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Roman Holiday

Last month we went to Rome for four days. We are still figuring out the best way to travel with young kids and this last trip was pretty near perfect. (The length of time we were gone was about right and we didn’t change hotels.) It was our first time to Italy and we loved it. The food, the people, the architecture and museums! It rained a lot while we were there so we didn’t get in as much strolling as we would have liked but the weather still felt moderate, it reminded me of San Francisco. We were there off-season made it so we never had to wait in any lines which was ideal with kids. And even though it was rainy we still stopped for gelato three times a day!

Click through to see more photos and for our two favorite meals.

 

A Couple Rome Recommendations

1. Il Chianti Restaurant Via del Lavatore 81 Rome, Italy | It is right next to Trevi fountain, doesn’t feel touristy and has the best fresh pasta and pizza.
2. Gusto Store + Restaurant Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 9, Rome, Italy | Near the Spanish Steps, this is an amazing home/kitchen store and a fantastic restaurant.

  1. Elham

    January 6, 2012

    Hello! With all the traveling you do (while still looking stylish!), I was wondering if you have a recommendation on comfortable shoes!! We do so much walking while traveling, but I don’t want to have to wear silly looking shoes just to be comfy! Thanks 🙂

      • jordan
      • January 6, 2012

      Hi Elham! I don’t know how “stylish” I am but I tend to dress up a little bit when I travel. For shoes on this trip I brought a pair of ballet flats, a pair of black heeled booties (they are wedges and are very comfortable to walk in), and a pair of saddle shoes. I always bring shoes that I’m used to walking in (nothing new!) Hope this helps!

  2. Karen P.

    January 6, 2012

    You hit all the highlights. I loved Rome. But you must get to Florence.

      • jordan
      • January 6, 2012

      We have tickets booked for later this month!

  3. Adriana

    January 6, 2012

    I’ve never been to Rome but I’d love to go sometime soon!

  4. Britt

    January 6, 2012

    Beautiful and timeless photos! What font did you use on the photo descriptions? Thanks

      • jordan
      • January 6, 2012

      Proxima Nova

  5. Alexa

    January 6, 2012

    The food in Rome is just divine, isn’t it? Italy is one of my favorite places hands down.

  6. Pam

    January 6, 2012

    Thanks for the photos and the recommendations! My husband and I are taking a Rome/Sorrento trip in a couple of months for our 20th anniversary and I so appreciate any first-hand info. I would love any additional recommendations you might have…

  7. Jenn

    January 6, 2012

    I love these! I love that you are traveling with two boys! I have two boys the same age as yours, and in September we are traveling to Poland (where my husband is from), Switzerland, Czech Republic and Germany…I am a bit nervous traveling (mostly with the two year old) but when I see these, I KNOW we can do it and have an amazing time!

    Thanks for the inspiration!

  8. Danielle

    January 6, 2012

    I went to Rome for the first time this past summer (too hot and too crowded) and can’t wait to go back – preferably in the spring or fall. Altho after seeing your pics, winter doesn’t sound like a bad time to visit either! Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pics!

    One question, tho – how did you get a pic of the Sistine Chapel? When we were there in June, there were No Photography signs all over the place and we even saw one man forcibly removed from the chapel after taking a pic!

      • jordan
      • January 6, 2012

      Ha! Paul had the camera so he must have taken a stealthy picture. I’ll have to ask him about it.

  9. chiara

    January 6, 2012

    what beautiful photos!

  10. katy

    January 6, 2012

    What?!? Are they allowing photos in the Sistine Chapel now? They were soo strict about NO photography when I was there 1.5 years ago. My fingers were itching to take a picture. I was amazed by all the graffiti in Rome. And the energy. I really enjoyed both times I went but for me Rome is a 3-4 day trip max. It is intense.

  11. Aparna B. @ Not A Leaf

    January 6, 2012

    Eeps! Thanks for sharing! My husband and I went to Rome as the last leg of our honeymoon this past October. We had a wonderful time. We ate at a restaurant near the Trevi as well, but I don’t think it was that one. I loved your pictures!! So beautiful 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  12. I’ve been to every single one of these places and miss them oh so dearly now with all your images!!!! I want to go back. I can’t wait to bring my kids on trips with me.

    – Sarah
    http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

  13. dani leigh

    January 6, 2012

    i have almost that exact same picture of the floor tiles in the Vatican from my trip to Rome last summer. Looks like you had an amazing time!

