A family vacation with children is always a source of great concern for parents. What is there to do? Will they be bored? Will we have a way to enjoy the vacation? Lake Garda is a place for all tastes and ages, ready to meet the needs of the whole family! If you come to the northern area of Lake Garda (the Garda Trentino and Riva del Garda), the one where we are located and familiar with, you can choose from a variety of activities, outdoor or indoor, close to or a little further from the lake. Let’s start by saying that Garda Trentino is a paradise for outdoor activities; therefore, you can practice all kinds of outdoor sports and activities: biking, trekking, hicking, climbing, water sports. There are numerous centers and schools that organize courses and activities for children as well. A family outing, however, can never be missed. So here are some ideas, right on the lake. Ponale Waterfall. More than the impressiveness of the waterfall, it is the magic of the place that fascinates visitors. The waterfall is nestled in a ravine between the mountains overlooking the waters of the lake. The waterfall can only be reached from Riva del Garda by lake. Thus, the journey alone to reach it is in itself an adventure for the whole family! You can organize a short boat trip with the children (we suggest ADAMAS boat tour, moored along the Canale della Rocca towards the Spiaggia degli Ulivi), lasting about half an hour. After admiring the most beautiful waterfall in Garda (and beyond), take the opportunity to take a dip in the lake. Don’t forget the booms for your children! Alternatively, you can rent a pedal boat. The trip is not exactly short and may be a bit tiring. But nothing easy stays in the memory. It will be an unforgettable experience! Ponale Trail. This is the old road, carved into the rock overlooking the lake, that connected Riva del Garda to the Ledro Valley. Today it is a magnificent, family-friendly scenic trail that can be traveled by bicycle (preferably mountain bike or e-bike, even for children) or on foot. The first section, which winds along the rock walls passing through small tunnels carved into the mountain in places, you will arrive at the Belvedere. There is a refreshment point here, after which you can have a cool drink or a nice ice cream. If you and your children are a little more practiced, you can continue on. At the fork after the café, the road splits, separating the pedestrian path from the bike path. Continuing on, you can reach Punta Larici and Lake Ledro, where the Pile Dwelling Museum is located. Bastion (also reachable by panoramic elevator). Just above Riva del Garda, on the mountain, you can see an ancient tower: it is the Bastion. Built in the 16th century to dominate the town and the lake, when the Venetian rule of Riva had just ended, to provide greater security for the village below and its inhabitants.
It served originally and over the centuries a military function, now lost; however, it still retains its stern charm. With your children, you can go up in the brand new panoramic inclined elev ator (a glass elevator that gives a unique view and experience), and then decide whether to walk down the easy forest path (about 15 minutes) or take the elevator back down. At the top, you can visit the ruins of the Bastion and relive the experience of those who guarded the city and the lake from up here. There is also a bar-restaurant for refreshments or a family snack. Church of Santa Barbara. If you look up the mountain from Riva del Garda, beyond the Bastion you will spot a small white dot in the middle of the rock: it is the small church of Santa Barbara, perched on Mount Rocchetta (625m above sea level). Seen from below, it looks truly unreachable.
And instead, with a good walk of about 1 1/2 hours (medium difficulty), you can reach it. From up there you will enjoy a spectacular view of Riva del Garda and all the mountains of Trentino. A good challenge, even for the youngest children. And what satisfaction to reach the goal!
Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant.. But do you know how energy is born? An unexpected and engaging visitor experience, with original multimedia displays; a place to visit, but also to “play.” Where architecture and engineering accommodate water and release energy. A unique opportunity for the family, adults and children alike, to discover how water is transformed into clean energy.
Bike path Riva – Torbole. It is a bicycle and pedestrian path along the lake, starting from the center of Riva del Garda and ending in Torbole. The route skirts the lake running along the beaches and, after Porto San Nicolò, along a section cantilevering over the lake until it reaches the first beaches of Torbole. Ideal for a family picnic stop.
Torbole, Limone e Malcesine in traghetto. For a longer trip, why not visit the villages of Garda Trentino? These kinds of visits are never too popular with children. But what if in order to get there we took … a boat? You can arrange a boat trip with the children on one of the scheduled ferries (departing from the port of Riva del Garda), which connect Riva del Garda with Torbole, Limone, and Malcesine several times a day. You can stop in all the villages or only in some. For example, in Malcesine you could visit the castle or take the funicular up Monte Baldo. Or you can choose a boat trip with the children on one of the private boats, according to their organized schedules and travel times: from half-day, to full-day; no thinking about anything!
The Lake Garda and its beaches. And then there is always the lake. With its beaches, playgrounds, and activities on the water, the lake offers opportunities for the whole family. There are centers and schools to practice and learn sailing, surfing, canoeing, SUP (Stand Up Paddle). Your children can choose never to train and they certainly cannot be bored. And you, on the other hand, may even be able to relax in the sun or have a good drink at one of the beach kiosks!
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience an unforgettable family vacation on Lake Garda. Book your stay at Palazzo Riccamboni now and discover a world of activities to do with your children. Apartments from 2 to 6 people, with every comfort for a carefree vacation. Don’t forget your Garda Guest Carda: a real passe-partout to launch you to discover Garda Trentino and its thousands of attractions! With us it is included in your stay. At Palazzo Riccamboni you will not only spend a vacation in an apartment in Riva del Garda, but you will find a home for your vacation on Lake Garda.