Last month we took a five day trip to Italy. It was our most ambitious travel plan yet since we were bringing along our kids and we wanted to visit three cities: Pisa, Florence, and Venice. It was a wonderful trip and we were able to see a lot of things. It started to get really cold by the end of the trip (see here!) so I wish we could do Venice over with a little bit warmer weather but other than that it was totally doable. First, we flew into Pisa and made a quick stop to see the tower before jumping on a train to Florence.
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I fell in love with Florence. It is such a beautiful city and so inspiring. I would love to spend more time there. We rented an apartment through AirBnb, which was a really good experience. After a few days we took a train to Venice where we stayed at the La Piscina hotel (loved it!) Venice is so pretty it felt like we were at Disneyland. Every square inch of that place is so charming that it almost felt fake. I can’t wait to visit when it is warmer.
all photos by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day
Caddy
February 17, 2012
Your photos make me miss all these cities. I would have loved to explore more of Florence and Venice, I was only there for a couple of days. Didn’t you just love wondering around Venice? It’s such a unique city.
Maria
February 17, 2012
Hi Jordan.
I have already been in Venice and i love it.
THERES NO CARS!!!!!!
Kiss
Gudny Bra
February 17, 2012
Looks like a wonderful trip, makes me wanna go travel (even with my kids) 🙂
Anne Kristine
February 17, 2012
haha all the “traveling with kids” tags really made me laugh! Cool photos, looks like a nice trip!
sherri
February 17, 2012
You seriously take the most fantastic pictures of the most amazing things…even picture of you traveling are great! I love your blog! How do you do it?
rightperfumes
February 17, 2012
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colleen @ hello olive
February 17, 2012
I love Florence and Venice is on my ‘must visit’ list. You make travelling with kids seem very easy 🙂
The New Diplomats Wife
February 17, 2012
so glad you guys had a good time! definitely go back when it’s warmer but be prepared for more crowds! have an excellent time in spain!
Abbi
February 17, 2012
I am yet to travel abroad with our kids. I can only imagine the tantrums that would take place at dinner at an Italian restaurant. They would never last the three hour affair. Did you take your kids to evening dinners out? Was it difficult to get around Venice with the stroller and all of the bridges?
Nikki
February 17, 2012
Your trip looks very exciting. I love that you are not afraid to travel with your kids. We tote ours all over the place, but we have friends that find sitters for their little one when they go to Disneyland. Sad, huh?
Molly
February 17, 2012
I LOVED Florence. Venice was great, too, but Florence seemed extra special to me. Love your pictures! It takes me back!
Erika Peterson
February 17, 2012
This looks like an amazing trip! I miss Italy; I studied abroad there years ago and am itching to go back soon! I like that you managed to get a photo of David – I got the stink eye when I took mine 🙂
P.S. Your kiddos are so lucky to have this incredible experience in Europe!
Sarah
February 17, 2012
Oh Florence – I did my study abroad there almost 15 years ago. Your photos take me back… Somehow I lucked into a really amazing apartment, the photo you posted of the Ponte Vecchio actually has my living room windows in the background!
You are so amazing to be taking your kids on this adventure. Have a wonderful time in Spain!
Katie
February 17, 2012
Love it! These pictures are so inspiring. They make me happy. 🙂
Sarah @http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/
February 17, 2012
These photos all look amazing. I heard it was cold there. I even heard that the water was frozen over at one point. Crazy!
-Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
Julie
February 17, 2012
So funny – I always describe Venice as Disneyland for grown-up people! Such a magical spot. Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!
Aparna B. @ Not A Leaf
February 17, 2012
I was in Venice for part of my honeymoon! I loved it, but it did feel like an amusement park. It clears out at 10 p.m., it’s overly crowded, but has a lot of charm and helps create some memories 🙂 I wish we had gone to Florence. My parents rave about it! Gorgeous photos 🙂
Aya
February 17, 2012
I love the photo of you and the boys in the cafe!
Jo Payne
February 17, 2012
Oh wow, it looks amazing! I’ve never been to these cities but possibly going this summer. Thanks for sharing. Looks like you had a lovely time! 🙂
Danielle
February 17, 2012
Beautiful pics! I went to Rome and Venice for the 1st time last summer (too hot!) and can’t wait to go back, preferably in the spring or fall. I love the pic of your youngest son with his bottle – so sweet! 🙂
Liz @ Bella Vita
February 17, 2012
Beautiful family and photos! They brought back memories from my trip to Europe last year (a 3-month solo backpacking trip). Thanks for sharing them with us.
chandra ~ oh lovely day
February 17, 2012
I really admire your ambition to travel with not 1, but 2 kids, to Italy, for 5 days! I want to be more like you. I want to keep being the travel lover I was before I had a baby. I want to take my son back to Italy where my husband and I honeymooned. We fell in love with Florence too, and even though I know Charlie won’t appreciate it I really want to share it with him. But it seems so overwhelming to even think about traveling that far with him. Maybe after he’s 2 before we have a second child. But you’re my inspiration! and your kiddos are adorable!
Emily
February 17, 2012
So beautiful, Venice and Florence are easily two of the most amazing places I think I will ever have the opportunity to visit! I’d give so much to go back.
Paula
February 17, 2012
Florence is my favorite.
