jgreenie

thanks very much everyone.
i apologize if you thought i had an attitude, that was not my intention.
it was just very frustrating to have people tell me a trip that has already been paid for is going to be a disaster.

hopscotch

Have a safe trip Joanna and Kara. We're behind you all the way.
Sincerely,
JJ Hopscotch

And we would love to get a trip report.

LoveItaly

I sure didn't mean to upset you jgreenie but just wanted to caution a day trip to Capri might not work out if the weather and the sea conditions are not conducive. But if going to Capri is not possible (and I certainly hope it will be) you can have a backup plan.

freeman0819

Jgreenie, sounds like a fun trip.

There are lots of good restaurants here in town- The Rathaus brewery serves brats, beer, typical swiss food. The Pfistern restaurant is Swiss and the Stadtkeller restaurant is good as well for a Swiss folklore show.

The Pickwick pub is also good for a cold beer, a burger and soccer viewing on TV.

In February, it wil be cold, but the scenery here is still beautiful.

Cicerone

As you describe in your original post that you want to take "back roads" for the drive, I would say that in Switzerland, unfortunately, this is either not going to be possible or not a whole lot of fun in February. While there are some magnificent back roads ways to drive to Como, including some excellent passes through from St Mortiz, they either will not be open in February, or if they are may not be that much fun to drive in snow/sleet. (That is why many of us would have preferred to do this trip in another month.) If February is fixed, then I would stick to TRAINS in Switzerland where you can get some good rides in at much higher elevations than you can get on the very very boring Swiss highways which will take you along valley floors and via tunnels.

I would skip Zurich and take the train from Zurich to the St Moritz area (one of the very best in Switzerland), do some après ski here (or ski, cross country, hike, walk, sled, watch snow polo on the frozen lake), then the next day train/bus down to Como (much better to let an experienced Swiss bus driver do the route than you in your rental car, believe me, esp in a snowstorm). You could even do the Bernina Express train route up and over the glaciers and down to Tirano and then go over to Como if you were willing to spend a little more time, this is one of the best of the glacier train rides, IMO. Seeing the magnificent St Mortiz valley in winter with all it has to offer is a NO BRAINER, as far as I am concerned, over boring Lucerne in Feb with little to do beyond a very cold ferry ride and a look up AT the far away mountains.

Then once you get to Como, if you want to rent a car in Italy and continue on the rest of your journey, you can do so. I think I would actually train to Cinque Terre and perhaps rent the car from there, as I don't think the drive between the two is that much in terms of scenery.

I agree with others that much of the coastal portion of your trip may be a disappointment to you, as the better restaurants are bound to be closed for the season and weather will be quite raw. You can still do walks, etc. Pack a picnic lunch. Wear layers of warm clothes.

I agree that the schedule looks very rushed.