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Two Weeks! How much is too much?

I'm planning a trip for July 2020 for my dad and his gf (66, great shape) + me, my husband, and our 4.5 year old. My husband is obsessed with mountains and skiing (backcountry especially), but we can only go in summer. Here's the kicker: He's never been overseas and is awed by the Colorado Rockies. I want to rock his world with this trip. He can go off and do crazy stuff for a few hours by himself, but keep in mind, while we do want to prioritize nature, we do have a little one with us. I want to wow him with nature and a little culture shock.

Here's my plan (please help shape it!):

I went to Gimmelwald, Switzerland 15 years ago, and ever since I've been thinking that I need to show my husband that place. So the Lauterbrunnen Valley is top of my list. I also loved Sonogno, Switzerland, but I'm afraid it might be too far for this trip.

I've never been to Austria and have had my eye on Hallstat for years.

I would love to squeeze in an incredible Bavarian town for a day or so if possible too.

The quaint stuff is best in my opinion.

Things that would interest us:
-a castle, ruined or not, but not overly "touristy". Ex. I loved Bellizona's castle much more than Neuschwanstein.
-Lucerne (we do like a little hustle bustle here and there!)
-ice cave
-salt mine
-glacier
-skiing (my little girl can ski too)
-lakes (we are big canoers), water, waterfalls
-ride a train
-genuine villages vs. tourist "traps" (tourist trip = Venice for example or the island of St. Thomas. I felt a bit like Neuschwanstein Castle was this as well (though I loved just wandering around Fussen with no agenda))
-impressive/preserved architecture (on the outside; we likely won't spend too much time doing museums and tours with our little lady's limited attention span. We love outside!)
-a walled city, although I don't think any are around here.

I hope this trip opens my family's eyes to the world a little.

I know lots of people say not to pack too much into a short time, but I'm thinking that because I have my eye on small cities vs. the whole country, this could work. We also don't need to pack huge day trips into every day. We can just walk out the door and explore. I just want to put us in the right spot to do that.

Posted by
4324 posts

Since you've got a year, I suggest you look at Rick's suggested itineraries not only for selected countries, but for 2 weeks in Europe. Not that you need to copy what he suggests, but you can lift portions of them and mix and match into a trip.

You could also check out Conde Nast Traveler's recommended travel agents and interview a few, they are paid to know stuff.

Posted by
461 posts

If you go to Lucerne go to the city wall of the Old Town. There are wonderful views from the Musegg wall and towers. We entered from the ramparts from the Schirmer Tower. There are lots of wooden steps to climb. You can walk along the upper wall from the Schirmer Tower to the Clock Tower and Wachturm and back. The Clock Tower has a great clock museum inside. The Nine Towers provide great views of the town of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne. The city was very crowded at the end of June and this provided a shady respite for us.
For a train ride the Golden Pass Panoramic Train via the Brunig Pass from Interlaken Ost to Lucerne had gorgeous views.
My husband loved the Glacier 3000 trip that he took on an excursion from Lausanne and walking on a suspension bridge between 2 mountains, lunch there and amazing views.
The Chillon castle near Montreux was also interesting. The Lavaux Vineyards are spectacular near Lutry and Vevey overlooking Lake Geneva.
If you go to Switzerland you could fly into Geneva and out of Zurich or vice versa to avoid backtracking.
I hope you have fun planning this trip!

Posted by
3387 posts

A very not-touristy place to go would be the Canton of Valais. We spent a month here several summers ago and loved it. I think we were the only Americans as we heard no American English the entire time we were there. There are many castles in various states of ruin and repair - for some of them you will be the only one there. The town of Sion is a nice little, not very touristy place to go and has a castle perched at the top of a mountain in the middle of town...really great example of a castle from this region. Ask the caretaker to show you the frescoes that he keeps under lock and key! There is also an ancient church perched on the top of the neighboring mountain in town - almost completely unaltered since it was built in the 12th century. The old part of the city is still partially walled. There are many other castles dotted up and down the valley - many of them are unattended - you can enter and you will be the only one there. That area is surrounded by year-round skiing in the 4 Vallees ski area of Verbier, Nendaz, Mont Fort, La Tzoumaz, and Veysonnaz. Amazing mountains and a view of the Swiss, French, and Italian alps from the tops. Easy access also to Kandersteg and the Berner Oberland by a car train through a tunnel from Lotschberg - so much fun! There is a stunning lake surrounded by high alps in Kandersteg just at the other end of the tunnel. You can take the gondola up from town, walk along a paved path for about 15-20 minutes and you are at the beautiful Oschinnensee. The only ice cave in the region of Valais that I know if is at the far north end of Valais at the Rhone Glacier. It's a little depressing though because the glacier is melting fast and they have tried to prevent their ice cave from disappearing by draping it in canvas. It's a rather sad looking sight.
The only two things on your list that this area does not tick off would be a salt mine and Lucerne...other than that I think it might be what you are looking for.

Posted by
16028 posts

I have a couple of suggestions that combine your desire to see Gimmelwald again with Anita’s suggestion of the Valais region.

Start with a stay in Mürren ( just up the hill from Gimmelwald) for 4-5 nights. We spent a week there last summer in this 3-bedroom, 2 bath apartment, which would be great for our family.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g188084-d6588573-Chalet_Oberdorf_Murren-Murren_Jungfrau_Region_Bernese_Oberland_Canton_of_Bern.html

It has two large decks and great views across the valley to the Jungfrau massif. While in Mürren, your husband can do the famed Via Ferrara. Take your child up the Allmendhubel funicular and a nice playground. Thenreturn to Mürren on the childrens’ Adventure trail, which incorporates a series of slides, tunnels, and log crossings to accomplish the descent. My grandchildren ( age 6) did that and loved it.

Your husband can depart on Day 3 to the Jungfrau on the other side of the valley. There he can meet his guide for the 2-day trek down and across the glacier to the Marjelensee and the tiny village of Fiescheralp.

https://old.myswitzerland.com/en-us/zo/glacier-hiking-tour.html

https://blog.outdoor-interlaken.ch/2018/08/13/aletsch-glacier-hike/

You depart Mürren on day 5 and travel to the hamlet of Bettmeralp, a car-free village like Mürren. This is a short hike from Fiescheralp and your husband can meet you there. Spend 3 nights in Bettmeralp——there is a great zip line/ropes course designed for small children that my grandsons absolutely loved. They are provided with helmets, gloves, and harnesses. There is also a swimming lake above town, several lifts to ride, and wonderful views of the Aletschgletscher.

https://www.aletscharena.ch/sports-summer/climbing/rope-garden-baschweri/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1096327-d8445686-Reviews-Seilpark_Baschweri-Bettmeralp_Canton_of_Valais_Swiss_Alps.html

https://www.aletscharena.ch/destination-en/photo-gallery/

If you time your visit to be in Mürren over the first weekend in August, you will experience the village Dorffest (festival) with a parade of decorated cows, bands, etc.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g188084-i127638778-Murren_Jungfrau_Region_Bernese_Oberland_Canton_of_Bern.html

Like the person above, I fear it may be too late to visit Hallstatt. It is now overrun with tourists; maybe worse than Venice. Also maybe too late for ice caves.

There is summer skiing at Zermatt on the high glacier, but the quality may not be worth the price. Look at www.zermatt.ch for more information on Zermatt.