nancynancy

Responding to Calispirit and Skatedancer:
We were based in Interlaken for 6 nights. Personally, for the two teens and us one day in Bern was enough. It was a one hour train, so we arrived there around 10 a.m. We rented the free bikes, and rode leisurely through the "old town" on cobblestones dodging the cablecars. We stopped to look at the fountains and the clocks, and arrived at the bear pits at the end of town shortly. then we cirled around and down along the path beside the river, heading upstream to the Marzili Pools where one starts the Aare float. We played in teh water for about two or three hours, in the heat of the the (say 12-3:00). Then was lunch, returned the bikes, and split up to shop or tour the Parliament or photograph the fountains more closely, which took us to the 6 p.m. trin back. For us,that was enough, but we did not see the Klee museum (reportedly great) or the Einstein house.

As for the pass, we found the 8 day Swiss Saver Pass to be best for us - with it, we did not have to decide whether to do something that would use a day if it were a flexPass. For example, we went into all the Lucerne museums for free (Bourbaki Panaroma, Glacier Garden), but we might not have if it used a day. For us, this was a nice benefit and freed our mind from constantly making decisions as to whether it was worth it to go into a museum or take the 15 minute train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen.
Yes, the toboggan run (longest in Switzerland) and ropes course are on the way up Mt. Pilatus - get off the cable car in Farkmuntegg, and it's right there. Tobaggan was 5 SF perride, and the ropes were 18SF per child and 25 per adult - still a bargain, as this was a terrific course unlike any in the states.

Finally, the hanggliding was tremenduos - too much for words. Fabulous views, pumping adrenalin, etc. This is the place to do it -- you see many chutes descending right into central Interlaken each morning and evening.
ENJOY!!
Nancynancy

swandav2000

Hi all,

A slight correction to nancynancy's 09.01 pm post --

The train ride from Luzern to Interlaken Ost takes 1h50 or 2h, not one hour.

s

drempel

Was the ropes course like an outward bound style climbing course or a series of zip lines?

sunstar

>>>><<<Finally, the hanggliding was tremenduos - too much for words. Fabulous views, pumping adrenalin, etc. This is the place to do it -- you see many chutes descending right into central Interlaken each morning and evening.
ENJOY!!<<<>>>>

One of my fondest memories, and there are many, but after a day's hike, I always enjoyed watching the chutes glide into the park in Interlaken.


"Ashes ashes all fall down".......

Grateful Dead

nancynancy

Drempel - the ropes course was not just zip lines, but there were about 12 courses to do, from green (easy) to black(very, very challenging). You followed the color guides, and each could take from 10 to 25 minutes. There were "obstacles, like suspended walks on rolling logs where you must use arm strength to stay vertical. You go tree to tree and get to a platform, then carabiner onto the next part of the course, which could be a zip, a climb, a swing, or a walk on unstable suspended blocks. GREAT!

Phyllis1

Hi Nancy,

There will be four of (all adults) traveling to Switzerland year. OUr dates are April 19th through May7th. We were looking forward to staying perhaps in Wengen, but after hearing back and reading different threads most places will not be open during that time period. So, we are now thinking either Interlaken, Grindlewald or Lauterbrunnen. What place did you find you liked the best. What about hotels etc? We will probably stay for 2-3 nights. We are also going to travel to Germany and our last place is Burgundy France. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Phyllis

nankypoo

Nancy,
What was the that you visited the place you mentioned and how long was your trip?
Was the paragliding worth the price - we are a family of 4?

kamleshrut

nankypoo, you have picked up the thread after a long time. With luck Nancy will pick up now. But thanks for the revival, as it is interesting.

I also now have a couple of questions to Nancy and all.
1. Is the handgliding you mentioned, is an independent one or is it in tandem- with a trainer behind you.? Can an amateur do it?
2. How about doing 'Mystery park and job in hands'? More of advertised trap? We have half a day/ only one full day free for Interlaken 'proper'. Which are the best options? [Apart from hikes and mountain peaks]
K.

_jinx_

I can pinch-hit for Nancy on the handgliding--it certainly is worth the price. Closest thing to flying like a bird. And you must do it with an instructor tandem. We took off from the mountainside just below Kleine Scheidegg, caught thermals and soared for thirty minutes and landed in the park in fromt of the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel.
My son, who is very light, stayed up with his instructor for over forty-five minutes--they sailed down the Brienzersee and back! Hope this answers some questions.

Jinx Hoover

nankypoo

Wow- jinx. Thanks for the pinch hit. Your hang gliding sound awesome. My son is pretty ligbt. Sounds like soooo much fun.

nankypoo

Jinx,
Few more specifics please. Were you referring to hang gliding, not paragliding?

Where did you sign up for the hang gliding?

_jinx_

It was paragliding. We signed up with TWIN PARAGLIDING, tel.079 622 51 00--they are located on the main drag just east of the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel. Raymond was our instructor and an excellent one.

Cheers,

Jinx Hoover

nankypoo

Thank you jinx!