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Europe, Travel
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July 5, 2016

Two beautiful days at Lake Como, Italy

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One of the highlights of our road trip through northern Italy was our stay in Lake Como. Most of our stops were in the Lombardy region, where there are lakes galore. Lake Como, the third largest lake in Italy and one of the deepest, is heavily visited by locals and tourists alike, especially during the summer months. Finding a place to stay can be difficult, and though parking is difficult, finding a home rental – our choice for this stay – was even more so.

We lucked out because we arrived just before the travel season had really kicked-off. We also arrived on a weekend, finding a parking spot just down the hill from our apartment rental that didn’t need us having to pay or move our car during our entire stay.

Travel highlight from our road trip through Northern Italy: Lake Como.There are a lot of little towns around the lake, Como and Bellagio being the most popular. But we fell in love with Varenna, in the northern part of the lake. It wasn’t as touristy as the other two towns, nor as sleepy as the nearby Mennagio, and it had a lot to offer for a leisurely weekend with easy access by foot to anything we could want, including shops, eateries, and the ferry that allows travel across the lakes and its surrounding villages.

Mennagio, Lake Como

Mennagio, Lake Como

Ferry riding across the lake.

Ferry riding across the lake.

You can easily spend an entire weekend touring around the lake by ferry. We visited Bellagio for a quick walk around and lunch one afternoon. Though lovely, I thought it was overcrowded and overpriced. We had lunch at the Hotel Bellagio resort overlooking the lake. This experience reinforced a theory I found to be true throughout most of Italy: sometimes, and especially in the most touristy cities like Venice, Milan, and yes, even Bellagio, you pay extra for the food, but are not guaranteed that the food will be the best.

However, Varenna felt like a reprieve from all of it. There isn’t as much to do, so not as many people visit. There aren’t tons of luxury hotels or eateries, so tourists don’t venture here as much as in the some of the other areas. Which is exactly why it’s perfect for us.

Varenna, Lake Como

Night falls in Varenna, Lake Como

Night falls in Varenna, Lake Como

I loved walking the alleys and streets of this beautiful village.

I loved walking the alleys and streets of this beautiful village.

Varenna, Lake Como

We did find good food and with great lake views at Varenna.

We did find good food and with great lake views at Varenna.

We would walk to the local market for goods then up the steep steps to our apartment to cook. The apartment, listed on AirBnB, was a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with a loft for extra space and a full kitchen and living room. It had an outdoor patio overlooking the rooftops and the lake. There are few moments as sigh-inducing as waking up to the view of Lake Como and the alps from your bedroom balcony, coffee in hand.

IMG_1590 Vacation rental in Lake Como. More on GirlGoneTrvel.com Vacation rental in Lake Como. More on GirlGoneTrvel.com

Room view from our apartment rental.

Room view from our apartment rental.

Hikers will find many trails in the various towns and around the lake. For us, a fun afternoon consisted of hiking up to Castello Vezio along the Sentiero del Viandante, an ancient Roman trail. The views from up there are stunning though note, the hike is steep.

View from Castle Vezio, Veronna, Italy. More at GirlGoneTravel.com View from Castle Vezio, Veronna, Italy. More at GirlGoneTravel.com View from Castle Vezio, Veronna, Italy. More at GirlGoneTravel.com View from Castle Vezio, Veronna, Italy. More at GirlGoneTravel.com

We took some time to drive around the lake and explore the tunnels and bridges. There are different spots along the way worthy of a stop for a little coffee as you take it all in. Usually, travelers like to come to this area in the summer and then head to the Swiss Alps less than 2 hours away for skiing in the winter, though avid hikers also enjoy the mountains there as well.

Varenna, Lake Como Varenna, Lake Como Lake Como, Italy

We were content with our time in Lake Como and with the leisurely pace of the area. When planning your trip decide beforehand what you enjoy the most before booking a stay as each village has a different feel and offer different experiences. If you rather not drive, the train from Milan to Varenna-Esino station is a two and half hour ride. If you’d rather experience the larger city of Como, then take the train from Milan to Como, stopping at Como Nord Lago. For Bellagio, take the ferry from either of these destinations, or a bus from Como. Note that the stations in the smaller towns aren’t always open to sell tickets, so either buy all your tickets in Milan or have cash readily available to buy from the conductor when you board. Schedules and fare for the ferries are listed at the port, and most ferry ticket vendors speak English to help you and provide information as needed.

I will also say, we made this a long weekend stop in our road trip, but we were ready to extend our entire vacation just to stay there longer, that’s how much we loved it. There are a lot of other lakes to visit and explore in the region, but it is no wonder why Lake Como is a favorite of anyone who has ever visited.

To see more of our road trip adventure through Italy, check out my Instagram and follow hashtag#GGTinItaly. Stay tuned for more Italy stories!

 

All photos are property of Girl Gone Travel® and may not be used without direct consent from the publisher.

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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