Staying and playing in Lauterbrunnen over Interlaken?

What adventurous things did you have in mind in Interlaken? Riding the boats on the lakes? The model train exhibit?

If you are going to the mountains go to the mountains.

It would be really helpful if you could share what you mean by adventurous. Are you looking for hiking and riding trains and cable cars, or are you looking for bungee jumping, paragliding, base jumping, via ferrata, canyoning? Those are two very different levels of activity, so to point you in the right direction a little help from you is needed.

Nigel beat me to it with one of his witty responses. There is no adventure, IMO, in Interlaken. Head up the valley 20 minutes to Lauterbrunnen and on to Muerren if you like. Stay there all the nights you can, at least 3, I hope!

All the beautiful lifts and trains are in-and-out-and-around the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Rick Steves' guide to Switzerland details many hikes in the area that are easy and some that are more "adventurous." We go for pretty easy, ourselves.

Thank you Nigel and Laurel for your response. Yes, let me clarify.
By Adventure, yes I mean things like Paragliding, Canyoning/repelling, hiking, etc. (I wish on base jumping, but probably don't have the guts). Its also a little bit about you don't know what you don't know with respect to things to do in that Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen/Murren area. I've tried to read as much as I can on what there is to do so I think I have a good grasp, but it was a little hard to tell the difference between things to do in Interlaken and those small mountain towns (probably because Interlaken advertises those things up in the mountains).

So now that I've clarified, if you could elaborate on if you think its worth spending (Thursday late afternoon- Sunday afternoon) the only time we'll have in Switzerland in just those small mountain towns mentioned, or spreading it out a little bit by spending a day/night in Interlaken or somewhere else (Lucerne, Zurich, other)?

Looking forward to your responses

We've taken 5 trips to Switzerland and go to Murren every time. IMHO interlaken is an over sold tourist trap and to be avoided. It is not even in the mountains. Murren on the other hand would allow you to base jump practically from your hotel door (are you crazy) or para glide from across the street. Gimmelwald is just down the road from Murren (20 minute downhill walk) and smaller in size. Lauterbrunnen is down in the valley and is green and lush but you are in the area for the mountains so stay up in the mountains...Murren is my choice however many people prefer Wengen (on the other side of the valley from Murren in the mountains) as this town has more to do then Murren (night life). Lots of beautiful hiking from either town. If you want to experience Interlaken its only a half our away but train but I don't think you will be taking that trip..there is just to much to see and do from Murren or Wengen.

"The more I read, the more it seems like the opinion is that there isn't really a lot to do in Interlaken and that most of the adventurous, or even just things to do are in and around Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Gimmerwald. "

You are reading correctly. As you say, activities are promoted from Interlaken, but you still have to get to the mountains to do these activities. Interlaken is near but not in the mountains.

I agree with everyone else - spend all your nights in Mürren.

As I always say about Interlaken (apologies to those who've read me before), it's a great place if you're looking for large supermarkets (Mürren has a small one), large hotels, jewelry stores, sex shops, or a "Paksitani" restaurant (that's what the sign said, like Punxsutawney Phil in Groundhog Day). And to be fair, the Museum of Tourism was of some interest. If you're not coming to Switzerland for these things, no need to go there.

I'm an "Interlaken Destination Expert" on Tripadvisor (for what little it's worth) and my #1 recommendation for people heading to that area is get OUT of Interlaken. Head for the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Murren, Wengen. Interlaken is not in the alps and presumably you came to see the alps. So STAY in the alps, SLEEP in the alps, live and breathe the alps. You want base jumping, paragliding, etc - go to Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg, and look up at the ledge where Murren sits and you'll see all those base jumpers and paragliders floating down. The alpine villages of Murren and Wengen are breathtakingly beautiful and filled with lots of nice chalets, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores - everything you need.

I don't know how Interlaken ever got associated with being in the alps. Yes, there are lots of hotels (some very nice) lots of restaurants, lots of trinket shops, McDonalds, etc - but you can find that ANYWHERE.

Staying in Interlaken isn't the end of the world. While it may not have as good a view of the alps vs the mountain villages, it does have a few advantages:
-while it's more commercial than the villages, it's actually less touristy as the municipality has functions outside tourism.
-in case of inclement weather/poor visibility Interlaken is a better base to visit rainy day options like Bern, the Ballenberg open air museum, or a lake cruise.
-Restraunt food is cheaper and with the added benefit of more variety of cuisines.

If you really must get to Interlaken while staying in Lauterbrunnen it's only a short 20 minute train ride away. No, it's definitely not the end of the world to stay in Interlaken.

Nobody loves Interlaken :-)
Where else do you get to take a picture with a carved bear?

Seriously - Interlaken is not overrun with Big-N-Large stores even though it does have a lot of shopping - And there are some pretty nifty views of the Jungfrau and the entrance to the valley (depending on the clouds of course) available from at least one of the various bed & breakfasts in the town.

And I must say that sitting on the balcony of my Bed & Breakfast in Interlaken watching the hang gliders circling overhead (launching from the Harder Klum north of town - opposite the valley entrance) and then landing in the nearby 'green' area in the center of Interlaken was very special.

Lauterbrunnen's advantage is that it is 25 minutes closer to anything in the mountains, but basically - If you want to look out at the mountains - Interlaken is quite nice. If you want to look straight up at the cliff sides of the valley Lauterbrunnen is quite nice. If you really want to see a panorama of the mountains - then you are talking Muerren or Wengen.

In my opinion Interlaken is a great place to spend one night. I'm not much of a shopper, but it is fun to do a little looking around the shops. I enjoy a stroll along the Aare River, marveling at the unusual color of the water, and watching the base jumpers (or are they para-sailers) come down and land in the big, green grassy area right in Interlaken. Just catch your breath, adjust a little to the time change in Interlaken and the next day head for Murren, Gimmelwald (my favorite) or Wengen. I think you will find that you need more time devoted to the Berner Oberland as it is an incredible place.