In a couple of weeks I will be traveling from Lake Como to Zurich with my husband and 3 children (ages 6, 8, 11). We will be driving and making a day trip out of it. There are so many little towns, can anyone recommend which ones are "special" and might be worth the stopover? Thanks!

Soglio, just over the Italian border into Switzerland. Sils Maria is another good choice. Both gorgeous mountain scenery. Soglio is a picture perfect village. Sils is a charming town. Great walks from both places. Good food. Have a chocolate crepe in the square of Sils for me!

Como to Zurich by the San Gotthard tunnel takes roughly 3 hours. I suggest that you travel along this as the main route but to make it more exciting I would suggest you consider - in view of the time of year - doing the San Gotthrd pass rather than the tunnel. If the weather is ok the summit of the pass would be a great place for a picnic. In view of the age of your children you can explain a bit of geography explaining that for this mountain water flows in four directions - to the Rhone, to the Rheine, to the Danube and to the Po.
I suggest a side trip to Lucerne - a pretty town and spectacular lake.

In Bellinzona, which is along the autobahn towards the Gotthard, they've got three castles. Stop in the old town and tour the one in the town or the one right above the town.

Luzern--and try to overnite if you can.

Perfect! Thank you! Adding this to my trip notes . . .