Nice Towns in Dolomites/Prosecco Regions

In addition to the lovely historic area, check out the museum with the Iceman while you're in Bolzano. Just so you know, Bolzano's down in the valley, but it's easy to head up to the mountain villages from there. I don't know what the driving conditions will be like in late December, but I guess the roads are cleared for the skiers. I liked Ortisei.

You must make sure that you rent a car with winter tyres (ideally, but tricky in Italy) or snow chains (at worst), as one or the other is mandatory in mountain areas in the winter. Otherwise you'll be stopped by the police, or stuck.

acraven, thank you! I am not aware of a museum with an iceman, but that sounds interesting lol. I'm looking that up

Thank you, balso. So from what you wrote, they may not rent cars prepared for winter in a snowy area? Wow! I had not thought of that. I assumed any car they would rent would come prepared for the environment. Hmmmmm. Well, thank you for that head's up! The planning just got more tricky.

Does anyone know if there are plentiful snow chain rental places in the mountain towns? I'm assuming in Cortina since that's a big ski town but ??? Thank you

One of the best scenic routes in the Prosecco hills is from Valdobbiadene to Follina. We did it in late May and it was excellent and it should be quite pretty through October. However I wouldn't do it in winter - not only will there be no leaves, there will be no active wineries, and less than 9 hours of daylight.

Otzi the Iceman, in the Museum of Archeology in Bolzano

hey hey jbtemecula
can't answer about the dolomites towns, but i would listen to what they say about the roads and driving during winter time. you'd have to call car rental company. if you are renting a car don't forget an IDP, corresponds with your drivers license for every driver. get at AAA/CAA for about $25 and 2 photos same day.
we did a fabulous prosecco tour through the hills, stopped at 2 wineries, col vertoraz and adami, lots of tasting, and stopped for a yummy lunch, driver's choosing.
this was about 3 years ago, staying in venice we, 4 senior ladies and 30 yo daughter, took train to town of susegana and picked up by driver. we used oriana (email [email protected]) she is born and grewup there and the people all know and love her. (oriana noleggio con conducente, she's on facebook also) if interested in a tour. you may ask host/hostess in pordonone if they know of someone that does tours so you don't need to drive.
the ride is so pretty, winding roads, some waterfalls, sprawling vineyards and homes, small hotels, B&B's, cafes, rstaurants, shops. we wanted to taste the local prosecco, the owners are so nice and willing to talk about things, i really wanted to taste, not interested in how its made and fermented since i've been to quite a bit.
do some research what you want to see and ask questions, i'm sure they will give you info. plus are they open for tasting at that time of year. you'll have a great and fun time. we bought couple bottles back to venice with us to celebrate. have fun and happy travels CHEERS
read up visitproseccoitaly.com
aloha

Sorry it took me a few days to thank all of you! I got BUSY!

Mike, do you mean that the wineries will be closed down in Dec.? They don't stay open to do wine tastings? I know the fields will look barren and may have snow . . . I love that look. I live in a wine producing town and adored the two times our vineyards were covered in snow. So, for me looks don't matter as long as they will be open?

jmauldinuu, thanks! I will definitely check that out!! Sounds so interesting!

Princess Pupule, thanks so much, I appreciate all the info. By IDP, that is the int'l drivers license, right? It's on my to-do list with Auto Club very soon. I also don't care about a tour, just a tasting (or two lol) but, yes, I will try to find out if they're open year round. I didn't think about them closing as ours never do ha ha

"By IDP, that is the int'l drivers license, right?"

No, it's International Drivers Permit. It is not a license, but is used in combination with your US license. You get it at AAA, and you do not need to be an AAA member. It's good for one year, but you can start it at any time (need not be January 1).

Definitely check out the Archeology Museum in Bolzano. Not only is the Iceman material fascinating, but it puts him in context of the various Ages (Stone, Copper, Bronze, etc).

