Canelli with kids
Castle gardens you can do with a stroller, gelato in the piazza, and a family-run restaurant that welcomes a whole table of children — a Canelli day paced for small legs and their parents.
Canelli works better with children than you'd expect: a flat central piazza, gardens with big views, and kitchens that don't blink at a table of kids.
Morning — gardens and a view
Start with the Castello di Canelli gardens. The guided tour actually works with kids — mostly stroller-accessible, just a short flight of stairs near the end — and the panoramic terrace over the vineyards gets a "wow" from everyone. Parents get a Moscato tasting at the finish; kids get room to run. Book online ahead — their booking works well — so nobody's stuck waiting.
Late morning — gelato in the piazza
Head down to the piazza for a scoop at Gelato Cafe — the ice cream's excellent, and there's good coffee for the grown-ups. The centre's flat and easy, so let everyone wander a bit before lunch.
Lunch — the family table
Go to Ristorante San Marco, run by a family who genuinely welcome children — one party of 8 adults and 7 kids was made to feel at home, high chairs ready and no fuss. The food's excellent and the prices reasonable, so the grown-ups eat well too. Ask for the simpler plates for the little ones and the tasting menu for yourselves.
Afternoon — keep it easy
Afternoons with kids are best kept light. Wander the old centre, duck into the Chiesa di San Tommaso — quick, cool and quiet — and finish with a second gelato. Nobody's counting on holiday.
Skip for now: long underground cellar tours and formal wine tastings — save those for a trip without the kids.