Brook Bramley

One of my happiest travel memories is taking an amazing family trip to Italy one summer. We started in Rome and saw the Colosseum, which was fascinating, especially for my college-age kids who are history buffs. We took an exclusive tour where we visited the underground chambers of the Colosseum, and then climbed to the very top which is behind lock and key and not accessible on most tours. We also took a wonderful tour of the Vatican, and then took a long scenic walk back to our hotel. That evening we introduced the kids to black truffle pasta, and I think we have ruined them for life as a result! After Rome we took the train to Florence. We took a great small group tour there which included one other family of three from Australia. One of the best things about travel is not only the places you visit but also the people and fellow travelers you meet along the way. They were lovely and we became friends with them. The tour was led by an art historian and art dealer, and he took us to see the David in the Accademia. His knowledge of the history and stories of that time brought it all to life. Amazing! We also toured the wonderful food market called Mercato Centrale and sampled fresh raviolis with meat sauce and these amazing salt beef sandwiches made by a family who has had a shop there for decades. We capped off this tour with a private wine tasting with Italy’s sommelier of the year in his wine shop which he closed for us during the tasting! Next, we went to Milan and got to see the Last Supper which was awe-inspiring. From Milan we took a trip to Lake Como, and it certainly lived up to the hype. It was breathtaking! We had a memorable lunch at Bellagio, and I cannot wait to go back and spend more time there! Our final stop on the trip was in Venice. Our kids had never seen a city built on canals before and it made a huge impression on them. In Venice, my family surprised me with a Birthday dinner on the rooftop restaurant at Hotel Danieli, overlooking Venice’s Grand Canal, with the Duomo in the backdrop. I will always cherish the most special memories of this birthday! This was an amazing trip with our kids. Experiencing these destinations with them and fostering a love of traveling the world is such a wonderful gift to share with them.