Switzerland/Lake Como with 3 preteens/teens

If you can still change airline tickets, I'd suggest-

Milan>Varenna, Lake Como (sleep 3-4 nights)
Lake Como > Tirano, Italy to catch the scenic Bernina Express to
Pontressina, Switzerland- (sleep 1-2 night)
Pontressina > Berner Oberland : Murren, Wengen, or Lauterbrunnen (sleep 5 nights)
BO > Lucerne ( easy train commute to Zurich airport ) (sleep 3 nights)

Switzerland's is one of my favorite countries - you're in for a treat. Note that the Swiss cities will be in the 80's, so come prepared for the difference in temps between the cities and mountains.
Determine an itinerary soon, and book lodging asap, as family lodging is harder to find, many travelers book 8-10 months out for these areas. Enjoy!

Thanks, Pat! Airline tickets already purchased. :-)

Would have preferred the flight itinerary you suggested but we save $2K USD by going in/out Zurich. Seems worth it, no?

Agreed, saving money is preferable. I think Lake Como might be the hardest to find accommodations, so maybe see what's available and plan the trip around that issue, since you'll be traveling in a circle in any case. Do your research on Booking.com but book directly for the best price.

So your bases could be-???
Lake Como ( Varenna, Bellagio, or Menaggio )
Berner Oberland
Lucerne

Have a wonderful family trip!

Yes! Do not miss the Berner Oberland! It is literally breathtakingly beautiful! I live in Colorado, and spend a lot of time in the mountains, but Switzerland takes the prize for scenery!

We started last years trip in Varenna and ended up in Switzerland, doing a very similar route to what has been suggested.

We were originally flying into Milan but due to strikes at the airport we had to change to Zurich. We caught a train from Zurich Airport to Como S. Giovanni which took a couple of hours from memory. We did hire a driver from there as we had flown from Australia and had already travelled for about 30 hours.

If you are only doing a shorter flight from the US though, you could easily train to Varenna and then ferry to Bellagio if that is your choice.

Once in Varenna/Bellagio you really don't need a car, we've been twice and managed perfectly well with ferries and the odd driver.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

It's looking like our general route will be:

• Arrive in Zurich from U.S.; travel to Berner Oberland
• 4-5 nights Berner Oberland, Switzerland
  
• 7-8 nights Lake Como, Italy
• 1 night Lucerne, Switzerland
  
• 1 night Zurich (for 10 AM return flight)

I will start a new thread with more specific questions related to the itinerary and base cities.

Thanks again.

Sounds like a good itinerary. Both areas are lovely.

I see your predicament with your 10 am flight out of Zurich.. do you leave Lucerne at 5:30 am and head directly to the airport and get there by 7 am for your 10 am flight, or do you go a day earlier to save an hour of sleep (you still have to get up early) but deal with the hassle of a hotel change and one day less in Lucerne? Lucerne is fun - definitely take a boat around the lake.