Is there any region in the US which has similar scenery to that found on Lake Como (the only northern Italian lake I've visited...). By this I mostly mean mountains surrounding the lakes - I'm sure the villas aren't quite as thick on the ground!
Anything in Canada would be nice to know about as well...
I found the area near Vancouver (heading up to Whistler) to have a similar mountain/sea feel to it...
If there are several, I'd love to hear about your favorites! I am thinking of a US vacation for my second go-round this year, and thought I'd see if I could combine something like that with my touring.. many thanks!
Since the Southern US mountains are below the glacial line (last Ice Age), there are far fewer natural lakes in these parts than say, in NY State or Canada (practically none in my part of the mountains). However, there are some, many man-made, as Hiwassee, most of which were TVA projects. Here is a nice website which lists and shows lake-mountain locations in the Southeast. I have seen a few of them but not stayed at any.
Ann
Below, from that website, is Cliffside Lake, near Highlands NC, which I have seen.
I haven't been here in many years but I do remember thinking Lake Louise (Alberta Canada) was stunningly beautiful. The color of the lake is not captured exactly right but here are some photos to give you an idea. It is almost a jade green with turqoise. Mysterious and magical color. Hope you can access these photos. Barb Cabot http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=U...up&resnum=1&ct=title
Posts: 586 | Location: Long Beach, California | Registered: 27 August 2007
Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming is spectacular. We were there almost 20 years ago, BDC (before digital cameras) so my only pictures (without digging through long-buried albums) are in my memory. But I still do have vivid memories of the mountains surrounding that lake as one of the most beautiful views I've seen. Just google it and I'm sure you'll come up with some great photos.
The problem with Tahoe is that South Lake leaves a lot to be desired. Jenny Lake is amazing. But I'm not sure anyplace has Como's combination of excellent scenery and townships.
----------------------------------- Pekorino, my food blog On The Road, Again [travel stories from 2005-2006]
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5017 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
The closest I've seen is Lake Chelan, Washington. Like Lake Como, it's very long, surrounded by steep mountains on both sides the entire way, is sunny and dry, has ferry access up and down, and has some less than pretty town development at the southern (most accessible) end. You can take the ferry up to the northern end and the town of Stehekin, which is only accessible by boat and has maybe 50 people. North Cascades National Park is at the lake's northern end, too, and much of the rest of it is forest service land. So, culturally, it's quite different than Lake Como.
Banff is gorgeous, but Lake Louise is nothing like Lake Como. Of lakes in the Canadian Rockies I'd say Peyto Lake in Banff or Maligne Lake in Jasper would be closest, and while I think they might be prettier than Como, they still don't actually resemble Como that much.
Moosehead Lake in Maine comes close, though mountains aren't as high. It's the largest lake in the state. Rangeley Lakes area in the western Maine mountains is very nice too.
This photo of Moosehead is courtesy of the NY Times.I'll add a photo of the Rangeley Lakes area in another e-mail.
Posts: 172 | Location: Bangor, Maine | Registered: 02 March 2006
