This was a literal childhood dream come true for me.

In second grade, I purchased a book at the Scholastic Book Fair about Mt. Vesuvius.

I have wanted to go to Pompeii and Herculaneum ever since.

Brennan was really interested in going, too, so we made it part of our “glimpse of Italy” adventure.

We could have traveled there on our own, without a tour, but I’m so glad we chose a guided tour with local guides. It enriched our experience greatly and we learned so much more than we would have on our own. Plus, we didn’t have to think about how to get there, where to eat lunch, etc. It was all arranged for us!

It was incredible to see these towns in person, to learn about how advanced they were, and to stand in awe of the destruction a volcano can cause. It was humbling to stand where thousands of people once lived, enjoyed life, and lost it all in a terrifying event.

In Herculaneum, it was absolutely stunning to stand on what used to be beachfront property and look up at a wall of hundreds of feet of sediment, ash, etc. from the eruption.

Our guide, who is from Herculaneum, said that the Italians in the area live today like there’s no tomorrow because there may not be. It was funny, but it was also true. Vesuvius is dormant, so the threat of a repeat incident still exists.

If you are ever in the Naples area, we highly recommend visiting these towns.