Throughout my big excursion to Italy and Switzerland this spring, I was frequently asked about where I was staying, what restaurants I was eating at, what sites I was visiting, and so much more. So, I figured, what better way to showcase my amazing trip than to write up a little guide summary!

This first post is going to be the beginning of my trip, where I flew out ahead of my husband, John, and my two younger daughters, Cate and Sarah to visit Caroline, my eldest, while she nears the end of her study abroad program in Florence, Italy. Admittedly, I have never really travelled abroad on my own, so this was a totally new experience right off the bat...and it was so much fun to have a little girls trip with Caroline and I!

One my first day, I landed in Florence around noon and was met at the airport by my daughter Caroline with the most delicious Italian Sandwich and some crisps, of course, to accompany. Caroline whisked me onto a bus to the car rental area where we easily booked a car on the spot without a reservation. It was very affordable and we were in and out in a short time - totally worth the little extra time around the airport!

To work around Caroline's class schedule, we only had 2 nights to spend freely. In my research, I discovered endless amazing places to stay in the Tuscan region, but ultimately, we settled on our first night at Rastrello, a 14th century restored hotel in the most precious tiny little wall town of Panicale.

We loved our room, the hotel and the restaurant. Once we settled and dropped our bags off in the room, we were determined not to waste the wonderful afternoon. We spent a few hours wandering around the town before heading for a quick power nap before dinner (thanks, jet lag!).

For our first night, we decided to have dinner in Rastrello's dining room. Their dining room is approximately 600 sq feet with an open kitchen separately only by glass windows, so we were able to watch the magic happen with each course. The ambience was incredible, and it was such a fun, immersive dining experience. Not to mention, it was absolutely delicious!

The next day, we awoke to the most beautiful view of green rolling hills and vineyards. It was straight out of a postcard! After some coffee and nibbles, we set out to wander towards Montepulciano, knowing that we would stop whenever another ancient walled city came into view, and hopefully a vineyard...

It wasn't long before we could see Castiglione del Lago in the distance, so in our little rental car, we veered off to detour a little bit and walk around this walled city. It definitely did not disappoint. Castiglione del Lago is nestled right on a large lake, with spectacular views from above. It was the perfect distraction and a great place to stretch our legs during our mini Tuscan road trip.

Despite our detour, Caroline and I were on a mission...Two words: wine tasting. So, back in our car and on the road again, we followed the signs to a lovely family owned vineyard called Cantina Boscarelli.

While we were there, we did a quick wine tasting, and loved it so much that we purchased 6 bottles to be shipped back to us at home! I'm definitely looking forward to sharing a glass with Caroline and reminiscing about our fun little girls weekend.

After our tasting, we headed back onto our journey to Montepulciano for pecorino and truffles. Montepulciano is a medieval hilltop town surrounded by vineyards, and it happens to also be the home of pecorino cheese - my favorite!

After a few jaunts throughout the historic city, it was time to head toward our resting place for the night. Back in the car, we headed toward Le Lappe Relais, which was in the town of Chianti, about 30 miles from Florence.

There are so many incredible inns and farmhouses, so I spent a lot of time researching which one I wanted to stay in. I loved Le Lappe because all the rooms had fireplaces, and it was secluded and away from everything else. A little piece of the quiet Tuscan countryside!

The inn's culinary program was fabulous as well. This time of year, mid-to-late April is right before their busy season, so not only was it not crowded at all, but the prices were very reasonable. We opted to dine in their restaurant, and we happened to be the only ones this evening, so it was very special to be waited on in this grand dining room and be the only guests! We went to bed with a roaring fire (something I absolutely love!) and slept like little kittens in the cool crisp air of Tuscany.

The next day we woke up and had to get an early start on the road because Caroline had class. Before that, we needed to return the rental car and get back into Florence so she could get to her wine drinking and walking history class (Amazing BTW! Wishing they could offer that class to me now...). It was all so seamless, renting a car, returning it and getting back into the city and checking into another hotel - so easy and I highly recommend it if you are looking to explore Tuscany. I was a little worried about navigating all of these moving parts in a foreign country with just myself and my daughter, but our experience showed me that there was nothing to be nervous about!

While Caroline went to class, I checked into Hotel Bernini Palace. This hotel is centrally located to the Duomo in Florence, and the vibe of it is very Italian and very old school. That was something I was really looking for in my accommodations because I appreciate staying in the traditional hotels, especially when they are historic. Why travel hours across the world and not immerse yourself entirely?

It was a lovely room, with incredible service! If you are looking for a modern hip hopping hotel, this is not it, but it was just what I was looking for, and very reasonable.

I spent the day walking all over Florence and stopping in piazzas for a quick bite and drink, and of course, I had to do some shopping. There were so many amazing vintage finds, it was like little treasure hunts in each shop and stall. While I was walking around, I came to appreciate how there is something so magical about walking all around the Duomo and hearing the magical bells throughout the day!

Another awesome activity to do while in Florence is to take a pasta-making class at De Bardi! It is such an awesome way to get hands-on in a true Italian kitchen and immerse yourself in the culture.

Gustapanino was my favorite meal the entire time I was in Florence - my sandwich was one of the best I've had! One Caroline was dismissed from her class, we opted for a fun little happy hour and had rooftop drinks. There are so many amazing rooftops everywhere in the city, and especially around the Duomo. I honestly think you could take your pick and you wouldn't be able to go wrong with anywhere!

Another outstanding lunch that we had was traditional Florentine steak and pasta from Trattoria Dall'Oste. The steak was brought out on a hot, flat cast iron dish and was still sizzling! Everything was cooked to perfection.

And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the delicious gelato we had. The small shop was called SBrino Gelatificio Contadino, and it was perfectly rich and creamy. Definitely a great little afternoon treat as you walk across the Ponte Vecchio.

On the final day with just the two of us, Caroline and I woke up early to take the train north to Milan to meet up with John, Cate, and Sarah. And if you've read this far and aren't yet bored to tears, we will do a second blog full of all the details on the next part of our adventure - Spring Break in Italy, Switzerland and a day trip back to Italy to ski in two countries in one day! So. much. fun!