kids in Rome? | what to do

Taking kids to Rome? It's a fabulous city with millennia of history, but keeping younger visitors occupied can be a challenge. Here are some ideas that my Brownell colleague Ron Phillips has shared, a true Italy expert

• An underground tour of the Colosseo
• Heading to one of the catacombs (5 to choose from)
• Riding bikes, skating, etc in Villa Borghese Gardens
• Seeing the Cappuchin Crypt (bone church) near Piazza Barberini
• Biking on the Appian Way
• Gelato, Gelato, Gelato (I prefer Gelateria dei Gracchi or Milenium - both in the Prati area... but there are SO many options...)
• Granite at Tazza D'Oro (might be a better pick-me-up for the grandparents!)
• A good guide CAN make the Vatican come alive for teens, but I'd keep it a short tour.
• Head to Janiculum Hill for the noon cannon fire...
• Ostia Antica is an easy train ride, and beats the all-day ride down and back to Pompeii - Encourage them to take a lunch and eat at the top of the amphitheater overlooking the grounds
• Send them to a non-touristy market like Mercato Trionfale near the Vatican. They might be the only Americans at the market. Lots of unique foods. Best days to go are Tues/Friday for fish day - always fun.. and the busiest day is Saturday (open till 2 PM) I also love to visit the market in Testaccio.
• Not sure if the grandparents can hang... but climbing the 312 steps to the top of St. Peters. Great views (ride the elevator halfway up, but you still have to climb those 312 stairs!)
• Shopping on streets like via Giubbonari, Via Margutta, Cola di Rienzo (rather than Condotti or the Corso)
• For the grandson, hit the "official" Ferrari shop near the Spanish Steps on Via Tomacelli. You can buy parts of an actual F1 Ferrari for as little as 10,000 EURO!
• If you can get Scavi tickets for the underground tour of St. Peter's (through the Vatican), it's an interesting 90 minute tour.
• Hit the Lazio and Roma futbol stores... or if they're brave.. go see a match in the Stadio Olympico (just make sure to sit on the Roma or Lazio Side... and not the visitors section!)
• Trastevere is a great part of town for teens. Because there are many college students in the area, it has a younger vibe. Plenty of small shops and restaurants.. and a few markets. Check out Polvere di Tempo - a store that looks like it could be in a Harry Potter movie!