Me and Mom in Tuscany
A special travel experience for moms and kids alike
Canadian Island, based in Florence, has been organizing full English and Italian immersion summer camps in Tuscany for over 18 years and kids love them! A large percentage of the kids return every summer, making wonderful friendships, learning and enjoying themselves in a fun, safe environment. Maria Rocco, co-founder of Canadian Island, says the success of their summer camps had many of the moms asking her for the possibility of participating in a "camp" or retreat of their own while the kids enjoyed themselves. The great majority, in fact, were already staying nearby or in Tuscany while the kids enjoyed themselves at the camp. This is how Maria Rocco says the idea for "Me and Mom in Tuscany" was born.
Similar yet different activities for kids and moms at the "Me+Mom in Tuscany" vacation retreat
As I listen to her explain and list all of the activities planned for this summer, for both the children and moms, I hear the passion she feels about her work. Canadian Island, from the summer camps to the language school and playgroup for kids under 3 in Florence to this new adventure in Maremma are all a part of Maria and she puts all of herself into it. As she outlines the summer's planned itinerary, I picture myself and many other moms out there who will love the idea of coming to Italy and participating in this special holiday travel program: your kid is in a villa next door, enjoying himself while you focus a bit on yourself, relax, recharge and renew your body and spirit. You spend time separately as well time together - what is there not to like about this unique travel experience in Tuscany? Here are more details about Me and Mom in Tuscany so you can see whether it is a good match for you and your loved ones as you plan a future trip to Tuscany.
What "Me and Mom in Tuscany" is all about
The summer camps for kids ages 5 to 14 years organized at the La Capitana farm estate in Maremma have been in full swing for over 10 years now. It is in the middle of the countryside with vineyards nearby with the sea less than 30 minutes away. Perfect for kids to play and run around in while being stimulated with art, music, drama and cooking workshops, language lessons in English (for non-English speaking kids) and Italian for the rest and lots of sports and outdoor activities. There are planned trips to nearby villages and historical sites to take advantage of being in Italy, a center of culture. Lunches and dinners take advantage of local, high quality ingredients to make tasty, nutritious and wholesome Italian meals. The best of Italy all wrapped up in a setting of "play to learn".
While the kids are busy having fun, the moms can also have fun & relax at their "White" villa
The moms (and sisters, daughters or friends who also want to participate) are literally next door, at a pretty fabulous, exclusive villa. You also enjoy cooking lessons, just like the kids, but you also have wine tastings, delicious Italian meals and learn a bit of Italian over breakfasts (Maria calls it breakfast linguini playing with the Italian word "lingua" for language, pure genius!), yoga sessions, and day trips to some of the area's top spots, from the stunning village of Pitigliano to a day of pampering at Saturnia's thermal hot springs. Then you also spend time together with your children: there is a group dinner and a full day trip with the kids to the sea. Over the course of a week, there is an optimal mix of activities that will keep everyone happy.
Mom's spend a day of pampering at the Saturnia thermal hot springs nearby
A unique holiday experience for the entire family
While the name of the summer travel program says it all, "Me and Mom" actually has two different programs, ones in the summer and the others in the fall. The three summer one-week sessions are for moms (and female relatives and friends), while the fall ones include dads or other family members or friends. The summer sessions are aimed at creating female-only groups that will allow the possibility to create special bonding and interactions between the moms in between their activities, from the morning yoga sessions, cooking classes and other activities which, all in all, are what generally retreats are all about. Group size is small, average size being 8 moms so it is perfect for creating great connections and friendships. The fall sessions will enjoy many of the same activities, but the composition of the group will make for a different experience for the parents who participate, maybe even more romantic as parents get a chance to spend time together on their own away from their children. Do you like the idea?
Experience the Best of Tuscany and Italy
This is an opportunity to create life-long memories with your children while discovering the magic of Tuscany over the course of a week. The rich itinerary has a good balance of well-being activities with cultural workshops and sightseeing trips, the ingredients that create the best, most memorable vacations. At Me and Mom, you'll immerse yourself in the best Tuscany has to offer: great food, wine, the Italian language, the natural beauty of the Maremma region and time to relax and renew yourself in the style of a true getaway. Like I said, all of the ingredients for a wonderful vacation in Tuscany.
Don't wait as there are only a few spots remaining for the summer and fall sessions.
Kids taking part in various activities at La Capitana summer camp in Tuscany
