Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis for the balmiest 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, but it's also the site of Switzerland's first-ever cog railway (opened in 1871); the Mülefluh fortress (the first artillery fortress in the country); and the shipyards where Lake Luzern's fabled paddle steamers were first built. Today it's the best place to see the world's largest Swiss flag, proudly displayed in summer on a face of Mt. Rigi overlooking Vitznau.