Lake Garda recommendations?

[AliceAnneB]

We have booked 4 nights over the Easter break at Lefay on the outskirts of Gargnano about halfway up the western side. Anyone have any recommendations for travelling with a three year old? Venice worth the day trip?

I wouldn't do Venice from there - certainly not with a small child. Unless you were near the railway (eg at Desenzano) Verona is closer. Boat trips around/across lake well worth doing. Older children would enjoy Gardaland.

Verona is lovely and easy on the train from Lake Garda; other than that I would use the ferry and visit the beautiful places around the lake. We visited Bardolino and Sirmione, which are compact villages and great to stroll around with a buggy - the gelato shops are amazing!
We went to Garda last summer (our DCs are teens now) and I remember Bardolino had a lovely flat promenade with a shaded play area just on the lake.

Riva is beautiful, there's a couple of play parks for kids, in summer they have a section of the lake for swimming in with ladders etc, there's a mini 'train' round the town, and a little animal house with snakes etc. My DS loved it there, he was 3 when we went (he's 11 now so could have changed!). Also an excellent ice cream shop near the dock for the boats.

You should definitely go to Malcesine and get the cable car up to the top of Monte Baldo there's a play park, restaurants and animals (alpacas, cows, rabbits etc). That was 2011 so may be more stuff now. Malcesine itself is beautiful too - my DS loved the ducks!

Gardaland has a 'little kids' bit too I think - not sure how young, we've only been once when DS was 7.

Verona is a very easy train ride away. We stayed at a campsite in Peschiera last time, could walk to the train station (where you could also get a free bus to Gardaland).

Enjoy - Lake Garda is my DS's favourite place in the world!

"Verona is lovely and easy on the train from Lake Garda"

The railways runs along the bottom end of the lake and is nowhere near Gargnano. The nearest station is Desenzano 32km away. You would have to get a bus or a ferry to Desenzano.

As you are only there for 4 days I would stick to using ferries to visit other towns on the lake - prioritising Sirmione and Malcesine which are really worth visiting.

Take something warm to wear on the lake as average daily temperatures will be about 16 degrees.

Lake Garda is probably my favourite holiday destination as well.

Oops, Bunbaker is indeed right about the trains - I stand corrected!
But agree that for the short time you're there, make the most of the beautiful towns and villages around the lake.