Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Grindlewald in late May?

I think my reason for asking the question what one expects to find in Interlaken is closely tied to asking people this questions: What are your travel objectives? What do you expect to see and do once you are there? Having spent 3+ weeks in that area all told now, I have yet to see a good reason for me to stay in Interlaken per se. Lauterbrunnen is where I have based my self for all of my visits to the Berner Oberland. The first time, by luck. The other times by design. OK here is my logic, which is fully subject to debate, revision, challenge, and differencing: The greatest views of the main range of the Berner Oberland are from the ridges and trails on the heights above Wengen, Mürren, Kleine Scheidegg, and Grindelwald. They are all readily accessible from Lauterbrunnen. Ed (of web site and Fodors fame) and I debated the issue of Lauterbrunnen versus Mürren at length. I stay in Lauterbrunnen mainly because the apartment I rented has parking virtually at the door, a good view of the Männlichen Ridge and Staubach Falls, and the train station-bus stop is 5 minutes away by foot. I can go anywhere in the region fairly quickly. If I want to go farther than the immediate area, the main road from Interlaken to the west that leads to Thun, Spiez, Kandersteg (and the train ferry to Goppenstein), Bern, Basel, etc., is about 5 miles down the road toward Interlaken. I can also go east to Meiringen, Innertkirchen, even Luzern via the Brünig Pass. Grindelwald is a short drive or a 30 minute train ride away. Interlaken is of course a little larger than Grindelwald, being built on the only large flat area of ground in the area between the lakes. It does have a few more restaurants, hotels, etc. than Lauterbrunnen and Mürren. I doubt if it has more hotels than Grindelwald. And it does have a gambling casino, which does not interest me. But, if I wanted to visit Interlaken, I can and then drive back to my apartment which is about 7 miles away. I think I ask the question because a lot of people go to Interlaken wisth the idea that they can see the mountains from there. Knowing what lies behind the ridges to the south of town, I do not think any thing much is visible from Interlaken. Certainly the peaks are not viewable to the same degree that they are from Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald, or any of the other villages south or east of Zweilütschinen. As I have said elsewhere, the world class viewing points include, but certainly not limited to, the First gondola station above Grindelwald and any point along the trail above the Bachalpsee on the way to the Faulhorn, Wengen, the Männlichen Ridge, Mürren, the top of the Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraujoch itself. And, for real close ups where you start to invade the mountain glacier world, Pfingstegg and Stieregg are without rival in that area. Stieregg is tucked away behind that giant wall of the north face of the Eiger, right on the edge of the glacial valley and in full view of the glacier that comes off the ridges and peaks behind the Eiger. (Behind being south in this case.) So those are my reasons. I agree Interlaken has some appeal or else there would not be so many people there. But, if they are there to see the mountains, they have a ways to go to do it. I am sure each person has his or her own reason for being in Interlaken. Personally, I have not come up with a reason that lures me to Interlaken long term. But, I will be back this summer, and perhaps a new vista will open to me. New evidence can always revise old conclusions.