Swiss experience in the U.S. or Canada????

Patsy,

I'm most familiar with western Canada, and a couple of places that come to mind....

• http://www.whistler.com/ (not far from Vancouver and has "beautiful mountains/villages/lakes" (albeit a bit on the expensive side - while there you could ride the Peak-to-Peak Gondola).
• On the way to Whistler, you could stop and try the http://www.seatoskygondola.com/
• http://www.hellobc.com/thompson-okanagan.aspx (includes a good variety from small towns to larger cities, and terrain from desert to mountain as well as some beautiful lakes - wide range of accommodations from luxury at places like the Sparkling Hills Resort which is owned by the Swarovski Crystal group to more basic, and some accommodations at wineries).
• You could also look in the Banff and Jasper areas as lots of mountain trails, lakes, etc.

Hopefully others can provide information for other places in Canada.

I can't compare . . . yet. I'll be in the Alps next month for the first time, but I've been to the Rockies in the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. Rockies pale in comparison to Canada's. I visited in the spring (end of May, beginning of June) and in the fall (end of September). Great both times, more snow in the spring. From what I've seen and read about the Alps, there are a few big differences in the "experience." The Rockies are majestic, no question. I didn't see quaint villages or alpine meadows. I remember trees everywhere. I did see lots of wildlife. In the spring (early June): bears, bighorn sheep, a sweet family of loons with the chicks playing on a scenic lake, birds of course. Lots and lots of elk both visits. In the fall, the elk were bugling and the sound echoing off the mountains was quite an experience. But don't expect anyone to speak German - or even French. You'll have to manage in English, eh. And you'll have to do it with a car. The highways are scenic with lots of stops to see interesting geological formations, lakes, views, and toilets.

There are easy hikes on lake shores, or into gorges to see waterfalls, cable cars in Banff and Jasper for the views, a glacier to walk on, of course.

If you can extend the time, spend a few days on Vancouver Island.

I'm sure Ken will come back and add (and correct my memories).

I grew up in Atlanta and we always spent a lot of time in the town of Helen, Georgia which is a 90 minute drive north of Atlanta. In the 1960's they set it up as an alpine style village. It has an authentic Swiss feel, is nestled in the mountains, and has lakes around and waterfalls. The hotels, restaurants, shops, etc are designed to look like a Swiss village. You can also rent cottages and cabins in the woods or on the waterfront. Gorgeous place full of friendly people. www.helenga.org Their Oktoberfest is awesome.

Terri: I have a place in Helen, GA. It's a nice, quiet fake German town and it sure beats staying in big hot cities in the Summer. And its just 65 minutes from the edge of Atlanta.

Patsy: Let me get this straight. You live on the north end of Lake Tahoe and you're asking us about mountain experiences? I've been all over your region, and the scenery is breathtaking. I've also been to Aspen, but I return to Tahoe to ski every time. Whistler is another great place--north of Vancouver, BC.

When traveling Europe for mountains, I prefer to swing a little east of Switzerland to the Tirol Region of Austria. It's less expensive than Switzerland, easy to travel through, and accommodations are numerous and quaint. The Alps' scenery is absolutely incredible, too. In all my travels, the Grossglockner Highway south of Zell-am-See is still the most beautiful place I've ever been--especially on the south side (north of Lienz, Austria.)

I don't see any place like The Alps in North America, and that's why I return every few years.

I do have a suggestion. The Wallowa mountains in northeast Oregon. Look up Joseph, Oregon. You will see Wallowa lake, the Mountains, etc. Small town with strong arts influence, especially bronzes. Strong "Western" influence as well.

It takes a little doing to get there, but it has the mountains, lake, and small towns (although this is certainly not a swiss version) You could combine this with a jet boat trip down Hells Canyon for a new type of adventure.

How about the east coast of Canada? I grew up in Newfoundland. The west coast of the island of Newfoundland is simply phenominal. Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO heritage site. Mountains formed by tectonic plates. Fiords. Wonderful hiking. Great boat rides. You could expand up the Northern Peninsula to L'anse Aux Meadows where the Vikings landed, stopping into small fishing outports along the way. The area is beautiful and super interesting. We spent five weeks in Switzerland two summers ago and are returning this year. We love Switzerland but the small locations and mountains remind us of home. Remember though, these mountains in Newfoundland are old. They aren't the Rockies which are extremely high. They're different but beautiful in a different way. http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/PlacesToGo/GrosMorneNationalPark

The Canadian Rockies (Banff, etc) are more like the Alps, big, jagged peaks.
Also the Grand Tetons between Jackson Hole and Yellowstone NP.
Other mountains in the US don't really have that "Europe Alps" feel (not quite the glacial jagged look). Even California's Sierra Nevada and the US Rocky Mtns--although spectacular and well worth the effort to experience them, don't IMHO quite approach the snow-covered rocky jaggedness of Europe's Alps.
Guess that's why they call the real thing the Alps.

