Pedaling & Pizza North of Siena

Is this the trip on which your kid develops an eye for Etruscan figurative art? Or learns the key features of Quattrocento Renaissance architecture? Maybe not. But it doesn't take a genius to know that Tuscany scores top marks for family fun. Enjoy miles of smiles on kid-approved routes. Discover ancient hill towns and climb a medieval tower (fueled by gelato, of course!). Taste truffles - and meet the dog that sniffs them out. Chianti tasting for the adults. Hands-on pizza making for the youngsters. Enjoy your perfect family adventure in Tuscany.

Day 1 Family-friendly routes past cypress trees, vineyards, grazing sheep and stone farmhouses Enjoy a warm-up spin from the 16th-century chapel of San Vivaldo through picturesque countryside and quaint towns.

Day 2 Savor classic local delicacies, including truffles, pasta and gelato It's a quick downhill ride to Corrazzano, with a stop at Tartufi Nacci to learn about truffles While adults sample the goods (think truffle oil, cheese and pasta), kids accompany a truffle-sniffing dog on a hunt! Break for a gourmet picnic at an agriturismo (country retreat and working farm).

Day 3 Discover iconic hill towns brimming with history, including San Gimignano  Pedal  to Volterra, known for its alabaster and wealth of Etruscan and Roman ruins Kids hunt for clues and riddles amongst the towers of  medieval San Gimignano, giving grown-ups the chance to gaze at at the city from our scenic country abode.

Day 4 Adults taste notable regional wines and dine at a trattoria, while youngsters put together a well-rounded meal - pizza and cookies! Bike through rolling pastureland, wheat fields and grape vines to the "crown" on the hill, Monteriggioni, whose medieval ramparts sport 14 stone towers.

Days 5-6 Visit Badia a Coltibuono (or "Abbey of the Good Harvest"), a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey  Wonderful vistas abound during a ride through the heart of Chianti Explore ridgetop Radda, the center of Chianti wine production, before hitting the shops and gelaterie of Castellina, an ancient village with a unique arcaded passageway.