Yes in deedy - the famous Ridge Walk from the Mannlichen to Kl Scheidegg is tremendous - like gruezi says - a ridge walk because you can see down from into both the Lauterbrunnen gorge and Grindelwald amphitheatre and have frontal views of the Jungfrau Massif in your face the whole way.

The Mannlichen itself is a famous view point - lovingly over Interlaken nested between the two lakes bookending it far below and also a wide panorama over the spiny ridge of central Switzerland - one of the most raved views in all of the Alps!

Thank you all.

PalenQ, if you have any input on my previous entry about rail pass, let me know. Here it is again:
we are taking the Railjet 364 which goes from Salzburg to Buchs and arrives at 1206. Then at 1212, Buchs to Interlaken commences on Railjet 364 (according to OBB and SBB websites, with stops in Zurich and Bern). We only buy the ticket from Salzburg to Buchs, stay ON the train, and then show the conductor our Swiss Pass on the train in Buchs and will be able to continue on the same train toward Interlaken. Is that how it works?

Dukey1 - which is the best lakeside hotel you are referring to? We saw a listing for Chateaue d'Ouchy, but it looked fully booked. Just curious.

And yes, we will be sure to wander off the beaten path a bit. It's what we love to do best! (As long as we don't wander accidentally into someone's beautiful backyard!)

I personally would make sure I had time in Lucerne. It's such a besutiful city by the lake. I could easily spend the week there! If you love Switzerland as much as we do, you'll be back. Include Lucerne (and the Italian part... Locarno is a fave) next time.

Lausanne is also a fave. Looking forward to my return there in early December.

Your Switzerland experience will be lovely. Enjoy!

We only buy the ticket from Salzburg to Buchs, stay ON the train, and then show the conductor our Swiss Pass on the train in Buchs and will be able to continue on the same train toward Interlaken. Is that how it works?>

Yes that is my understanding and have done it with passes several times. If you want to check with an authoritarian up-t-the-minute expertise I'd call Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - I've bought passes from him for year and he always knows or finds out 100% sure about any such questions - need not be buying anything IME. But the 2013 Eurail Map/guide that comes with your pass still says the exact thing I have said - stay on the train and the conductor will activate your pass - the only situation they will do that.

But check 2014 conditions of use.

PalenQ, very helpful indeed.

One last question… I know, I keep saying that… But besides the Golden Rail, would you say any of the other typical tourist scenic trains can be done in 1 day, leave in the morning and return the same day? It doesn't appear so from looking at timetables, but I thought I'd check on here and see if anyone knows differently. Thanks.

If you are in Montreux the tram/train "Rochers de Naye" is an easy half-day activity.

Thanks, suze. We will be in Montreux so I'll look into this.

I was also wondering about William Tell, Glacier Express, and Bernina Express. I am wondering what routes you'd consider within a 1 day free day, and if you can get off at any point and the catch the train coming the othe way back to the starting point. It wasn't so clear from the timetable I looked at.