In the northern part of Lake Como you will find some towns that are perfect for a family outing, even with small children!
Gera Lario is a small and charming town located in the northern part of Lake Como able to offer unique views, since it overlooks the Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve.
A family outing
It is a particularly suitable excursion if you are still dealing with strollers or prams: you can walk the beautiful lakefront in complete calm, for those who also want to ride a bike, stopping to observe those who practice sailing, surfing or canoeing during the summer. Here and there the presence of some tongues of sand, allows the little ones to play with spades and buckets and "dip" their feet in the water, a bit as if they were at the sea. If the children did not like getting dirty with water and earth, they can run around the really vast meadows, where it is also possible to have a nice picnic, a genuine, fresh solution, and from an economic point of view perfectly in line with a low cost trip.
Visit to the center of Gera Lario
However, if you prefer to be more comfortable, you will also find restaurants and accommodation facilities, being Gera Lario it has now become a rather tourist destination. Wandering around the center doesn't take much time: you can stroll through the local market (although unfortunately it is not present every day), you can eat a nice ice cream and visit the two small churches of San Vincenzo and Church of Our Lady of Fatima renamed the "Sanctuary of the Fishermen", in the name of those who had initially contributed, through their donations, to the internal decorations of the church. If you are lazy and do not want to move, you can stop here all day, while if you are more dynamic families, you can take the car again and get to the Sorico locality.
Sorico direction
From Gera, follow the signs for “Bugiallo”: it is a winding road that climbs for about half an hour, so it would be better if the children were on an empty stomach or had eaten for a couple of hours already! The path winds through a forest that seems to never end, but as soon as you reach Sorico, the heart and lungs can only open: the panorama that you will have before your eyes is truly breathtaking! A painting with meadows and mountains as a frame and a very green lake in the center of it: one natural show incredibly full of charm! A paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the city and noises, apart from the natural ones.
Where to eat
Right here, if you haven't had lunch yet, you will find a fantastic farmhouse: Giacomino farmhouse. The dishes that are offered are super genuine because all the ingredients come from their gardens and the value for money is really great! In front of the farm there is a large park with swings and a slide, where children can feel free to play and stay for the rest of the afternoon.
Plain itinerary
However, after lunch, if you are not tired yet, you can take the classic walk to promote digestion towards centenary pine forest, which presents some crazy views of the lakes of Mezzola of How. The route takes about an hour between roundtrip, simple and flat, therefore super suitable for children and interspersed with small and strange animals, life paths, particular rocks and an old site that has now been destroyed. The only ones in this walk are two: the absence of trees to shelter, so you will have to equip yourself with sunscreen and hats in case it is summer and the fact that it is not a suitable path if you have strollers; in this case you should carry the baby on your shoulder.
Before returning you could stop at the farm again to treat yourself to a nice cold beer and a drink for the puppies!
