Behemoth Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 We're driving down for a long weekend in August. Anyone familiar with the area? I think we're sorted as far as hotels but some interesting restaurant and hike/walk/other tips would really be appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 I spent a week there last October so I'm obviously a complete expert, in fact almost a local. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Oh, not around Lago Maggiore (hard to see subtitles in the new format). So probably not that useful, but here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Behemoth Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 I spent a week there last October so I'm obviously a complete expert, in fact almost a local. Hey, in the land of the blind... eta: OK not that close to where we'll be, though I suppose we could drive around a little... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Yeah, sorry about that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Il Sole di Ranco was very good about 15 years ago. The hotel too. I'm not sure what's happened to it since. There are infinitely many nice places to hike and bike near Cannobio (load the trail layer on Google Earth), some nice restaurants and espresso bars in Stresa... I can't give you any current recommendations but it's easy enough to tell which ones are just there to take money from the Swiss. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Behemoth Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Il Sole di Ranco was very good about 15 years ago. The hotel too. I'm not sure what's happened to it since. There are infinitely many nice places to hike and bike near Cannobio (load the trail layer on Google Earth), some nice restaurants and espresso bars in Stresa... I can't give you any current recommendations but it's easy enough to tell which ones are just there to take money from the Swiss. (Or Germans..) Thanks for the tips. My current strategy is to look up Bibendums in the Michelin guide. Is that bad? Around Munich it would typically yield some decent results. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Sounds like a plan, bibendum prices can support some very decent restaurants up there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott -- DFW Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Piedmont's lone three Michelin star restaurant, Al Sorriso, is a short drive from Lago Maggiore (near Lago d'Orta). Scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ghostrider Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Before there was Donatello & Michelangelo, there were the Camunni. This looks to be too far from Maggiore even for a day trip (over in Lombardy, 135 mi. from Stresa), but if you're interested in prehistoric archaeology like I am, the rock carvings scattered about the Val Camonica are well worth a visit at some point in your life. The Camunni don't get the press that the Etruscans and other early peoples do - they weren't as accomplished, for one thing. They also didn't leave much behind, except for an unbroken collection of petroglyphs spanning 6000 years that record the evolution of a culture. I found it one of the most moving experiences in all my travels; I realize that it calls to one of my peculiar interests which everyone may not share. We spent several days in Iseo, a small resort town on the south shore of Lago d'Iseo, the smallest of the Italian Lakes. Day trips up the valley were tricky even from there, partly because I'm not an early riser. The lake is charming. The town is a typical lakeside summer resort, modestly priced because it's not fashionable. (It's full of Germans, just what you want! It was the only town in Italy where heard only one other couple speak English in 3 days.) It's hard to find really great food there, though there was one place that served good, very fresh trout & other local fish, simply grilled. I found one of my favorite cafes in the world there, also at lakeside, down at a peaceful end of town. I would stroll down there for my morning tea, sit sipping one cup after another, watching the morning mists slowly clear from the lake. It was quite serene. I recommend the town only if one enjoys this kind of simple stuff. It's not as grand, spectacular, or rich as towns by the other lakes. I loved it. This is probably of no help on Maggiore, but you got me reminiscing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Behemoth Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 Piedmont's lone three Michelin star restaurant, Al Sorriso, is a short drive from Lago Maggiore (near Lago d'Orta). Scott I'm always a little hesitant to go for the starred places on vacation. At least the ones I've been to tend to all be the similar kind of "INTERNATIONAL STYLE" whereas in a new place I usually want something a little more local and un-fussed over. The Bibendums tend to be slightly refined versions of the local stuff and are usually a safe bet (though you inevitably end up missing a few gems.) Will look into it, in any case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott -- DFW Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I'm always a little hesitant to go for the starred places on vacation. At least the ones I've been to tend to all be the similar kind of "INTERNATIONAL STYLE" whereas in a new place I usually want something a little more local and un-fussed over. It's definitely "international style." (And, for what it's worth, Cabrales found the cheeses improperly matured.) Scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Behemoth Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 cheeses improperly matured[/url].) Horrors! BTW -- thanks ghostie. Will definitely keep that in mind for a future trip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Behemoth Posted August 15, 2010 Author Share Posted August 15, 2010 Chi Ghinn Castagneto Pretty much what I was hoping for: simple, local, nice atmosphere. Rained most of Saturday so we didn't get to do much of anything but read and sleep. And eat. Which was actually kind of nice... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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