10 days in April - love some recomandations

traveller

Member
Hi , we arriving to Tuscany on beginning of April for 10 days and we will departure from Rome. we are coming with are 2 teenager's girls (13 and 17 years old)

We love combine nature and outdoor activities in our family vacations
I will love some recommendations help me plan our stay - nature, places, activities, and where is good locations to book accommodation.
I am only in the beginning ,
we will stay 3 days near Siena.
I read about the ski area Abetone. although we do not ski or do snowboard I wanted to ask if there is other snow activities like slide with dogs or horse riding in the snow or other recommendations in that area.
not far from there I thought going to San Gimignano area, I read about Rafting in Lima river , but still have to check it is a mild rafting and not for professionals. I would like to know more about the nature we can see and places to visit
On the way to Rome I though visiting the Tarot garden and Cascate del Mulino in Saturnia.
 
Ciao traveller and welcome to our forum!

If you and your family love the outdoors and already looking at the Abetone area, take a look at some of the suggestions I've just given on another post here: https://ask.discovertuscany.com/thr...pistoia-mountains-the-last-week-in-june.8106/ since I offered some suggestions for the Pistoia and Abetone area.

Hate to break it to you, but by the start of April, the snow at Abetone might be mostly all gone. You can see that now there is some snow on the slopes, not sure all of it is natural - here's the webcam so you can see the various points: https://www.abetone.com/webcam.asp
That same site has info on activities and it seems to be mostly all concentrated on skiing, nothing with sleds or with horses.
There is walking on the snow, here's some info - https://www.abetone.com/en/snowshoe-abetone.asp

Most definitely the Lima River is great for rafting, what I have seen of tours up there all suggest that it is open to all levels, I just checked and this one offers rafting for 8 years old and up so I think it would not be great rapids - https://www.rockonda.it/adventure-rafting/
The one I keep hearing about is Canyon Park, which offers lots of other types of experiences beyond the rafting, take a look they have loads of info:
Just to be clear, the Lima river is nowhere near San Gimignano.

Tuscany has lots to offer for anyone who loves the outdoors so you will have plenty to choose from. From Rome I assume you will first spend 3 days near Siena and then are planning a whole week somewhere else? As I was recommending on the other thread, the entire area between the Apuan Alps (from Aulla in northwestern Tuscany) down to Lucca and then east to the Abetone and even as far east as the Casentino offers lots to do for hiking and spending time outdoors.

If you're driving along the coast on the way back to Rome, I'd suggest planning to spend at least one night in the area if it's possible. That gives you more time to stop at the Tarot garden AND plan some time at the outdoor hot springs at Saturnia and consider if you want to also spend some time at the beach?? There are some nice beaches near Talamone.
 
Ciao traveller and welcome to our forum!

If you and your family love the outdoors and already looking at the Abetone area, take a look at some of the suggestions I've just given on another post here: https://ask.discovertuscany.com/thr...pistoia-mountains-the-last-week-in-june.8106/ since I offered some suggestions for the Pistoia and Abetone area.

Hate to break it to you, but by the start of April, the snow at Abetone might be mostly all gone. You can see that now there is some snow on the slopes, not sure all of it is natural - here's the webcam so you can see the various points: https://www.abetone.com/webcam.asp
That same site has info on activities and it seems to be mostly all concentrated on skiing, nothing with sleds or with horses.
There is walking on the snow, here's some info - https://www.abetone.com/en/snowshoe-abetone.asp

Most definitely the Lima River is great for rafting, what I have seen of tours up there all suggest that it is open to all levels, I just checked and this one offers rafting for 8 years old and up so I think it would not be great rapids - https://www.rockonda.it/adventure-rafting/
The one I keep hearing about is Canyon Park, which offers lots of other types of experiences beyond the rafting, take a look they have loads of info:
Just to be clear, the Lima river is nowhere near San Gimignano.

Tuscany has lots to offer for anyone who loves the outdoors so you will have plenty to choose from. From Rome I assume you will first spend 3 days near Siena and then are planning a whole week somewhere else? As I was recommending on the other thread, the entire area between the Apuan Alps (from Aulla in northwestern Tuscany) down to Lucca and then east to the Abetone and even as far east as the Casentino offers lots to do for hiking and spending time outdoors.

If you're driving along the coast on the way back to Rome, I'd suggest planning to spend at least one night in the area if it's possible. That gives you more time to stop at the Tarot garden AND plan some time at the outdoor hot springs at Saturnia and consider if you want to also spend some time at the beach?? There are some nice beaches near Talamone.
Thank you very much especially with Abetone and the Snow condition. About Canyon Park - I read about it too, but because I fear of heights the zip line is less appealing to me. I did try to gather some information about the public park if there are public access and hiking trails.., but didn't succeed.I start to look for places to stay for 1 night near Bagni di Lucca and 1 night near Saturnia, love some recommendations if you have. have a great day
 
Keep in mind that I was suggesting Canyon Park for their rafting, not for the zip line. They do lots of activities connected to the river, including yoga.

As for the park, you mean around Abetone? The CAI in Pistoia offers a map with trails here: https://www.caipistoia.org/mappa-sentieri/

As far as places to stay near Bagni di Lucca and Saturnia, take a look at these:
 
Hi, on our way from Bangi di lucca Tuscany to Rome I would like us to stop in Terme San Filippo. If you have some recommendations for sights on the way I would love to know. I prefer to have more in plan so we can choose spontaneously in real time. I also saw there is a horse riding tour in Buonconvento, if it is relevant i will check it, but It seems that we will not be able to do those two things on the same day. What do you think, how much time will we spend in the Terme and surroundings? is Croce del Monte Amiata lookout point worthwhile ( Abbadia San Salvatore, Province of Siena, ) ? Do you have any other suggestions ? and where do you think is a good place to check for accomodation to sleep over? The next morning we are heading to Rome. Thanks for your support
 
I would suggest you head south from Bagni di Lucca and take the roads south of Pisa, the views and drive are worthwhile. Maybe try to plan a stop in San Gimiginano, if you've never been. If you have, then you can skip but make your way toward Siena. Then follow the SS2 road south that has you pass through Buonconvento... but if you want to get to the terme that same day, definitely keep going south. I would suggest staying in either San Quirico d'Orcia or closer to the San Filippo terme, there are lots of farmhouse apartments in the area that have B&B lodgings allowing you to sleep over for just the night, otherwise look for those marked as hotels. You want to get to the terme with sunlight as you have to enjoy the time outdoors, you have a short walk/hike to get to the various pools.

Plan accordingly - either head straight to terme and do check-in later (agree with a late check-in, if need be) or first stop at your hotel and then go to the terme. I don't think anything else is along the way that you can do that day, you can do either the fortress at Radicofani the next morning as you head toward Rome or stop at the Abbadia San Salvatore, I've never been to the abbey but have seen photos which show it is pretty. The Croce di Monte Amiata is also very pretty, with a good view over the area, and you can pretty much reach it by car without too much hiking so it is also a worthwhile stop. Just keep in mind that the roads are country rounds and that you drive slow on them, so maybe in the morning you can head the croce first and then see if you have time to make other stops as you head down and south on your way to Rome.
 
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