Just 20 minutes by train, the S10, from Zurich main station, is the best view of the city and lake you’ll find.

The Uetliberg is at the top of the ridge that runs along the lake, and gives spectacular views in all directions, especially from the observation tower.

It’s a 15 minute walk from the station to the viewing platform, and it is uphill, so can leave you a bit out of breath – but the view may well take your breath away too.

It’s also educational, along the walk are scale models of the sun and the nine planets (eight if you’re a purist and no longer count pluto) of our solar system.

In the photo above, you can see the sun, and Mercury is a tiny ball bearing encased in the blue plastic you can just see mounted in the stone.

The Earth is about a quarter of a mile down the path.

I confess, I’ve never got as far as Pluto.

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

It’s quite common for Swiss resorts to offer special offer packages at the start and end of the ski season.

So if you fancy a break in a car-free resort, why not try Bettmeralp for a change?

It’s in the Valais, the area to the east of Lake Geneva, so it would take a couple of hours from Geneva, or three from Zurich.

Bettmeralp is located on a sunny terrace above the Rhone Valley with a view of the four-thousand-metre-high peaks of the Valais: the Weisshorn, Dom and Matterhorn.

The resort is renowned as being very family-friendly. For example, the hiking trails have been designed with pushchairs in mind.

The ski region at the foot of the Bettmerhorn is part of the Aletsch ski arena which extends from Riederalp via Bettmeralp all the way to Fiescheralp. There are 35 lifts for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.

There’s a good selection of groomed walking trails is available for winter hikers and the one-hour-walk to Riederalp is lit at night.

For cross-country skiers there is a small circuit by the lake and there are extensive cross-country skiing trails in nearby Goms.

Packages range from 1119 to 1539 CHF/person, depending on hotel and meal options, and include:

• 7 nights accommodation in a hotel incl. breakfast and usually dinner
• “Aletsch” ski pass for 7 days (100km/60 miles of slopes for all levels of skiers)
• 6 half days of ski school

The packages are available from March 29 until April 12th.

www.bettmeralp.ch

Photos: Flickr mungo 70

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Adelboden is an attractive and not over-populated resort at the southern end of Kanton Bern. It’s linked with Frütigen and is an attractive place for a family ski holiday.

In response to requests for more than just skiing, they’ve opened up 35km of snowshoe trails.

The sport is beginning to attract more and more people, maybe in response to the number of skiers, and the increasing speeds being seen on the slopes.

The routes have been designed with wildlife in mind, mainly to protect the animals, but you never know when you might come across a deer or a snow bunny. And later in the season, the Marmottes (Groundhogs?) are likely to make an appearance.

Snow shoes are available in most sport shops to rent or buy.

For further information:

www.adelboden.ch

Photos: ryancordell, EO1

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

So if you don’t fancy St Moritz, and you’re not keen on skiing, well, how about taking a hike?

New this winter, the Alpavia travel agency will take the backpack from your shoulders while you walk through the winter wonderland.

And your luggage is guaranteed to be at your overnight rest hotel before you.

The classic tour is from Interlaken to Kandersteg, taking in the Jungfrau, the Gemmi Pass (a historic link between Berne and the Valais, see photo above) and Lauchernalp.

The hotels are of good quality (this is Switzerland) and a 6 day trip costs around 880 CHF/person.  This includes breakfast and dinner – food is traditional Swiss and can be relied on to be both tasty and provide energy for the next day’s activities.

Trips start each Sunday throughout winter.

Alpavia Lüthi & Stähli
3700 Spiez
Tel. +41 (0)33 650 16 02

www.alpavia.ch

photo; andreas hartmann

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Maybe I’m biased as Baden was the first town I lived in when I came to Switzerland, but I think it’s lovely.

As you can see, it is picture-postcard lovely, and has a beautiful old town with buildings dating back to the 14th century.

Of course, the internals have been modernised, the Swiss have a great, non-sentimental way about doing that, but from outside they are unbelievably authentic.

Starting with the covered wooden bridge (now you know where Madison County got the idea from) the walk up the hill towards the centre takes you past some unlikely, and thriving shops.

My favourite used to be the violin maker, but he became so successful he’s moved. So it’s best just to wander around and see for yourself.

Many of the shops sell child-related (unusual toys, clothes etc) so it can be a fun place to go as a family.

If the town hall is open, try to get in and have a look at the walls and ceilings. Quite outstanding.

Should you go late in the evening, there is a casino, not Las Vegas style, but quite popular these days. I tend to lose, so stay away, apart from eating in the excellent restaurant there. Sunday brunch is a favorite, especially in summer when you can sit outside.

Take your swimming gear in winter, the thermal baths, after which the town was named, are still very much the place to visit. Very relaxing in winter, but don’t except to be able to swim laps. Its more about having jets of water aimed at those painful joints that you got while walking along the Lägern.

