I've spent time in Chamonix, Wengen, Murren and Zermatt and my words cannot begin to do their mountain views justice. Is there anyplace even close in magnificence? ( Norwegian Fjords and Canadian Lake Moraine are similarly amazing though there are no lifts to mountain tops). What I am looking for: top mountain scenery with lifts into the heights during the summer. Dolomites are close but I am running out of time for second best!

We've hiked and explored both the Alps(Berner Oberland) and the Dolomites. We think the Dolomites have everything you are looking for--lifts up top, hiking trails, vistas and services in the refugi. Not sure why you are ruling them out.

Agree, Dolomites are spectacular and seem to have everything you are looking for. We based in ortisei and lived it!

I agree about the Dolomites. And they have the lifts running in Summer to get you to the top of the mountains.

Definitely the Dolomites - Ortesei, Cortina d'Ampezzo or San Vigilio/St Vigil will suit your description, but if you want a slightly bigger base, then you can't go wrong with Bolzano/Bozen. Not sure if you'll have a car, but if you do then you can easily access more summer-operating lifts.

I loved the lower Austrian Alps in and around the Lake District, very very pretty. The mountains weren't too high, but the entire area was very beautiful.
My favorite places were Gosausee and Halstatt.And the whole area is excellent for walking and hiking.In early summer you'll see snow.
http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...blic/gosausee/ for Gosausee
and http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...-and-achstein/ for Halstatt.

And there are some good lifts,Five Fingers at Dachstein and Zweiselalm at Gosausee.

Hi,

The Dolomites are spectacular. We prefer to base in the Alta Badia. Outstanding Dolomite scenery. With a car, drive a few of the passes, such as the Gardena and Sella.

The Austrian Zillertal is also magnificent as far as alpine scenery and having plenty of cable cars and lifts.

Paul

thank you so much. I have been to the Dolomites numerous times, and however spectacular I am looking for something equivalent to Murren, Wengen, Zermatt, and Chamonix. Just thought there would be other wonders.