Dolomites to La Spezia - driving route & stopover?
 

We are a family of four (two parents and 2 young teens) and are driving from Santa Cristina in Val Gardena in the Italian Alps to La Spezia near Cinque Terre on the Italian West Coast and are looking for suggestions for a good place to take a break half way through the drive as well as comments on our route, that we got from the Michelin web site. I believe the drive takes @5 hours so I was thinking of stopping on the East side of Lake Garda for a short hike and lunch. Anyone think this is a good idea? Our route will take us from Santa Cristina through the following towns: Trento, Verona, Mantova, Modena, Reggio Nell Emilia and Parma ending at La Spezia.

Stop at Sirmione on Lago Garda. Your other option is Parma but that is too far into the trip. Why La Spezia? I assume to drop the car--do not plan to stay there.

Thanks Bob. What a beautiful little spot Sirmione appears to be for a relaxing break. Will there be have any problem parking inside the town in the middle of the day on a Tuesday? It looks like there is a public promenade we could walk on and perhaps we can find a market to buy some picnic supplies? We are just dropping the car as AVIS does not have an office where we are staying, in Monterosso

There is a gigantic lot jsut before you step into Sirmione.

great:)