  14. stephanie

    January 6, 2012

    Love! My husband and I visited Rome in our early twenties. I got yelled at in Vatican City for picture taking…”no flash!” good memories:)

  15. Amy @ Lovely Nest

    January 6, 2012

    My husband and I took a Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago and stayed an extra day in Rome. It’s probably my favorite city I’ve been to. It was just such a lovely place filled with amazing sights. My favorite memory was sitting, eating lunch in the Piazza Navona, enjoying the sights and sounds (and delicious food!). Thanks for taking me back! It makes me want to go back through my photos now!

  16. Cara Crowley

    January 6, 2012

    I love this! What a fantastic trip. I’ve been to Italy a couple of times and the only “rule” I have is that I have to stop every two hours for a gelato break.

  17. Meg @ made interesting

    January 6, 2012

    Beautiful photos and just the mention of gelato makes my mouth water!

  18. Hanna

    January 6, 2012

    How I long to go to Rome someday. It’s not even that far away from where I live! Well, until then, I’ll just watch the beautiful movie.

  19. Olga

    January 6, 2012

    I lived in Denmark for 3 years, and we had two small children ages 4 and 1 (she was born in Denmark). Anyways, we traveled everywhere. What we did was bring strollers, either one for each kid or a double one. (we used a phil and ted’s not our favorite but it was great for narrow spaces and buses) We also got apartments or villa’s. That is great for long trips because they often have washing machines so you can wash clothes. We loved Rome and were able to go twice. What a great adventure you are having!

  20. Libby

    January 6, 2012

    Yay! So happy you went to Giolitti… it’s delicious! I’m still dreaming about the pistachio…
    Your pictures are great, and I love the captions… sometimes it is hard to remember what was what!

  21. Mrs. W

    January 6, 2012

    Looks like a wonderful trip and what beautiful pictures. Now that this trip was successful I can’t wait to see where your next trip will be!?!

  22. Amanda

    January 6, 2012

    Incredible!

  23. Jennie Prince

    January 6, 2012

    Hi Jordan! I noticed in the comments above that you have a trip to Florence planned. I can’t tell you enough how much I love Florence. I’m not sure what your accommodations are but I thought I would pass along a B&B we stayed at both times visiting the city. It’s called La Martellina and it’s situated about 10 minutes outside the city…one quick bus ride and you are at the city center. It’s situated in the countryside along the Arno River. I absolutely loved staying there (away from a city for a bit) and try to tell anyone visiting to check it out. Just thought I’d pass it along to you. Have fun! http://www.martellina-bb-florence.it/

  24. Katrina

    January 6, 2012

    For your Florence trip: go to Vestri for gelato. It’s the local spot and I promise you that it is the best gelato in the city. Chocolate hazelnut.

  25. Marie

    January 6, 2012

    What amazing photos…I’m feeling the travel bug!!! 🙂

    http://www.happypaperplace.com/

  26. debbie

    January 6, 2012

    ahh I dream of going to Italy. Someday…

  27. the emily

    January 6, 2012

    My dream, all my life, has been to go to Rome. My parents went when I was 5 or so and then my mom went again when I was 16 with her sister-in-law. Her pictures, her souvenirs, all if it was just so dreamy that I’ve been dreaming of it forever. This year I had the opportunity to go to Paris, my first international trip, and I thought, “Eh. Rome Shmome.” Paris was so fantastic. And there you go, making me feel like I have to get back to Rome! It’s gorgeous! Thank you thank you for sharing.

  28. Franca Bollo

    January 6, 2012

    Lovely. Rome, hands down, is my favorite European city. And the fact that my heritage is Italian has in no way influenced my opinion.

  29. Will @ Bright.Bazaar

    January 6, 2012

    Yay! You managed to edit them down in then end! Lovely snaps – the one at the fountain is so sweet. Have a lovely mini break this weekend!

  30. kate

    January 6, 2012

    Oh Roma! Love the photos but Villa Borghese made me sigh! My husband proposed to me in front of the water clock. Memories!

  31. Jordan G @ The Happy Homebodies

    January 6, 2012

    That’s too funny! We snuck a picture of the Sistine Chapel too, while we were there over Thanksgiving. There was one guard trying to police a whole chapel of people. I don’t see what the problem is, really. As long as you don’t use a flash, you aren’t hurting the artwork.

