mandavilla

Hey Everybody,

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Switzerland and Austria, w/ a bit of Germany thrown into the mix.

I have a friend who lives in Basel who's invited us to stay with her & do day trips from Basel.

Could you all help me out w/ what areas of Switzerland are reasonable for day trips from Basel (w/ 10 and 14 yr old girls)? We'd probably be driving, although certainly open to train travel.

Anything within 2 hours I'd think would be okay.

Are the following towns/areas ones that you all would recommend? What areas of Switzerland am I missing for a 7-10 trip there?

And if you recommend the following areas, what would you all suggest for amount of time we spend in these various areas of Switzerland:
* Lucerne
* Grindlewald, Wengen & Muerren
* old town Basel
* Engadine

I figured that Zermatt was too complicated to get to, given our time contraints, and that we would skip visiting the larger cities this time & focus on beauty, nature, etc.

THANKS SO MUCH for any help you can give us!

Also, I've also posted about the other portion of our trip which is a week at a RCI timeshare in Saalbach, Austria, near Zell am See. Just in case any of you know that area & possible things to do.

Again, THANKS!!!

Mandy (Mandavilla is a plant w/ fuchia blossoms that flourishes in the south)

PalQ

Yes all are great day trips within a few hours of Basel. Don't neglect Berne, one of Europe's finest-looking old-world towns. Also consider training north from Basel to Freiburg, a cute town at the foot of the Black Forest (about an hour from Basel) or to Baden-Baden, one of Europe's fancient spa towns, just beyond Freiburg. Or it's also a fairly easy jaunt to Strasbourg, France (1.75 hr by train), one of Europe's dreamiest old town centers and famous cathedral, or before Strasburg, cute Colmar, a flower-bedecked wine town. If going by car you can take the famous Wine Road from Colmar north skirting prestigious Alsace vineyards and wine chateaux. Basel - a 1000 great short day trips from there - even the nearby Rhine Falls, probably Europe's most mighty waterfall is just a few miles away - you can take boats on the Rhine in its vicinity (Stein-am-Rhine).

swandav2000

Hi mandavilla,

I think the best "guide" to Basel is german_eagle's Basle page here: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a919b/4/. Be sure to also scroll down to the bottom of the page and look at the "Off the Beaten Track" suggestions. I loved my few hours in Basel and will probably spend more days there in the future, but I'm not sure how much children will enjoy it.

For one day trip, you and your girls might enjoy visiting the castle Chillon in Montreux (www.chillon.ch); it'll be about 1h48 to get to Montreux. You can rent bicycles from the train station, and your girls can cycle down the lakeside promenade and let off some steam -- it's 11 km long. There are lots of cafes to stop and rest and have a snack, etc.

As to the areas you want to visit and the number of days to stay -- well, I literally could spend a lifetime in any one of them. I think someone mentioned about 3-4 days for the Berner Oberland (one of your earlier posts), and that sounds about right to me -- especially considering your girls.

Luzern is good for about 2-3 days: the old town, the ferry around the lake, and some lakeside villages. Because you're also going to the Berner Oberland, I think you can skip the excursions to the peaks of Rigi, Titlis, & Pilatus from Luzern -- spend that time in the Oberland.

The Engadin is also gorgeous, but it doesn't meet visitors' usual expectations of Switzerland because the architecture is so different. It's also pretty hard to get to the Engadin because it's so out of the way. But take a look around german_eagle's Engadin pages -- he adores the area.

I spent a day in Zell am See as a day-trip from Salzburg, but wasn't that impressed. I was trying to find some ski/mountain areas that were as beautiful as Switzerland's -- I didn't find any. Zell is a charming town that happens to sit at a lake next to some mountains (not as high or dramatic as those of the Berner Oberland or the Engadin), but it just doesn't have the overwhelming charm and chalet atmosphere I found in Wengen or Grindelwald. But of course that's just my opinion! Sorry I don't have any good ideas of activities there.

Let me know if I can help more.

s

mandavilla

Hi EVerybody,
I'm back to planning the Swiss & Austria portion of our trip. Almost have flights booked, and now we're thinking about what to do in Switz & Austria again.

PalQ mentioned doing day trips from Basel to Freiburg, Berne, Strassbourg, the wine road to Colmar, and Swanday2000 suggested Montreaux & Luzerne.

My 10 and 14 yr old girls like things that are interesting & unique, fun & adventuresome. My 10 year old wants to "maximize fun and minimize driving".

We are interested in cultural stuff from a people and interesting town perspective (vs. museums and baraque churches!)

If we're based in Basel for a week, any additional great ideas for us for day trips that the girls would find fun & interesting?

THANKS!!!

Mandavilla

Anid

A very funny and interesting museum is the Tinguely Museum (also for Teenagers)

http://www.tinguely.ch/