Photo: Adrian Vogt

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Sometimes the delights of Zürich just aren’t enough and you need to get out into the real world of nature.

One possibility, and this is quite handy if you have guests and need to get to the airport quickly afterwards, is to walk along the ridge that runs from Baden to Regensberg.

It’s not an easy walk though, so you might want to take walking shoes and leave Granny with the young ones.

It really is a very pointy ridge at times, and you can see it’s a long way down on both sides, so vertigo suffers might give it a miss too.

It’ll take a good couple of hours to walk the whole thing, more if you stop for a refreshing beer at the restaurant by the big ball that houses the radar for Zürich airport.

And of course, it might be best to get there by public transport if you don’t fancy walk back along the same route!

Notes on both Baden and Regensberg to follow.

Photo: Adrian Vogt

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I’d completely forgotten about this little ski resort until I came across this little gem. It’s located down near Brienz/Meiringen, and takes about 90 mins to get there from Zürich.

It appears that everybody wants to combine snow and animals this year, and we haven’t even got to horse racing on the lake yet!

The Reindeer Trek is organised by the Restaurant Erzegg, and the trip starts at 10 am each morning.

It’s not a sleigh ride though,  you’ll be given snow shoes and have to walk alongside, the destination being a small hut where lunch is cooked over an open fire.

I think the idea is that the lunch gives you the strength to walk back. And naturally, there’ll be a warming drink awaiting you at the end.

The scenery round Melchsee is beautiful, and walking the the trees must be an amazing experience.

Bergrestaurant Erzegg:

http://www.erzegg.ch/erz060.html

Tel 041 669 06 00

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

The lake is surrounded by three countries, Germany, Austria and (you guessed it) Switzerland.

The Swiss part runs from Kreuzlingen (which merges smoothly into Konstanz, apart from the border crossing) along through Romanshorn and almost up to Bregenz in Austria.

The photo above is a sunrise taken from Arbon, which lies on the shore north of

St Gallen.

There’s also a much quieter part of the lake, the Untersee, which runs from Konstanz to Schaffhausen, effectively forming part of the river Rhine as it does so.

Its a relatively quiet lake shore, which is surprising as it is so beautiful. But as it is nearly an hour from Zurich, the Swiss are unlikely to commute and so tends to be used for retirement and relaxation rather than daily work-life balancing.

But if you have time, it’s well worth taking a cycle ride along at least part of the lake. Hint: Lake shores are flat!

Or just drive along, and stop at a lakeside restaurant and order trout and some local white wine…

Photo: litscher

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

There are times when you have to admire the teutonic way of naming things. So logical.

Seealpsee (pronounced: say alp say) means literally “Lake Mountain Lake”. And you can’t argue with that. It’s a mountain lake, and er, a lake.

It’s located in Kanton Appenzell, on the eastern edge of Switzerland, allow a couple of hours to drive from Zürich, or a similar time to catch the train to Wasserauen. Then it’s about a four km (2.5 miles) walk to get to the lake, but I’m assuming that if you want to go to a really peaceful, quiet lake, then you won’t mind a bit of a stroll.

There are other lakes nearby, the Fälensee for example, so if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll, you can make a nice round trip of it.

You’ll need a good map, or print out directions. If you go in winter,there’s likely to be snow around, and there are a few ski lifts in the area, which are unlikely to be heavily used.

There are no restaurants or cafes there, and no parking. The idea is to go and experience tranquility, so don’t pack your iPod, just a bottle of water and some sandwiches and fruit.

This is what Heidi was all about!

Photo: Flickr

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

High up above the town of Locarno, there is a sanctuary located on a forested cliff; Madonna del Sasso. Sasso means rock, so hopefully I won’t be struck down for translating it as Madonna on the Rocks.

The church was consecrated in the 19th century when a local monk, Brother Bartholomeo, claimed that the Madonna had appeared before him whilst walking in the woods.

You can reach the sanctuary either on foot, if you are feeling energetic, or there is a funicular railway that winds its way through the trees and delivers you at a very pleasant bar with terrace looking down on the church.

There are a number of sculpture groups in rooms surrounding the stairs on the way up to the main church, including one of the Last Supper. Inside the church are two impressive paintings, Flight to Egypt and the Transport of Christ.

And by the main door are a series of plaques pledging thanks to the Madonna for helping people in their daily lives. I’m not what you’d call religious but it certainly makes you think.

From the church, or to be precise, from the funicular, it is possible to catch a cable car higher up the mountain, and even a chair lift should you be determined to go higher to get a birds eye view of Lago Maggiore.

If you choose that option, wear sensible shoes and warm clothing, especially at this time of year. Of course, if you are only passing casually, there’s always the possibility of sitting on the restaurant terrace, sipping something on the rocks and trying to recreate Brother Bartholomeo’s vision…

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler