Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BRIBERY: A PARENT'S BEST FRIEND
Maybe you're trying to coax the junior members of the family to accompany you to a museum or
church. Or perhaps you're keen to ensure a low whine factor on car trips. Whatever the situation,
there's nothing wrong with a spot of parental bribery. Consider the following:
Agriturismi
Book into a farm stay and you'll usually be able to ensure a full morning's sightseeing by
promising that the afternoon will be spent by the pool or patting the resident dogs, cats and farm anim-
als.
Gelato
Anywhere, any time. It almost always works.
Pizza
Usually pizzerias only open in the evening. This means that the prospect of a pizza dinner can
sometimes ensure a full day's good behaviour.
Hot Chocolate
A deliciously smooth and sweet version awaits at Caffè Rivoire, conveniently close to
the Uffizi Gallery.
Pinocchio
Tuscany is the birthplace of the cute wooden boy with the long nose, and souvenir stalls
everywhere sell Pinocchio marionettes, wooden figures and other toys that little kids love.
Beaches
Families from North America and Australasia may find Tuscan beaches disappointing,
with little surf, not much sand and hardly any room in summer. Many tracts of beach have
been privatised - you may have to pay for a chair and beach umbrella.
While sunblock is used by some locals, protective beachwear with an Ultraviolet Pro-
tection Factor (UPF) - recommended by skin cancer organisations in Australia and North
America - are not readily available here. Bring your own and expect your kids to attract a
few strange looks when they enter the water wearing them.
For the best beach experiences in the region, head to Elba.
Museums & Churches
Hmm. What's the solution when the adults can't wait to visit churches and museums, but
the kids can't imagine anything worse (and are quick to say so)? Bribery inevitably works,
but there's also the possibility of visiting museums with interactive displays or child-ori-
ented tours. When all else fails in an art gallery or church, we've been known to play
'Spot a realistic-looking Baby Jesus painting'. It's never going to happen (one of the great
mysteries of Renaissance art), but there's nothing like a challenge to keep kids engaged!
