Lake Como

Varenna is pretty popular. A nice part of the lake with a train station and frequent service to Milan to the south and Tirano and Switzerland to the north. Short ferry ride to Bellagio.

If you are arriving by train, varenna cant be beat!!

I would stay in Varenna as well. Here is a clip from Rick Steves on Varenna and Lake Como.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/milan-and-lake-como

Another vote for Varenna. It's an easy one hour trip by train from Milan, and a great home base in the mid-lake area as it has good Ferry service. There are some nice hotels and restaurants but be sure to book early as it's a popular location.

Varenna indeed makes a good base, with its convenient access by train.

For Lake Como ferry times ...
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

Ferry to Bellagio for visit to ...
Villa Melzi, Bellagio
09:30 to 18:30 daily
http://www.giardinidivillamelzi.it/GIARDINI_DI_VILLA_MELZI/

Ferry to Tremezzo for visit to ...
Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo
09:30 to 19:30 daily
http://www.villacarlotta.it/

You also can visit ...
Villa Monastero, Varenna
Garden: 09:30 to 19:00 daily
House: Wed 14:00 to 19:00, Thu-Sun 09:30 to 19:00
http://www.villamonastero.eu/index.php

Villa del Balbianello, Lenno
10:00 to 18:00 ex Mon,Wed
http://www.visitfai.it/villadelbalbianello/

We stayed in Varenna too and loved it.

I've stayed in Varenna twice. It's easy to reach by train and you can take the ferry from there to visit other towns.

In Varenna at the Ferry Ticket booth, you can buy an all day ferry pass and then you and ride around and across the lake from town to town...... get off, walk around, have a picnic, hop on another ferry and visit another town.
There are so many great views of the towns and lake from the ferries.

Wow...thank you so much for the replies. Sounds like Varenna is the place for us to go !
The additional info and the video are helpful !!!!!