Milan to Lusanne

Not too clear about what you mean to by "closures".

Since you're visiting big cities, you won't have to worry about closures at museums, etc.

In and around Lausanne there is lots to see and do! Visit the old town and cathedral at the top of the city overlooking the lake. Go to Chateau Chillon in Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva. Take the train to Gruyere. Take an old steamer ferry across Lake Geneva to the city of Geneva and visit the old town and cathedral and see the Jet d'Eau. The vineyards of Lavaux surround this whole side of the lake and are lovely to walk in. The town of Sion, part way between Milan and Lausanne is a nice little place to visit as is the whole of the valley surrounding it - it's called Valais and it's very nice...orchards, vineyards, and castles.
I wouldn't be too worried about things being closed...Europe continues to be in business most of the year! It's just around holidays that things sometimes don't keep regular hours but during the middle of November I think you should be fine.

Thanks, Anita that helps. What I meant by closures is the Rick Steves travel consultant said many of the small towns would be almost closed down because it's after summer tourist season and before ski season rush. Also, the chocolate and cheese tour was not available because of the season. The friend I am traveling with, and I were starting to get concerned.

Lausanne (and for that matter, Milan) are not ski or hiking towns, so they are not seasonal the way a place like Muerren or Zermatt is. The museums and such will be open in November. And while the designated "Chocolate Train" to Gruyeres and Broc may not run, regular trains to those places will (details of how to get there are in Rick's book).

My favorite thing in Lausanne itself was the Museum of Outsider Art (Musee de l'Art Brut) - fascinating stuff you can't see elsewhere.