When visiting Italy YOU MUST VISIT VENICE! There is no other place in the world like it. Our family loves the water and boats so Venice is perfect for us. The only negative about Venice is that everyone who visits Italy visits Venice so it is VERY crowded! The first time Andy and I went to Venice was in March of 2017 and it was 65 and sunny and it was in the off season so the crowds weren’t too bad. When Andy, Stacey, Craig and Devon and I went in August it was so hot and crowded! It still was an amazing trip but it’s much better in the off season.

 

We stayed in a great hotel filled with Murano glass chandeliers. These chandeliers are so intricate. The hotel offered a private taxi boat to Murano to tour a glass factory. We signed up because our vaporetto (public boat taxi) ride the day before was long, hot and crowded. The private boat taxis are the way to go as they are not that much more expensive and totally worth it! The tour of the glass factory was familiar because we all have toured Corning Glass in Corning, NY. The tour ended in the showroom where they tried to sell us expensive Murano glass chandeliers and such. We bought a few bracelets and Christmas ornaments so I’m sure they were disappointed with our sales. 🙂

 

When in Venice you must also take a gondola ride. It’s the only way to truly experience Venice. Venice is literally crumbling. The streets are narrow, crowded and dark.  I can’t imagine how people got around before Google Maps. The water is the best way to travel.

 

Craig and I had the best black cherry gelato and we decided it was the best gelato of the trip. Craig, Devon and I found the BEST candy store, Captain Candy. We ate good meals and had a great time even though it was hot and crowded 🙂