This series is about our trip to Italy we took in September of 2026. We rented a car and traveled the “road less traveled”. Other pages in the series listed at the bottom of this page and will have links as I write them.

I think I pack light by just packing a large backpack but when I returned, I separated my clothes by what I had worn and what I had not and there were still items I didn’t need to bring. Italy is not conducive to wheeled luggage so the less you can bring (and lug around) the better. If you stay in a house, you can likely do a small load of laundry (there usually are not dryers though so plan to wash when you have a day to dry) or there are laundry mats you can stop at as well. Layering is key.

  • 1 rain jacket
  • 1 jean jacket – could leave behind depending on weather
  • Swim suit and water shoes
  • Lots of underwear
  • 3 bras
  • Birkenstocks
  • Taos tennis shoes (I have terrible feet and these I can wear all day with no issues)
  • 3 linen button down shirts
  • 1 pair jeans
  • 2 dressier but casual pants – linen or non-wrinkle
  • 1 black dress pants
  • 1 travel track suit
  • 2 dresses
  • 4-5 sleeveless dressier tank tops
  • Black polo shirt
  • A few pairs of socks
  • What I Learned in Italy
  • What to Pack
  • The Joys of Home Exchange
  • Day 1 – Flight from Washington DC to London
  • Day 2 – Flight from London to Rome and travel to Pitigliano, Italy
  • Day 3 – Discover Pitigliano
  • Day 4 – Thermal Baths, Agritourismo Olive Farm Dinner
  • Day 5 – Sorano and surrounding area, grocery shopping, dinner in Pitigliano
  • Day 6 – Maria Delle Grazie church, Tyrrhenian Sea, unconventional lunch, reunion with foreign exchange student.
  • Day 7 – Siena, Carpi
  • Day 8 – Peschiera del Garda, Lonato del Garda, Salo, San Felice del Banaco
  • Day 9 – Lake Garda Ferry to Limone, dinner in Salo
  • Day 10 – McDonalds, Big Bench, and dinner at home
  • Day 11 – Sanctuario di Montecastello
  • Day 12 – Lake Idro, dinner in Portese and walk on boardwalk
  • Day 13 – Lonato del Garda mass and flea market
  • Day 14 – swim in Lake Garda and shopping in Salo
  • Day 15 – Agritourismo Dandelion and town of Pieve
  • Day 16 – Drive to Rome hotel
  • Day 17 – Return home