VACATION DETAILS

Without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland, Lucerne lies in the heart of the country on famous lake of Lucerne. Dotted with Renaissance and Baroque fountains, colorful paintings on the gables and commanded by the exquisite wooden bridge, the Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm, the 13th century octagonal water tower, Lucerne's character is pure charm. Spectacular views and sights abound from almost every vantage point in and around Lucerne. The Old Town Hall is a fine example of a Renaissance building while the City Wall, built between 1350 and 1405 stands proud above the city. A stroll along the quay leads past the modern health resort and onto the largest, most important Transport Museum in Europe and the only Planetarium in Switzerland. The famous Lion Monument and Glacier Garden make for remarkable viewing as do the mountain peaks surrounding the city. A short drive from town takes visitors to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth, and a short drive from Viewaldstätter Lake leads to nearby winter resorts and many more lakes.

Interlaken's foundations can be seen in the 12th century castle and its fascinating Augustinian monastery. Nestled beneath the legendary triad of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, Interlaken is a wondrous health resort and an international favorite. The superb mountainous scenery and gentle climate are ideal venues for virtually every leisure activity. Höheweg is the business and social center of Interlaken. The shopping is varied and interesting from simple souvenirs to luxurious timepieces. Grand hotels and inviting restaurants and cafes to spoil the visitor abound while a traditional horse-drawn carriage transports guests in fine style. The famous Kursaal - Interlaken's casino - is situated in the center of Höheweg. There are many types of entertainment including elegant balls, annual music festivals, Folklorica, local and trade shows in addition to the delights of the casino tables. Interlaken is also an ideal starting point for excursions to the Bern upperlands and breathtaking Jungfrau region with the centrepiece's massive peak soaring into cloudless skies.

Lausanne, Switzerland, and its port city, Ouchy (pronounced ou-SHEE), are on the northern bank of Lake Geneva, 35 mi/60 km northeast of Geneva. They can be seen either as a day trip from Geneva or (better) in a two-night stay. The older part of Lausanne, called the Cite, is fun to stroll; be sure to see the port area, the 13th-century tower, the exquisite 13th-century Gothic cathedral (best of its kind in Switzerland) and the 14th-century Chateau St. Maire.

If you have a few extra days available, you might visit some of the charming towns in the area, including Vevey, which is home to a wonderful Charlie Chaplin Museum (https://www.chaplinsworld.com/en), and Gruyeres. Other old villages that are worth a stop include Epesses and Riex. Most of them can be reached by following the well-marked Route de Vignoble (Route of the Vineyard), named after the many private vineyards and wine cellars dotting the hills (these specialty routes are almost always preferable to the major highways). And be sure to stop and taste some of the wines along the way.

You can also go across the lake to France. The spa and resort Hotel Royal is in Evian, where Evian water is bottled. For a long day trip, head to Chamonix to see Mount Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe). Cable cars climb to a point near the top called Les Aiguilles du Midi, which offers stunning views on clear days.

For those who don't want to go up quite that high, there's also a cable car that goes to a glacier called La Mer de Glace. There you can walk upon and even go inside a tunneled portion of the glacier. If you go, remember to take your passport, as you will be leaving Switzerland.