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Message |
    
South Beach Gal
Citizen
Username: South_beach_gal
Post Number: 44
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 - 7:39 pm: |     |
My husband has a business trip coming up (spouses invited!) to Switzerland. We're going to add about 5 extra days. Any recs on where to spend them? |
chroma
Citizen
Username: Chroma
Post Number: 8
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 - 9:49 pm: | |
My husband's family is Swiss (from the French speaking part) so we've been there a number of times. We go to Verbier, which is in the Valais(the south-west): it has an annual classical music festival, this year 7/22-8/7. Also, a huge range of hiking trails. If you're going imminently, the Jazz Festival at Montreux is going on now to July 16. Montreaux is one of the beautiful small cities along Lake Geneva (aka, Lac Leman); neighboring Vevey was the home of Charlie Chaplin and is the home of David Bowie. Above both are vineyards: you can tour the winemaking region, which is gorgeous: Hemingway loved the wines of this region. Zermatt (home of the Matterhorn) is pretty amazing: take the little train up to the Gornergrat(sp?)for the most awe-inspiring vistas across mountains, glaciers, etc. You can opt to walk down all of the way, part of the way, or just take the train back. It is great any way you choose. The area to the west of Zermatt has Saas-Fee, which is supposed to be lovely (you leave your car below; they have horse drawn carriages in the villages.)
The next valley west has small and pretty villages, including Evolene, that are less traveled. Another nice place to visit is Interlaken: the lake is beautiful,(you can take a day cruise on a steamer) and there is a large outdoor museum of a range of traditional Swiss houses, and great hiking. Then, there is the Ticino, the Italian speaking region including Lugano, and the Grisons...sigh...
If you want to know more pl me and let me know where you are starting from and when you're going... |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 300
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 - 10:59 pm: | |
Switzerland has such a fabulous train system you can be anywhere in a few hours. My pick would be to head for the stunning Muerren area and the Lauterbrunnen valley.
http://www.slrobertson.com/images/europe/switzerland/slideshow/photo-2.htm
http://www.schaffnerfamily.com/Slide%20shows/Switzerland%202003,%20Grandfather's%20Walk/index.htm
If it's lakes you want, instead of hiking, you might try the fairy-tale like Spiez,
http://community.webshots.com/photo/307268397/308619927MhMDJf
which also gives you easy access to scenic wonders and the sophisticated city of Bern
If you'd like something less touristed than Interlaken, try Lake Brienz
http://community.webshots.com/photo/141887106/139346722GnFyCA
Other nice places: Lausanne and Gstaad
This is a good overall website:
http://usa.myswitzerland.com/en/welcome.cfm |
South Beach Gal
Citizen
Username: South_beach_gal
Post Number: 46
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 - 2:26 pm: | |
Thank you! We do enjoy going off the beaten path and it all looks beautiful. I appreciate all the info. |
South Beach Gal
Citizen
Username: South_beach_gal
Post Number: 47
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 - 2:27 pm: | |
P.S. I pl'd you, Chroma. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 970
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 - 9:08 pm: | |
Montreux is very nice. It's on the Swiss Riviera ...Lake Geneve (Geneva). Visit the Chillon Castle. http://www.montreux.ch/index_en.html
or
http://www.swiss-riviera.com/
 |
AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 47
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2005 - 2:40 pm: | |
Geneva! simply put! One of the most quaint and scenic European places you'll encounter is the area around Lake Geneva (Lake Leman) |
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