Beaches in Northern Italy?
 

I recently moved to Milan and I'm interested in a beach vacation. I considered Amalfi coast area, but it's "planes, trains and automobiles" to get there. Could anyone recommend some nice beaches in Northern Italy (east or west) that are driving distance from Milan - I'd love recommendations for a mod-priced villa or hotel as well for a family of 4.

We've severally times stayed around Cavallino, outside Venice. Lots of long sandy beaches there. Sorry, can't recommend any hotels as we've always stayed on camp sites - great fun for kids. We're going to Sant Angelo Village in a few weeks, stayed there last year and it was great. Lido di Jesolo is close by and has lots of hotels if that is what you prefer.

It is kind of rocky not sandy , but Santa Margherita, just south of Milan. Has beaches, great hotels, and food.

I agree with Ryan. Santa Margherita is beautiful but slooooow driving and it is hard to find a place to park.
Here is a picture I took of Santa Margherita when we were there last June.

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/507/968pzP6020442.jpg

I also agree with heading to the Ligurian coast. Our family has stayed there twice and really like it. We stayed in a small town on the coast named Lavagna at the Hotel Tigulio - small, family owned and operated, clean and neat, not very expensive. The town has a train stop. There are a lot other towns between Portofino and the Cinque Terre (a must do!). The beaches there are rocky so wear some water shoes. But it's very local - the Italians go to that area for vacation. The local towns compete in water games all summer which is a treat to watch. If I lived that close, I'd be down there every weekend!

If you hit the Ligurian coast south of Genova (1.5 hrs train from Milan), would recommend taking a train, b/c parking is tight in Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, and Cinque Terre. However, the coast is dotted with lots of little (less touristed) towns where parking & access would be less of an issue. Camogli is <1 hr train from Genova with postcard setting and nice beach. SML is just 10 min further south-- larger city with more restaurants and activity. Cinque Terre is a definite must but Monterosso is the village with largest and only real beach (but is also most crowded).

Beware that during summer months, from mid-July to end of August, Italians leave Milan in droves to the nearby beach destinations...not to mention summer tourists coming in. So popular places (SML, CT, etc) are going to be overcrowded.

If you want to be near the water and in relatively quieter setting, but not necessarily the beach-- you could go to the Lakes Maggiore, Como, or Garda (swimming in those waters is discouraged) that are within 1 hr drive north of Milan.