Mini vacations while we live in Italy

Bologna, Torino, Alba, Genoa, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, Portovenere, Lake Como
...so much to see. Lucky you! I imagine you have been to nearby Lake Orta and Locarno, Lugano.

Lots of options in Switzerland and the south of France achieved by train.

If you've not been, consider Verona and Padua. Not sure of time by train from Milan, but I don't recall it taking all that long.

Bergamo is charming. And very few American tourists.

Another vote for Bergamo. Città Alta - the medieval upper part of the city perched above the newer part - is great!

If you like architecture, Vicenza is lovely. I was lucky enough to live there for a few years.

If you will be there for a year or two, you can also think of traveling to other countries. The budget airlines in Europe are quite good and have some amazing deals. I flew from Lisbon to Paris round trip for $84. Similar deals can be had for many Western European countries.

The Centovalli train from Domodossala to Locarno. (Might be doable without an overnight away from home.)

The Dolomites (mountain towns next summer, while the rest of Italy us hot; valley towns in spring or fall)

Gran Paradiso National Park (summer; a friend loved it)

Puglia in spring/fall (but you'll need to fly)

Malta (ditto)

Rick doesn't begin to cover all the great places in Italy. You need a supplemental book or two.

As already suggested, the Milan airport opens up a lot of other countries to you. Its Wikipedia page lists non-stop destinations.

Will Barley stay home on these mini trips or will you have him along? Train is quite doable but his pictures make look a bit big, will you not be getting a car? I would have thought flying with him may be much less convenient with a woofer than the train.

He might really like the Swiss Alps. Plenty of place to run around yet lots for his parents to see.....