Does anyone have any advise on where to go to do a little hiking: Dolomites or somewhere in Valle d'Aosta?

I'm looking for a small, "alpine" town as a base. Heidi -ish. Does it exist?

Thanks very much,
Laurie Donnay

Hi Laura,
There are plenty of small "alpine towns" in the Dolomites. Our favorites are any of the three villages in Val Gardena (Ortisei, St. Christina and Selva) which are just 5 minutes drive from one another. We stayed in St. Christina a couple of years ago. Another favorite is Alta Badia (we stayed in La Villa 2 years ago) just over the Gardena Pass about a 45 minutes drive from Val Gardena.

some very good websites:

www.val-gardena.com

www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com/index.html

www.altabadia.com

http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/Cortin...ate/index.html

Places we stayed and can recommend:

www.montanara.it

www.garniariston.com

Paul

In Valle d'Aosta, I recommend the tiny village of Valnontey at the end of the road from Cogne. Nearby is an alpine garden and the trail to the Rifugio Vittorio Sella. In June, the alpine flowers high on the mountain are a carpet of color. In the valley in Valnontey I recommend the Hotel Petit Dahu. The hiking is great, but this far from the cities, nobody speaks any English so it is necessary to communicate in Italian.

I have hiked in both areas. Both are beautiful. Italy is beautiful. But somehow I always find myself returning to the Dolomites. Have been in all the places listed by pja1 and agree they are great. The Dolomites have a better feel.... yet it hard not be taken by the views of Mount Blanc in Val d' Aosta. If I had to pick, the Dolomites have it.

Last summer did hut to hut hiking (3 nights) based out of Cortina. It was truly a magnificent experience. And the huts are not that at all, they are pretty plush for the most part. Hope to do it again some day... Highly recommended!

I thought Castelrotto was "Heidi-ish."

Seiser Alm is breathtaking. I dream of going back.