I am headed back to Europe Monday after not being there for 27 years! I am going with my daughter who is a grad and 18 years old.
I wanted to tap you seasoned travelers brains and ask:
"Ourside of Interlaken, what is the best thing to do in Switzerland? I.E., best food, place, activity, whatever. "
Thanks for your thoughts, and I can't wait to get back to Europe. In 1981, I also went by the Rick Steves method. I attended one of his classes at UW at that time and hit England, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
You ask for the best thing and then say "other than Interlaken", but most travelers here (and Rick) recommend you give Interlaken only a "quick look" as you're passing through on your way to the best thing: the Berner Oberland, Lauterbrunnen Valley, and other destinations recommended in his book--not Interlaken itself.
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
I have great memories of staying in Pontresina near St. Moritz (Hotel La Collina) and hiking on a different trail everyday! It's close enough to Italy that you can do a daytrip on the train for a great Italian meal.
Posted by
OP
Longview, Washington, US
31 posts
Yes Sharon we plan to go to Pontresina but only spend one day/night there and then off to Lugano from there. We will spend two nights in the Appenzell area too.
Later in our trip we have three nights planned at Gimmelwald. Two at the youth hostel and one night at Walter's Hotel. All toll we have 10 nights in Zug staying with an x-exchange student who has lent us her apartment to stay in and then 11 days in hostels and small zimmers. We even have planned a trip to the Montreaux Jazz festival July 4-6th.
Maybe we can fit an extra day into the potresina area but as we all know, reservations are best.
Posted by
Shoreline, WA
216 posts
Apart from the Berner Oberland (go all the way to Brienz along the lake and then take in the open air museum Ballenberg) there is Lucerne and a ferry trip on the Vierwaldstättersee. Maybe continue on to the Wallersee toward Bad Ragaz and visit Heidiland (a not too touristy memorial to the book's farm that made Switzerland famous). You will be passing through some lovely scenery.
If you want to make a round trip out of it - easy to do with the perfect timing of Swiss trains and buses - continue on to Chur and maybe Zermatt. It's pricey territory, so be prepared to part with coin if you want to see the Matterhorn up close.
The quieter parts of Switzerland - Bern, Geneva, and the popular (for Europeans anyway) Tessin recreation areas will give you a fine taste of Mediterranean living with Italian flair.
Grüetzi!
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
Sounds like a great trip Joe! Enjoy!