    We did the Rome-Florence-Venice trip, and Florence/Tuscany was our favorite. Our tour through Tuscany was the highlight of the week! The food in Florence was amazing… but maybe we just didn’t pick the best places in Rome.

  32. Di

    January 6, 2012

    Oh! I haven’t been to Rome for ages – thank you for the lovely reminder of all the great places. Good news is my friends are moving from Marche region to 20 miles north of Rome so perhaps I can go and visit them and see Rome again too.

    I remember loving the Hall of Maps in the Vatican Museum! Amazing.

  33. Judy G

    January 6, 2012

    Wow, Rome is one of my favorite places in the world. Looking at your pictures
    brings back memories of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Thanks so
    much.

  34. JoAnna

    January 6, 2012

    Ohh how wonderful! The photo of your oldest son reacting to whatever he was looking at is so great!

  35. ainsley

    January 6, 2012

    loveloveloved everything about this post! i can’t wait to visit Rome one day!

  36. melynda

    January 6, 2012

    love the black dress! how exciting to travel with your little family

    m x

  37. Supal {chevrons and eclairs}

    January 6, 2012

    Your little ones are seriously the cutest! I will HAVE TO go to Rome when I move to Europe in the fall 🙂

  38. Stephanie

    January 6, 2012

    Throwing in my two cents for Florence =) Besides Vestri, I’d also recommend Perché No?, near Piazza Signoria (it’s on a small cross-street off of via dei Calzaiuoli). Give Florence my love, I moved away last month and I miss it terribly. Your pictures in Rome are gorgeous, and you have the cutest little guys =)

  39. Katherine

    January 6, 2012

    Love the shots! We’re heading back to Rome this summer but with kids in tow. Glad yours had a good time, we are hoping for the same results with ours!

  40. Jen

    January 6, 2012

    Where did you get your saddle shoes? I love them! (I also love your blog, just started reading it about a month ago – I found you through Pinterest.)

  41. Magdalena

    January 6, 2012

    Love ur pictures. I was in Rome for a week stop over on a way to Malta. (Few months before our daughter was born who is 2.5 now). Loved it all we also did one day in florence we left at 6 am nd got back very late but it was worth it 🙂 only 2 things I would change would be that I would stop over after being in europe for few days as jet lag was terrible for us ( from canada) and I would stay in the heart of the city rather than on the outskirts and train service at night stopped at 10pm.

  42. rebeccaNYC

    January 6, 2012

    Oh, I loved Rome. And as I live in a big city, I do not usually love visiting big cities on vacation (sorry, Paris…) but ROME! there is something about it…and even though we were there in the summer, the Romans were so friendly and extremely helpful, which amazed me and made me rethink how I might be interacting with tourists here at home…thank you for taking me back!

  43. Michelle

    January 6, 2012

    My husband, our three-year-old daughter, and I will be visiting Paris (from Canada) in two weeks. We’re hoping to hop on the train to go to Germany and, hopefully, Rome. Did you fly or take the train? If the latter, just wondering how you/your boys found the 10+ hour night train. Thanks!

      • jordan
      • January 7, 2012

      We flew!

  44. Brittany

    January 7, 2012

    Jordan, amazing shots as always! You look beautiful! How do you collage your shots? Do you do it in photoshop? Thanks:)

      • jordan
      • January 7, 2012

      Yes! Photoshop!

  45. Deepa

    January 7, 2012

    Oh, you got to go to Villa Borghese! That place is so fun for kids. Looks like you had a wonderful time!

  46. AV

    January 7, 2012

    I discovered your website on New Year’s day, and it’s been my favorite thing of 2012 thus far. I’ve spent hours reading your posts and party ideas. I love the pictures from Rome, can you share what camera was used to capture them?

      • jordan
      • January 7, 2012

      We have a Canon 5D Mark 2. But any slr with a good lens takes nice pictures. 🙂

  47. Solidea

    January 7, 2012

    Hey!!! I’m italian (in particular I was born and I live in Rome!!) If I had known sooner I could have advised many places! Next time!! 🙂

  48. Hannah

    January 7, 2012

    I just left Italy after studying there for 6 months. Thanks for the flashback! Rome is one of my favorite cities there, it definitely grew on me. Do i see a stolen photo of the Sistine Chapel here? Nice, I’ve got one too!

  49. Katie Truelove

    January 7, 2012

    I love that picture of Moses looking up at something in awe:)!

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