One of my favorite day trips from Verbania was a large loop via train. Starting in Verbania, I headed to Domodossola where I switched to the oddly named Swiss “FART” train. A new alternative fuel? No, this Swiss transportation system acronym actually stands for Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi. They must have a crack team in the acronym department there 
This train then runs through beautiful Valle Vigezzo to Locarno, Switzerland on the northern shores of Lago Maggiore.
Along the way, I got off the train at Druogno and spent 3 hours hiking up the closest mountain I could find, Alpe Cima. The vegetation here is very dense, but I managed some pretty nice views when I reached the top. The view from the train is also quite nice, but nothing like what can be attained via hiking, so I’m glad I went. The towns of Druogno and Santa Maria Maggiore are also very nice little mountain towns to explore.
