Where to stay and what do it in Ticino
 

My husband and I will be in the Ticino region of Switzerland May 7-13 and are looking at things to do and places to stay. We are in our late 20s, fairly active, will be renting a car, and I'll be 20 weeks pregnant. I would love to get some advice on what tickled your fancy in the area or what you have heard are some not to miss adventures.

I think we'd prefer to stay in the Lugano region for most of those days, but any advice on day trips from there would be recommended. I'm not opposed to splitting up our vacation into two or three different chunks either. We definitely do not need to stay in one spot the entire week. We do love staying in apartments so that we are able to get a feel for "living" in the area, but I'd love to get some recs for budget hotels or B&Bs as well. Thanks so much!

Look at the Val Versasca for a unique experience.

Closest airports: Lugano, Milano Linate, Milano Malpensa,Zurich, Basel, Bern.
If you arrive by train from Germany, check the Swiss Pass (if you don't rent a car). Public transport is excellent up to the most remotest mountain valleys.

Lugano is a good base for the whole aresa. Cheap hotel in Lugano, in a silent park with subtropical plants and a fine view over the lake, close to Lugano railway station): http://www.montarina.com/
But check http://www.booking.com/ As May is low season, there are often bargains in much better hotels.

Both, Lugano and Locarno are transport hubs with dozens of bus lines, boat lines on the lakes and hundreds of km of signmarked hiking trails.

Lugano has an international airport and is linked with frequent trains and buses to Lake Como (Como, Menaggio) and to Lake Maggiore (Locarno, San Nazzaro, Luino).

The train ride from Lugano to Locarno lasts 1 hour (2-3 trains every hour, from 5.30am until midnight)

The highest mountains around Lugano are 1600m high: Monte Generoso (cog railway), Monte Lema (cableway), Alpe Foppa (cableway).

Locarno is closer to the Alps: many bus lines go into narrow Alpine Valleys, from where you can go on by cableway up to 2000 metres. If you like small medieval towns, you will like the centre of Locarno (Piazza Grande, etc.).

Culture: 3 castles of Bellinzona (Unesco site), Copy of the Cenacolo of Leonardo da Vinci at Capriasca (Lugano), Sanctuary of Madonne del Sasso (Locarno), Romanesque church of Riva San Vitale (Lugano), Monastery of Bigorio (Lugano), churches of Lugano and Morcote (with stunning views over Lake Lugano), Sanctuary of Re (Italy, close to Locarno).

Both places are fine. Some people prefer Lugano, others Locarno. Don't forget the scenic surrounding villages: Ascona, Ronco sopa Ascona (panoramic view over Lake Maggiore), Brissago, Caslano, Morcote, Carona..... (local buses or trains to Locarno, resp. Lugano at any time).

Copy from one of my previous posts:

Visit Lake Orta and take a boat to the Island of San Giulio: http://www.orta.net/eng1/isolasgiulioe.htm
Continue through the villages of Armeno and Gignese (there you will find the only Umbrella Museum of Europe) to Stresa. An boat trip from Stresa to Isola Bella (castle, famous botanical gardens with tropical plants) is a must. Drive then to scenic Pallanza (enter the small historic center on foot) and Intra, where you take a car ferry to Laveno. Continue then, still along beautiful Lake Maggiore to Luino - Cremenaga - Ponte Tresa Lavena and along Lake Lugano to Brusimpiano - Porto Ceresio - Brusino - Poiana - Riva San Vitale (visit the old frescoes in the Battistero) http://lugano.arounder.com/en/church...attistero.html
May be you enjoy a cog railway ride from there to Monte Generoso (1700m, panorama to the Alps from Mont Blanc up to Ortler from the South). Cross then Lake Lugano on a dam and visit Swissminiatur
http://www.swissminiatur.ch/#!__inglese
A few minutes later you will arrive at Lugano, the economic and touristic center of Southern Switzerland. Visit the famous Angioli Church
http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/it/85/c...y=51&idMod=164
Continue then, still along Lake Lugano to Gandria
http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/en/306/...=818&idMod=842 and then to Porlezza and Menaggio (Lake Como)

Have a look at:
http://www.maggiore.ch/?lang=en
http://www.illagomaggiore.com/?set_language=en&cl=en
http://www.lagomaggioreturismo.it/ing_home.html
http://www.lagomaggiore.net/uk/
http://www.lagomaggioreonline.com/?newlingua=UK&
http://www.ascona-locarno.com/
http://distrettolaghi.eu/en/
http://www.vareselandoftourism.it/
http://www.borromeoturismo.it/scripts/home.php?lang=en
http://www.cannero.it/uk/index.asp?a=0&b=0
http://www.museo-ogliari.it/
http://www.provincia.va.it/santacaterina/
http://www.villataranto.it/
http://www.gignese.it/museo/
http://www.giardinoalpinia.it/
http://www.mottarone.it/
http://www.comune.ortasangiulio.no.it/

neckervd - You rock. Thanks for the info. I'll look into all of it!