Family holiday in Lithuania

[QuidFacere]

I am considering a beach holiday in Lithuania with kids 13 and 8, and would be grateful for any tips on itineraries and transport. I have fond memories of Palanga / Sventoji and Klaipeda where I went as a child, erm, last century!

Thinking of a couple of days in Vilnius and then a lazy holiday on the Curonian split or in Palanga. Is it doable without hiring a car?How straightforward is it for a foreign tourist to find one's way around? Are there many mosquitoes? Is there stuff for kids to do? Is my memory of clean uncrowded Sventoji dunes still accurate?

I am mostly motivated by the opportunity to have a coastal holiday in summer without scorching heat, not overcrowded, and not overly expensive. Would be grateful for any insights

I haven't done it, but it's on my radar, as Curonion Spit looks blissful, and I've been researching this very trip. I was looking more at 10 days with some time in Kaunas and a trip to Trakai castle from Vilnius. There seem to be 3 trains a day between Vilnius and Klaipeda, one early morning and 2 late afternoon. I was thinking/hoping that might increase in summer, but don't know that for sure. You need to book transport in advance as apparently the seats sell out in summer. There seem to be 2 trains a day coming back to Vilnius at present. There are also lots of buses as an alternative apparently, I just prefer trains especially with kids as you can move about, go to the bathroom etc. I was also hoping to squeeze in a trip to Siauliai to see the hill of crosses, as a stop in one direction. I am not sure we will actually go this year as we live in the north and the flights are only from Stansted if I recall correctly. Would leave to hear how it goes if you do make the journey!

Thank you so much, this is super useful! I was thinking about squeezing in Siauliu as well. Good point re trains