Italy stole my heart over a decade ago, when I spent a semester of college studying abroad there.
This beautiful country is where I cliff-jumped into the Mediterranean Sea, toured wineries throughout Tuscany’s rolling hills, tossed coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome, and perused chic boutiques in Milan.
Although I was sad to leave, I knew I would return someday. The Amalfi Coast, in particular, sat at the top of my bucket list, as I was only there for a day.
This past year was the perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality, since we wanted to celebrate my dad’s retirement after 45 years of hard work.
So, my parents, who are both in their 60s, and my husband and I, who are in our 30s, packed our bags and jetted off to explore the Amalfi Coast.
The first big decision we made was choosing Positano as our “home base” for the week due to its central location, jaw-dropping cliffside views, and plethora of restaurants and shops.
From there, we took day trips to the surrounding towns. We planned everything from a private boat ride along the coast to a hike on Sentiero dei Limoni, “the Path of the Lemons,” in Minori.
For our first family trip to the Amalfi Coast, I was genuinely happy with where we stayed and everything we experienced. But the next time I go, I may do a few things differently.
Staying in a less touristy town might’ve been nice
My family agreed that staying in one hotel — and avoiding the hassle of checking in and out with oversized luggage — was a wise choice.
After all, there’s something refreshing about returning to the same home base after a full day exploring. For us, that was Hotel Conca D’Oro.
Regular ferries also made traveling to the surrounding destinations quite simple. During our next coastal getaway, I would still choose one home base, but I’d consider staying in a lesser-known town like Minori.
The unique, harder-to-get-to activities we enjoyed during this vacation — like sipping cliffside limoncello at Agricola Ruocco’s, a family-run lemon farm in Minori — showed us how much we enjoyed embracing the road less traveled.
I wouldn’t stress about dinner reservations so much
Going into our vacation, I had a laundry list of restaurants I wanted to visit, and I booked reservations at several of them. But by the time my family and I tackled the 25-minute walk from the ferry back up to our hotel each evening, we were exhausted.
And, in reality, we would’ve been just as content grabbing the ingredients for a charcuterie spread, paninis, and a bottle of wine from one of the many mouthwatering local markets for a no-fuss dinner on our hotel’s rooftop.
Next time, instead of loading my itinerary up with reservations, I would make just a couple in advance and leave the rest of the week open to spontaneity.
Our local cooking class was so fun that I’d book at least 2 of them next time
One of our most memorable experiences was an outdoor cooking class at Amalfi Heaven Gardens, perched high above bustling downtown Amalfi, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
We learned how to prepare a traditional Italian feast, complete with fried ricotta and anchovy-filled zucchini flowers, smoked mozzarella grilled in lemon leaves, and gnocchi alla Sorrentina.
Then, we sipped homemade peach wine and enjoyed each course at a farm table under the vines with our classmates.
My mom and I did a ton of research beforehand to find the right cooking class, and we made a perfect choice.
Since we loved the authentic, hands-on class so much, I would definitely consider booking not just one but two culinary experiences next time, perhaps in another town.
It would’ve been nice to indulge in more slow mornings on our hotel room balcony
When in Rome — or shall I say, Positano — I’d like to live a bit more like the locals next time. It was easy to rise early and book up every second of our sightseeing getaway … but why rush?
My family wished we had taken a few of our mornings slower, enjoying treats like ricotta cheesecake, sipping our espressos, and soaking up the sweeping views from our balconies.
After all, one of the biggest selling points of our hotel was its pristine vantage point of Positano, overlooking the pastel-colored buildings nestled into the cliffs and the sparkling waters below.
Next time, I would skip Sorrento and spend more time in Capri
Navigating the vibrant alleyways of Sorrento — and digging into a delightful lemon pasta dish for lunch — made for a fun experience, but next time, I’d skip it and spend extra time in Capri.
Sorrento offered more of a city environment than the peaceful coastal escape I’d envisioned. On the contrary, Capri was coastal bliss.
We took the chairlift up to Monte Solaro and strolled through the Gardens of Augustus with homemade fig and honey slushies in hand.
We even stumbled upon a seaside bistro that was quaint, quiet, and delicious. A round of espresso martinis and linguini with clams ensued.
There’s much more to explore in Capri beyond a day’s visit.
Still, we had so much fun. Any Amalfi Coast itinerary is a dream come true — and I’m eager to plan our next trip. In fact, if you’re visiting the region and find yourself off the beaten path, you may find me there.
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