice to the quality of the illustrations in this book, each individual illustration is like a mini piece of art. The detail is superb, exquisitely illustrated, this is a very special book designed to stay in families to treasure forever. We all loved this here at Hot Brands ! Highly Recommended !

Buy Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from Amazon.co.uk

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