Rome's many fountains and open plazas make exciting play areas for younger children and offer a relaxing environment for parents. RELATED LINKS City Guide Rome

Rome might not be your first choice for a family vacation, but if mom and dad are willing to scale back their own cultural and retail pursuits, there's plenty to keep the kids engaged.

Younger children especially will enjoy a trip to the top of the Janiculum, where they'll find pony rides, a merry-go-round and a marvelous puppet theater.

Additional kid-friendly activities can be found at the Borghese Gardens, including afternoon screenings of children's movies at the charming Cinema dei Piccoli, and in piazzas all over town, the irresistible combination gurgling fountains and flocks of pigeons will make little ones squeal with delight.

Prep your older kids in advance with books and videos about life in ancient Rome and they'll be thoroughly enchanted by visits to the Forum and the Colosseum. Add the occasional gelato and slice of pizza to the mix and your kids won't want to go home.