Veneto is the northeastern Italian region that leads with the most magical city a child can visit. Venice has no cars, only canals, which means getting around is by boat, and a vaporetto down the Grand Canal or a gondola through the back canals feels less like sightseeing than a ride. The masks, bridges, and pigeon-filled St. Mark's Square keep young attention, and the city is small enough to do in well-timed bursts with gelato between. Nearby Verona adds a remarkably intact Roman arena and the balcony of Romeo and Juliet, history with a story attached.

The region's secret weapon for families, though, is Lake Garda. Italy's largest lake offers beaches, swimming, and watersports, and on its shore sits Gardaland, the country's biggest theme park, along with a water park and a SEA LIFE aquarium, easily a couple of days of pure fun. To the north, the Veneto Dolomites around Cortina add summer hiking and winter skiing for families wanting mountains. Italian food does the rest, and few children object to a region built on pizza, pasta, and gelato. The accommodation ranges from lakeside resorts with pools and kids' clubs to countryside villas and city apartments handy for Venice. Veneto is the Italian all-rounder, a once-in-a-childhood city, a great lake with a theme park, and mountains on the horizon, all in one easy region.