Lago di Braies, Dolomites

A stunning jewel north of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Arrive early or leave late for a peaceful moderate hike around the lake. Otherwise, prepare to meet your fellow tourists in a long line to rent a rowboat.

Tres Cime, Dolomites

Take the Toll Road very early from Lake Misurina to the main parking lot to beat the crowds and limits on numbers of visitors. Hike to the dramatic peaks and the refugios nearby and or, if you have time, hike the loop trail counter-clockwise.

Cascate Val de Fanes

Hike the natural park with waterfalls just north of the Cortina city center. There's also exciting "Via Ferrata" routes to traverse the ledges if you have the safety equipment to hook into the cables and some training.

Having a car in the Dolomites is very handy. There are public buses but they only go to the most popular places. That would work with a short trip with one local hotel in let's say, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Castelrotto, or Ortinsei.

Lake Misurina

A quaint lake surrounded by the brilliant rocky Dolomites. It's an easy walk around passing by a few grand and simple lake hotels.

Gondola to Rifugio Lagazuoi

For a quick high altitude experience, take the gondola that shoots you up to an elevation of 9,029 ft and then walk up to the high point from there. Wow.

When we hiked the long distance trail, Alta Via Uno, a number of years ago, we walked right by here but the weather was socked in and didn't see a thing. Today made up for it!

Ortisei to Seceda

From city center Ortisei, two gondolas will whisk you straight to the top for outstanding ridge-line hikes and views. We took the easy public bus here from the quaint town of Castellrotto which is closer to the Alpes Des Suise.