Summer Vacation in Switzerland 2012?

Bill, We were in Murren Switzerland for 4 days last summer, part of a 3 week trip including Austria, the Southern part of Germany and Paris. The 4 days in Murren was our favorite part. Good friends of ours happened to be in the same valley the same 4 days as us so we hiked together one day. They spent 17 days in Switzerland and they enjoyed the Murren and Wengen area the best. We stayed at the Chalet Fontana which was reasonable by Swiss standards and the Owner Denise was helpful in planning our hikes. Hiking is the area was spectacular. The trails were well marked and you could go for hours without seeing anyone else. Did I mention the views were Spectacular!! Have a great trip.

Currently live in Switzerland after being enchanted by Murren. So much to do for the active traveler. Besides hiking consider parasailing and coming over August 1st when local farms have brunch and fireworks fill the sky.

Do RS open jaw flight, arrive in Zurich and depart from Geneva. Tour Zurich if you wish, but purchase a one-half fare swiss card ($110),stop in Luzern, spend the night near waterfront. Next morn catch ferry and go up Mt Pilatus; see RS guidebook for detailed info, that afternoon train to interlaken and make your home base in Murren (it is close to heaven). Spend 2 or 3 days in Murren-Interlaken area, read RS guidebook and use your imagination and let costs dictate what you want to afford. I recommend Schilthorn(above Murren) I personally think Jungfrau is over-rated and expensive. Then catch Golden Pass to Geneva. Geneva Hotels WILL BE Expensive, you may wish to train to Chamonix and Do Mt. Blanc, while there, your children and you can do Luge rides. According to Rick Steves there is a 2 hour auto shuttle from Chaminox to Geneva airport. However, Geneva is fun city to visit, but EXPENSIVE to stay at. Swiss trip could be a little costly compared to other locals, BUT it's a trip YOU and your CHILDREN will never forget!! RS guidebook will be helpful and help select hotels or other lodging needs.

I like Jim's ideas but think about going to Lausanne instead of Geneva. Rick would agree. We just spent three weeks on a home exchange north of Lausanne and this list of things to do around this area was endless. The kids would like the bike rides around the lakes and in the vineyards. The boat rides across Lake Leman ( Geneva) are also great.

I lived in Geneva for about a year and I think Rick Steves is definitely wrong about it being a boring city. One thing that is fun (and free) to do on Sunday morning is a free hike up Mount Saleve with the "Friends of Mount Saleve." It's a fairly ordinary looking mountain on the edge of Geneva, but the top of it offers great views of the Alps. There's also a cable car if you don't feel like hiking.

My parents and I booked 3 days in Murren. We will be staying at Hotel Jungfrau which is in Murren. We will be going in June on 2012 and the weather in Summer is perfect. You can go on hikes, and see Trummelbach falls in Lauterbrunnen. You can see the small villages of Gimmelwald, Murren, Wengen, Grindlwald, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken. You can see cows munching on grass, hear cowbells, see goats. Try Alp Kasse, and smell fresh mountain air. AHHH... I am getting goosebumps.

... and just when Bill thought his advice had stopped in August, up pop more ideas. BTW - we stayed in Geneva, looked around for half an afternoon and visited elsewhere for the duration of the 4 days. If you want to see Montreux I would advise staying there or in Lausanne.