Suggestions for places similar to the Bernese Oberland

sandy,

One area you might consider is the Dolomites, outside of Bolzano. The scenery is stunning and there are LOTS of hiking trails. The area around Ortisei is very popular, so that's a good place to look. Another option would be to stay in Castelrotto and take hikes from there to places like Alpi di Siusi. If you take the chair lift to Marinzen (just above Castelrotto), the hike from there to Alpi di Siusi is listed at 1H:10M on trail 12.

For a high altitude location (although accessible by car), look into Flumserbeg in St Gallen canton. It isn't a distinct town or village, but a number of hamlets spread across the lower slopes of a mountain. The Alps here are not quite as high as in the Berner Oberland, but still impressive. One advantage if you have small kids or your level of physical fitness isn't ideal is that you can ascend the ski lifts to near the top of the mountain, and up here, there's several kilometers of trails that are relatively flat.

I've only visited in the winter for skiing, but Obertauern in Salzburgerland of Austria is also high altitude (accessible by car also). It's a modern, purpose-built ski resort, not an old town that became a ski resort (a la Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald). If you're looking for that folksy stuff that Rick Steves's readers salivate over, you won't find it, but if you want an Alpine resort that caters to the needs of hikers and skiers with great scenery, you can easily do much worse.

Finally, Lech am Arlberg near the western tip of Austria offers some of the same ambiance. The Oberlech section is also at a higher altitude.

Look at the Karwendel area in Bavaria

The Dolomites are our favorite hiking area outside of Switzerland. Stunning scenery with rocky peaks rising above green meadows, warm hospitality, and great food! There are lots of trails, lifts, and huts to make your hikes as easy or challenging as you want. We like to stay in Val Gardena, Val Badia, or up on Alpe di Siusi. It's all good.

Chamonix also offers great hiking, with scenery more similar to what you see in the Berner Oberland ( snowy peaks).

Within Switzerland itself, our favorite hiking area is the Aletschgletscher region. We stay in Bettmeralp, a car-free village perched high above the Rhône Valley, accessed by cablecar.

Zermatt also offers great hiking, including an inn-to-inn circuit around the ridges and valleys above the town. If you are lucky you will even see the Matterhorn.

Hi Sandy,

While we're not hikers, we also loved the scenery in the Berner Oberland, where we stayed 4 nights in Wengen. I would suggest the Zillertal in Austria, but the "downside" could be that you may wind up comparing the alps here to the Berner Oberland, as they're somewhat similar. For something truly different and just amazing, I agree with the Italian Dolomites! Simply spectacular and nothing like the alps in the Berner Oberland or just about anywhere else. We loved our stays in the Alta Badia and Val Gardena, but I'd give the "scenery" edge to the Alta Badia though. Just my opinion. As Lola stated, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Alpe di Siusi, it's ALL good!

Paul

Thank you everyone for your responses. I really appreciate it! You've given me a great starting point in planning out our vacation :)

Thanks, again, all.

Both the Dolomites and Chamonix are mentioned above and are worthy considerations. The Dolomites are spectacular and offer wonderful hiking opportunities and natural scenery. I think Parisian Poodles holiday in Chamonix and are no doubt thrilled to be there. They also surely enjoy the 10,000 locals plus visitors and happily join their masters sipping beers in the fast food spot with golden arches. I always look forward to returning to the Bernese Oberland and will visit the Dolomites again. Chamonix falls into been there done that category.

In Chamonix you can hike the Balcon Sud which is described in Europe Through the Backdoor. Also the gondola ride from Aguille du Midi to Helbroner is awesome. The views of Mont Blanc and the glaciers are amazing from town, the hike and the gondola!

The Dolomites are fantastic you can ride many of the Dolomite Superski chairs that are open in the summer. Very unique mountain terrain well worth a visit and many hiking options. There is a funny lift to Refuguia de Metz, a tram up at Passo Sella, Marmolada has hiking on top.

I think the Dolomites is better with a car while Chamonix is more accessible by train or via a van service from Geneva and excellent local transportation. The Dolomite towns are connected by bus and geting there via train and bus is slower.

Switzerland also has many options! Go see the Matterhorn and hike to the lake with the reflection :-) you can get off the train and get on again going in the same direction, so take the first train, get off and hike, get on then hike at the top. Repeat on the descent. Stay in Zermatt two or more nights and hope for a sunny day.

So many choices :-) enjoy the trip and the planning!