Getting deeper into my planning for this October's trip to Bern....
Definitely visiting Solothurn as a daytrip.
Weissenstein comes recommended from various sources (after my Solothurn city roam).
I cannot 'do' an open Sesselbahn by myself (fear of open heights and all!).
I see that I can take a short train ride to Oberdorf, then the Postbus up to Weissenstein.
Has anyone been up to Weisssenstein? Would you 'highly' recommend it?
It seems like there is 'just' a restaurant at the top, and that the Passhoehe primarily serves as a jumping off point for area hikes (which I am not interested in doing either solo or in the later afternoon).
Seeking opinion(s) whether to 'keep' or 'dump' this excursion!

Forget the Weissenstein chair lift: it's out of service. There are buses from Oberdorf to Weissenstein every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (every hour).
Similar viewpoints in the larger area with frequent daily acces by public transport:
Macolin/Magglingen, Preles/Praegelz, Chaumont (all cablecars), Balmberg (bus from Solothurn).

Other things to do from Solothurn:
boat ride (Saturday and Sunday only) to Bueren - Bruegg - Biel/Bienne - Lake Bienne (trains back to Berne from all these places).
train to Burgdorf and visit of Burgdorf
train to Biel/Bienne and visit of the tiny medieval city center and the Celtic Lake dwellings museum.

Take the small train to the 2 tiny medieval towns of Wiedlisbach and Aarwangen (both with castles whichcannot be visited) and continue then with the same train to the Monastery of St. Urban (church with exceptional wood carvings). Board then a direct Berne bound train at Langenthal.

Those are all good suggestions, I particularly like Magglingen (Macolin in French, it sits on the language border as does the town by the lake from which you get up to Magglingen, Biel/Bienne).

But while you're based in Berne, also consider the Gurten - take Tram 9 from the center then the funicular or whatever the "Gurtenbähnli" is called in English to go up. Nice views on a clear day. And, of course, there's a restaurant...

Similar views can be had from the Belpberg - look at the pictures on this unofficial website http://belp-berg.ch and on the website for the restaurant up there (open March-October, closed Mondays): http://restaurant-chutzen.ch

And if you have a bit more time, take the train from Bern to Spiez, switch to the local train that two stops later drops you at Mülenen and take the cograil up to the top of the Niesen - (www.niesen.ch) - now that's a fabulous excursion on a good day!

If you have any interest in art museums, I was very impressed by the Kunstmuseum in Solothurn - it's small, but has a few outstanding pieces.

If you're not into hiking then forget Weissenstein. The view is very beautiful (not sure you can see the Alps in this weather, though), but not worth the effort.

See Schloss Waldegg instead: http://www.schloss-waldegg.so.ch/schloss-waldegg.html

Thanks everyone!
It looks like I will drop Weissenstein (the best lure about it seemed the short bus trip up along a 22 degree gradient incline!). That way, I can spend the WHOLE day in Solothurn and include the museum and some shopping ;-) .

Niesen VS Stockhorn (thoughts in favor of one or the other anyone?) is on my FOR SURE list already!

A half-day excursion up to Gurten (hike/stroll back down) is already inked in too!
Now I've found out that Lenk im Simmental is having Alpabzug /Alpkultur that week too...! (OR is that Aufzug?)
Still considering the cheese demo in Affoltern...too many GOOD choices!
Anyone want to weigh in?
I will check out the other suggested sites as well.

In October it would be Alpabzug (ab is down, auf is up). Very nice if you can make it!

I misinformed you about the access from Bern to Mülenen for the ascent to the Niesen: No need to change trains in Spiez - regional trains go all the way from Bern and take 38 minutes to Mülenen (I was thinking you'd go there from Interlaken for some reason, my bad).

The same is true for trains from Bern to Erlenbach, they take a little longer, 46 or 53 minutes, then you have a shuttle bus to get to the Stockhornbahn - three times every morning, 9.35 a.m. / 10.10 a.m. / 10.35 a.m. so you'll have to pick a train that gets there in time to catch that shuttle, like the 08:39 (direct) or the 09:04 (requires a switch in Spiez) or the 09:39 (direct).

So all in all, the Niesen is a bit easier, but not by much. As to the views - toss a coin, both are fabulous. There is a video at www.stockhorn.ch.

Niesen is a little bit closer to the really high mountains. Also, I personally think the view of the lakes from there is slightly better, it's also a bit higher than Stockhorn.

Stockhorn has a cable car, Niesen a funicular, if that matters.

Btw, Schloss Waldegg is *in* Solothurn, although a bit in the outskirts (bus stop nearby).

I prefer Niesen to Stockhrn.
Stockhorn has a cableway (gondola), Niesen has a cablecar/funicular (running on weels and dragged by a cable).

Thanks all!
I'm leaning toward Niesen.