Harold, thank you, I had meant permit, not license! It's on my calendar to go to AAA this coming November. I understand it is taken care of quickly, usually while you wait? I hope to have a trip to France next year, probably in Spring, but a small chance it may be Oct./Nov. and I want this permit to last through that trip too just in case it happens in autumn :) :) :)

I can't speak about the whole area, but in May on the scenic section we drove, there wasn't one winery apparent offering a tasting or tour. There was one event listed in a nearby town on the next weekend but we couldn't stay for it. You might look at the websites of some larger producers to see if they offer anything.

hey hey jbtemecula
you're welcome for this information.
visitproseccoitaly.com under explore has names of wineries to visit. check them out and email them if they do tastings and times while you are there. you may have to make an appointment, if you know your day book it.
casalinaprosecco.it
latordera.it
adamispumanti.it
ruggeri.it
wanderingredhead.com/guide to prosecco
oliverstravels.com/blog/top-prosecco-tasting
a few you may to check out. the IDP is a permit. if you are staying a few days in venice check out schezzini.it alessandro does a cichetti bar crawl (finger foods and wine tasting. email him and schedule. also streaty.com a street food and wine tour.
come back and let us know how you did. i'm leaving in 2 days for geneva, annnecy and paris for 18 days and will be having lots of champagne in france. CHEERS
aloha

Thank you both! I will check out all the info. and I will report back :) :)

Princess, by the way, I don't know if you've ever been to Annecy, but I just love it! So pretty! And while I don't remember Geneva all that well, I do remember taking a boat around to smaller towns on the lake and walking around and enjoying lunch . . . highly recommended. I'm sure you've planned everything and researched everything and I know I'm not adding anything of value here, but I got all excited thinking of those memories! I do plan to go back in the upcoming year . . . would love to hear a report back on your trip! Enjoy!

hey hey jb
never been to annecy. so excited about going. geneva is 2 nights then taxi to annecy. we rented an apartment with terrace overlooking lake for 6 nights. planning a boat ride on lake, taking train to chambery, a small village about an hour away, going to restaurants, lafermadelacharbonniere.com, menthon saint bernard, glass floors to see dairy and cows below, walk the streets for shops, cafes, drinking wine, eating fondue, city tour. this is a relaxing vacation. my friend and i are both retired, just reach my medicare age!!!! love it.
after annecy back to paris for 8 nights in the 14th arr. no museums, art, statues, one church to light candles for my family. my third trip to paris and it's an eat drink and be merry time, walking around, some tuktuk tours and fancy car night tour, champagne seine cruise, train to ardnesy for lunch at auberge de la goelette on the river, day trip to meaux (home of brie and mustard), galeria lafayette, bercy park warehouse shopping and eating, gumbo yaya restaurant (chicken & waffles), frenchie-FTG.com (homemade sausages, hotdogs, ruben. lobster roll, pulled pork, fish&chips), roast chicken at street markets, nossa-paris.com (portuguese grilled chicken) seeing the different areas. always stayed in rue cler. i'm on a mission to eat eclairs and a souffle, 2 years ago was french onion soup, best i found was up in montmarte, canauxrama.com cruise up a river outside paris. maybe even a cancan show
my friend's 32 yo daughter and friend going to rome and amalfi and will stop in paris to stay with us before flying home. as you can see it's a fun and crazy vacation for us "senior" ladies. i will report back. time is ticking, saturday will be in lounge at oakland airport before boarding. cheers
aloha

If you are considering scenic towns in Dolomites, Merano is the obvious choice. i visited it this summer and it is stunning. It has meditteranean climate although it is surrounded by mountains. My base was in Bolzano only half an hour drive away, also beautiful city very near to many mountain resorts. There is a road between Bolzano and Cortina called TheGreat Dolomites Road which is full of small scenic towns like Araba and mountain passes. I was there in August but I am sure they are even more spectacular during winter.
Merano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewdmu0uFeek&t=1s
Bolzano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9WX9U7L2ok