Sarah Rose
February 17, 2012
My husband and I honeymooned in Florence in March 2011. We spent an entire week in the city and left never regretting that decision. How I long to go back!
Kelly
February 17, 2012
Lovely photos. I’m planning a trip this spring/fall and this is getting me so excited. Still trying to figure out if we should just stick to venice and rome. A friend just recommended airbnb, so after your recommendation, I will also check it out. Thank you!
Megan
February 17, 2012
I love every photo you’ve posted, but undoubtedly the best was “Traveling With Kids.” It made me laugh out loud! I have two girls about your boys’ age and coaxing little bottoms into strollers while hauling carry-ons is a delightful part of seeing the world. I finally discovered that my carry-on works wonderfully when the handle’s slipped over the handle of the stroller. Only took me three years to get that one right!
Rose
February 17, 2012
Such a lovely trip and so ambitious! My husband and I will be travelling to Paris in May–with no kids (!)–and we are booking through airbnb, too. Such great deals on such awesome places!
Summer
February 17, 2012
You and Paul are a great looking couple, but those boys steal the show! I love all the pics – esp the one of them playing on the phone at the museum. Hilarious! Glad yall had fun!
Miriam Mandel
February 17, 2012
I liked Florence but loved Bologna – hardly any tourists and everyone centered around the centre square in the evenings to mingle, it was so lovely. And the food…..the best I’ve eaten anywhere in the world!
Tan
February 17, 2012
Oh this makes me so happy! I went to Italy 10 years ago (can’t believe it’s been that long!) and think of it often. I absolutely ADORE Venice!
Emily Lynne {the best of this life}
February 17, 2012
I long for Italy!! Florence is my favorite city and I want to bring my husband and son there very badly. I’ve been looking into planning a month long vacation and renting an apartment.
Your pictures are a renewed inspiration 🙂
Orchid
February 18, 2012
I’ve always wanted to travel to Italy! Seeing your wonderful photos makes me want to go even more!
17 Perth
February 18, 2012
Aaahh–beautiful photos. Makes me want to get on a plane to Italy right now. 🙂
bevy
February 18, 2012
i’m so glad you share all your vacation photos. it’s like i’m there too! I especially like the ones where you point out the fun of traveling with kids
Allie S.
February 18, 2012
beautiful pictures. i went to all three of the places you visited and it’s so great to see your pictures and be reminded of what an awesome experience it was. hope you had an amazing time!
[love your kids at the museum ha, so real!]
have a great weekend!
allie
http://aliespence.blogspot.com
Vanessa
February 18, 2012
Wow, looks like such an amazing trip! Your kids are absolutely adorable as well!
Cindy
February 18, 2012
Loved looking at your photos… it brought back so many memories of my past trips that seem so long ago.
taylor
February 18, 2012
these photos are wonderful! I took a trip like this a few years ago as well and it brought back some good memories. italy is so gorgeous!
it’s also so great that your kid’s are getting this experience. how wonderful!
t.
heather {the lovely cupboard}
February 18, 2012
the pic of your kids at the gugg is hilarious!
my parents took us to Italy when i was 7 and my brother was 5. people thought they were crazy to do that. i STILL remember that trip and visiting pisa! way to brave it out with the kiddos. looks like a wonderful memory to look back on.
Kristen
February 18, 2012
I love your family.
Daria
February 19, 2012
I love to see how foreign visitors look my Country… Italy in yor photos is quite charming… as in the truth!
Bye
Daria
Neda
February 19, 2012
Your pictures are wonderful! The pics with the kids make me laugh so much, my kids were the same! We did Venice with them last year when they were 2 and 6. The little one fell asleep in the Accademia, which was a BLESSING, because we didn’t bring anything to entertain him (we know better now). We kept the older one interested by asking him to identify all the saints he could see in the paintings, and he really enjoyed the audio tour of the last room of paintings. We didn’t make it tot he Guggenheim though because then our little one woke up!
Jodie
February 19, 2012
These pictures look beautiful, I really want to visit Italy and this just makes me want to more. Looks like you had a great time x
Alyssa
February 19, 2012
these pictures are beautiful! it brings back so many memories of my engagement! my (now) husband proposed to me on the Rialto Bridge in Venice. Italy is so romantic.
http://www.guitarpicksandbobbypins.com
fathima
February 19, 2012
What awesome photos! Hope i get to visit Italy someday 🙂
Jess
February 19, 2012
Beautiful pictures! I can’t wait to travel there. Best of luck in Spain.
caroline
February 20, 2012
I think I was in Venice the week after you. SO COLD. Same as you, I want to go back because the coldness kind’ve detracted. We were usually hurrying through the streets trying to find a place for a hot chocolate. Beautiful, though.
Carol
February 20, 2012
Thank you for sharing your photos of your trip! My husband & I live in Minnesota and go back to visit my family in Ireland once or twice a year, we’ve wondered since our daughter was born whether we will continue to see much of your Europe together. So its great to see other families doing it. We love to travel and thought having kids might change this a lot!
Sara @ Zahara Dessert
February 20, 2012
It looks like an amazing trip. I miss Italy very much and long to be back soon. Venice has always been my favourite place in Italy. Have fun with the rest of your holidays