Who: Richard Rotruck of Vashon Island, Washington, Mary Beth Moser of Vashon Island, Washington and Marlene Archer of Lakewood, Colorado
Where: Lake Maggiore, northern Italy, with the Borromean Island of Isola Madre and the Mottarone Mountains in the background
Out and about: We flew into Milan. A good place to rest before venturing into Alp country, Lake Maggiore was the perfect stop. Many charming towns adorn the shores, from well-known Stresa, to smaller towns. Visitors can walk for miles along the beaches on a lakefront promenade. Private and commercial boats are available to take you to the three islands. Botanical gardens are abundant. The Museum of Umbrellas and Parasols houses 1500 examples, and is just one the many museums nearby. The climate is temperate; we needed light jackets in early winter.
Travel tip: Because of the proximity of Lake Maggiore to Milan, this beautiful spot is a wonderful place to recover from jet lag for a day or two. Excellent shopping, food and wine, and sleeping accommodations are available very close to the beach. Although we discovered it quite by accident the first time, we have returned with each visit to Italy.
