Lake como

Cooking class is with Chef Moreno at Ristorante Il Caminetto, it’s fun but would use up most of your only day.
Since you only have 1 full day, stroll around town, take the short ferry to Bellagio and/or Menaggio.

Buy a day pass for the ferries and make sure to take the tour of all the towns it visits then stop at Bellaggio - there’s a wonderful park, good restaurants and shopping. Also visit Lecco - there’s a market on Sundays I believe. By the way, you have made the right choice - Varenna is the best of the Lake towns!

In Varenna, you can tour the gardens at Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero. And have an afternoon cocktail on the outdoor terrace at Hotel du Lac. Have an evening drink down by the lake and watch the sun set.

Buy a ferry day pass for the mid-lake zone. There are other villas you can reach via the ferry, such as Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello. Plus, if the weather is good, it's just a pleasure to be out on the lake.

As others have said, Bellagio is a wonderful town to visit. Or ride over to Menaggio and walk along the lakeside promenade.

Geeat recommendations. Thanks.

Great suggestions by the others here!

You can also rent a boat or a kayak in Varenna.

My mom and I enjoyed the R&R and the beautiful scenery!

Make sure you walk on La Passerella (lakeside promenade) and stop at Gelateria Riva for a deliciously creamy gelato :)

Enjoy your trip!

"Not finding as much as far as activities as other places in Italy."

That's correct. The main activity, as Rick says, is seeing how low you can get your pulse. "If relaxation's not on your agenda, the lakes shouldn't be either."

I loved my time in Varenna (less enthralled with Bellagio, but enjoyed the Villa Melzi gardens). It's just a lovely place to hang out, walk by the lake, take boats between the towns, stroll in the towns, etc. If you're looking for "turnstile attractions" (another very evocative phrase of Rick's), they're aren't many - head to Milan for these.

You can visit the city of Como and also take the funicular up to Brunate where you’ll gat a fantastic panorama of the city, the lake and the alps.