Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic, quiet spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis in balmy weather. Small as this village may be, it looms large on the tourist radar. Not only is Vitznau the home of the magnificently palatial Park Hotel (opened 1902 but closed for renovations until mid-2012), it's also the site of Switzerland's first-ever cog railway (opened May 21, 1871); the Mülefluh fortress (the first artillery fortress in the country); and the shipyards where Lake Luzern's fabled paddleboat steamers were initially built. Today it's the best place to see the world's largest Swiss flag, proudly displayed on a face of Mt. Rigi overlooking Vitznau.