I will be going to Milan in July and would like to find some cute, charming towns within driving distance. I can do an overnight so I would say 3-4 hrs max. distance away. I would like to find a less touristy destination--maybe a hidden gem? Also any other not to miss suggestions are welcome. Thanks for any help.

Verona, Cremona, Bergamo Pavia, Brescia are some that I have visited in the area. But the most fun is discovering your own. If you have a car, you mention driving distance, it will be easy to find little gems. This is what we did, if you ask fellow tourists here they will tell you places they have been. Look at mappy.com and look up some of the towns nearby.

You could also go to Genoa I would think or Padua, Modena or even Bologna. Have fun, it is a wonderful area.

Turin,Lugano

Orta San Giulio on Lake Orta; on Lake Lugano, Morcote, Gandria and Lugano...

Nonnafelice posted a nice trip report about Bergamo with lots of photos, you might want to check that out.
Do a search here for Bergamo, I think it was the thread entitled Milan/Bergamo.

Great, thanks so much for these suggestions. I will check them out. SEaUrchin, that's exactly what we want to do...jump in the car and explore!

Jes:

Our favorite also, has been Orta..just a short drive from Malpensa airport. It is smaller than the other lakes in the district...but charming in its own way...
sft

JES,

No photos, I'm afraid, but here's a link to my trip report covering Lake Como & Bergamo;

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34598121

Jim

Apart from being a lovely town, Bergamo has wonderful food!