Need help making an itinerary for a two weeks vacation in Switzerland and Lake Como area.

On the Cable Car line going down from Mt Pilatus at Frakmuntegg is a Luge Run and multi level Suspension Ropes course. You'll find information on this in Rick's book at the Mt Pilatus area.

Did that last time , don't plan to visit Lucerne this time but thanks :)

Anybody ?!?? Please :)

Do you have Rick's Switzerland guidebook, which covers lots of sightseeing details for those areas? Remember also that the Tourist Information office will be a good resource for maps and activity pamphlets while you're there.

If you definitely want to include Lake Como, then it makes sense to fly home from Milan. Any route across the Alps between Switzerland and Italy includes some nice scenery, but the slower route via St. Moritz and Tirano is a popular option, a portion of the Bernina Express. Between Tirano-Varenna-Milan, you can get train schedules through the Swiss railway site (www.SBB.ch), but not through the German DB link that we use for other areas.

Let's say you spend 4 nights around Muerren and 3 nights at Varenna. That still leaves you a whole week to plan. The Bernina Express is not the only scenic train ride. If you head west from the Muerren/Interlaken area to Lausanne, then take the scenic Golden Pass route, via Zweisimmen and Montreux.

You'll probably want a Swiss Travel Pass, which covers trains, buses, boats, and museums, and gives 50% discounts on most mountain lifts (but only 25% off between Wengen and Jungfraujoch/Top of Europe). Your son travels free with you if you request the Swiss Family Card at the same time.

You could also make an appointment with out paid Trip Consultants. Many of their recommendations will be covered in the book, but they can help you plan it out on a calendar.

Roda,

I can't help with suggestions for the activities you described, but hopefully one of the others can provide that. For Itinerary suggestions, would something like this work......

• D1 - Depart U.S. (I assume that's where you're flying from - your profile doesn't show a location).
• D2 - Flight inbound Milan; Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale and then Regionale to Varenna (Lago di Como).
• D3 - Varenna
• D4 - Varenna - possible day trips to Bellagio, Menaggio or other points on the lake.
• D5 - Train to Milano Centrale and then to Interlaken Ost (I'd suggest a departure at 11:23, arrive at 14:28, 1 change in Spiez); train to Lauterbrunnen (I can't offer suggestions after that, without having some idea which town you want to stay in; Lauterbrunnen is the most central location).
• D6 - Berner Oberland (Gimmelwald, Mürren, and of course the Schilthorn as I'm sure your son will enjoy the spectacular Cable Car ride and the James Bond theme; if your budget will allow, have a fine hot meal in the revolving restaurant).
• D7 - Berner Oberland (day trip to the other side of the valley - Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and the "Top of Europe" at the Jungfraujoch if your budget will allow, as it's an expensive trip - it's the highest railway station in Europe at about 10K feet, and the Sphinx Observatory is even higher at about 12K feet).
• D8 - Berner Oberland - Trummelbach Falls and any other sights you want to see
• D9 - Berner Oberland (perhaps a day trip to Interlaken for a cruise on the lake; they may also have a public swimming pool).
• D10 - Train to Basel (it's a beautiful city and your son might enjoy seeing the Bears).
• D11 - Basel
• D12 - Train to Zürich - (there are lots of different tours in that area, including cruises on the lake).
• D13 - Zürich
• D14 - Flight outbound to U.S.

The only amusement park that I can recall is Gardaland which is east of Milan on the way to Venice. You could always reduce your time in Switzerland and spend a few days there, perhaps right after arrival. One other option you could consider would be to substitute Lago Maggiore for Lago di Como and spend a few days in Stresa on the way to the Berner Oberland. While there you could take the Cable Car to Mt. Mottarone for great views, visit the fantastic Borromeo Islands or take a day trip to Locarno, Switzerland via the scenic Cento Valli Railway, returning by boat to Stresa in the early evening.

There are lots of possibilities and these are only one suggestion.

I do not know what you are budgeting for activities but I can recommend one he will never forget: paragliding in the mountains. This of course is dependent on the weather but nonetheless an awesome experience. Run by professionals, completely safe and no experience necessary. I did it last September and it is highly recommended. Just a suggestion :)

Roda,

I've also done Paragliding in the Swiss Alps, but didn't suggest it as I wasn't sure if that would be a good choice for a 10-year-old. Also, it's a bit pricey so be sure your budget will allow.

Take him over to Grindelwald, in the next valley over from Lauterbrunnen. There is a zipline there at the First gondola, called the First Flyer ( Firstflieger in German). You can also rent TrottiBikes ( mountain scooters) and ride down---our kids loved that. Ride the lift several times so you can do both. And frommthe top be sure to take the short hike to the Bachalpsee for lovely views.

Also at Grindelwald, at the Pfingstegg lift, there is a Rodelbahn ( summer luge) that is fun for kids. This lift is across the river a short walk from the downtown area.

The town has a public pool at the Sportzcentrum. There is an interesting hike on an engineered path ( boardwalks and tunnels) into the glacier ravine ( Gletscherschlucht) that you all might enjoy ( admission fee). And for rainy days an indoor rope park---apparently the largest in Europe.

And while you probably won't have him go paragliding, you can have lunch on the deck at Hotel Bodmi and watch the paragliders land just below. When we were last there they had a special table reserved for the Gleitschirmpiloten (pilots); they would enjoy a beer there after the last jump of the day.

http://www.bodmi.ch/

I was alternately amazed and appalled that at the top of the Schilthorn there were paragliders! That is 10,000 ft if I remember correctly. After a while it almost felt like they were there as an advertisement.