Need travel tips - Turin to Milan via ?

Will be in Italy in late May and our schedule has ended up with a travel day to get from Turin to Milan. We've never been in the area, so only have google to get a sense of distance and scenerey. We have some time scheduled in both Turin and Milan, but trying to figure out the most fun way to get from one to the other. We will have a car, so have a lot of flexibility.

Going out to the west of Turin to the National Park or the Sacra di San Michele near Susa is interesting, but headed in the wrong direction. We'll be in that area in a different part of the trip.

Options - Turin to Milan:

1) via wine country of Alba and Barolo - shortest, most relaxed, but don't know much about the area or where to go

2) via a side lake trip (Laga d'Orta or Largo di Varese) - longer, a touch out of the way and we'll be spending some time around Como later, but people seem to love the lakes and each sounds like it has its own charms

3) via a trip to the coast (perhaps Finale Ligure) - way longer, out of the way and would only be a short stop at the coast, but the coast is a very strong draw

Any thoughts, recommendations, suggestions, etc.?

 

Great suggestion. Actually, we're coming in from that direction. We're hoping to get some good tours through the passes, but don't know which ones will be open when we're there. Seems lke many of the passes might not open until June 1.