We were on a Ranger guided tour from Grand Teton NP and viewing the three central Grand Teton peaks, and there was a Swiss person present, she had been blown away earlier in the week by Yellowstone's geysers, which I guess they don't have much of in Europe (except Iceland). So she's really been impressed with that. But about the Grand Teton mountain view that all of the Americans were oooohing and aaaawing about, she just politely said "nice", but if you'd seen Switzerland's Alps, you knew she wasn't just being a poop.

I don't think you're going to find the 'Switzerland experience' anywhere in the American west. No cute little villages easily connected by public transportation. But there are lots of places with beautiful mountains and lakes.

One area in Colorado that's been likened to Switzerland is in the southwest - Teluride/Silverton/Ouray (also known as little Switzerland). Unfortunately it's not the easiest place to get to or to get around, but it is beautiful.

Another area I liked is the Crested Butte area, the most beautiful meadows carpeted with wildflowers with mountain backdrop and it is a cute little town. They have a wildflower festival in mid-July with guided wildflower hikes, etc.

In the lower 48, the closest thing I've found to the Alps/Switzerland so far is Telluride, Colorado and the surrounding area. The mountains there are simply stunning!
That said, the prices there are also the closest thing I've found to Switzerland here in the states. :)

For mountains, snow and ice, the Canadian Rockies around Banff and Jasper will blow you away. Just awesome. And they speak a form of English there. The lakes are majestic.

You can fly into and out of Calgary and rent a car.

Switzerland it ain't, but if you are looking for a fake Bavarian village, you might Google Leavenworth, WA.

And if you want to see one of the more amazing sights in the world, visit Crater Lake, OR.

In fact, it's hard for me to imagine that anyone would not be impressed by the Cascades in WA and OR and the string of volcanoes that dot them. Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier and what's left of Mt. St. Helens -- all are wild and unique.

I've spent a lot of time in both the Cascade Volcanoes and a couple of visits to Leavenworth.

They're fun, and the volcanoes are world class impressive.
But they're very different from the Swiss Alps.
The volcanoes are single, isolated geological events--visually impressive but not like the Alps.
And Leavenworth is fun for us Pacific Northwest types, but not really like a German Alpine village.

Now, the Canadian Rockies around Banff and Jasper....

The Colorado Rockies around Ouray are know as the "Switzerland of America".

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/colorado-switzerland-america-180955293/

Or you can try "America's Little Switzerland" which is around Lake Chelan, Washington. There is even a place on the lake named Lucerne.

http://www.seattletimes.com/outdoors/chilling-out-at-lake-chelan/?referrer=digg

Or there is Valdez, the "Switzerland of Alaska". ( Quite a stretch, in my opinion).

Seriously, there are some spectacular mountains in North America, well worth seeing, especially if you are an avid hiker as I am. But the pretty villages are not there.

Some of my favorites for mountain scenery and hiking, in no particular order:

Lake O'Hare Lodge in Yoho Nat. Park, Canada. A remote lodge on a gorgeous lake surrounded by pink peaks.

Lake Louise or better yet, nearby Moraine Lake which is less crowded.

Paradise at Mount Rainier in Washington. This one has it all--- flower-filled meadow, a snow-capped peak! and glaciers. Hike up to the vista point for a view of Nisqually Glacier.

Glacier National Park is stunning, even though the glaciers for which it is named are small and rapidly disappearing. Many Glacier Hotel is a Swiss-themed historic inn on a lake, with a beautiful view across to GrinnellPoint. You can take a boat across that lake and the next to access great hiking. Go with a ranger guide is you are worried about bears.

Jenny Lake Lodge in the Tetons, if you can get reservations.

The Snowbird\Alta ski area in the Wasatch mountains of Utah is beautiful in summer, and probably reminds me more of Switzerland than any place we go for hiking--- lovely meadows with lots of wildflowers, rugged peaks ( but no snow caps in summer) and there is even a Swiss cable car to take you up the mountain so you can hike down. No cows but we often see a moose or two. Snowbird is a " sister resort" with Zermatt. Here is a photo of the red cablecar:

http://www.snowbird.com/static/media/slideshow_photos/summer_tram_A_1340x700_normal.jpg. The other one is blue, very un-Swiss

And then my favorite--- a rustic wilderness lodge deep in Denali Nat. Park with a full-on view of this most beautiful mountain---on the rare day when it is not hidden by clouds.

http://www.fodors.com/hotel-awards/2012/images/hotels/camp-denali.jpg

Danke/Merci, Everyone- I am, busily, researching your great suggestions.

Patsy