Clousie

On another thread, Patrick mentioned taking an afternoon or evening boat trip on Lake Lucerne to small towns. That sounds so relaxing and civilized, especially after lots of days of hiking. Also some of our group do not want to hike everyday. I tend to prefer the small and unique, over so called "tourist attractions."

Can anyone suggest a special town on Lake Lucern , Thunersee or Brienzersee that would make a nice trip? We have already been to Ballenberg. I think taking a ride on Zurichsee might be a nice way to spend our last night in Switzerland, too. Any comments?

jmw

Hi Clousie. Thun on its lake and the little castle at Oberhofen, Rapperswil on Zurichsee. I don't as yet have a favorite on Viervaldstattersee (Lucerne's), but Altdorf is just below the southern tip, and it's a charmer. J.

swandav2000

Hello Clousie,

I spent a few days in Weggis last November, and I thought it was charming and beautiful! Other towns on the lake that are similar are Vitznau & Brunnen. You can look at photos & maps at www.weggis.ch, www.vitznau.ch, & www.brunnen.ch. You can also have fun surfing around www.lakeluzern.ch, but the English pages are not finished yet.

What a great plan you've got in the works. You'll have a great time!

s

dickv

Good evenin, Clousie
Have to agree with "S" Weggis is a very
nice town to visit during the day or
at night, drop into see the HOTEL ALBANA
possibly for lunch.. Also there is a
quaint little casino directly across
from the boar dock. Another trip which
we have used when it was raining or
cloudy in the mountains is the trip from
Luzern to Fluelen and return....Lake Lucerne has a number of steamships which
are interesting, and one each on Brienzersee and Thunnersee out of
Interlaken.. Brienz is a well know
carving town as well as the bottom of
the Rothorn Bahn.. Oberhofen Castel on
Thunnersee can be of interest...Zurichsee, the boat that makes all stops to Rapperswil and return. If time permits take the blat
to Rapperswil and then rail to Einsiedeln and its Benedictine Abbey
and return the same way or by rail to
Zurich. We have always used the boats
for inclimate days in the mountains.
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Clousie

Thanks. I'll check these places out. Anything in particular we shouldn't miss in the towns?
IC

swandav2000

Hi Clousie,

Speaking of the villages on Lake Luzern, there really aren't any "sights" there; they're simply villages on the lake! You can walk through one in about an hour and a half. I love lakeside promenades and cafes at the harbor, so that's where I would spend my time!

Has anyone suggested an excursion to the Ruetli meadow on Lake Luzern? This is the spot where the Swiss confederation was formed in 1291; best way there is by ferry.

Best of luck!

s

jmw

S' has an important point. I have friends who claim that they want to visit little places, but when they get there, they say "well what is there to see here?" -- meaning landmarks I suppose. I remember years ago friends and I were staying in Brienz and I talked them into crossing over to explore little Iseltwald. I thought that was the most beautiful place I'd ever been; I walked the lanes as in a trance. I thought my friends, on the other hand, were going to jump into the lake and swim back to 'civilization' -- that's how impatient they were for the get-away boat to arrive.

Sorry, folks, this is my second down-memory-lane posting this morning. Could this be why I am so thrilled to find that traveling solo is an option?

So Clousie, consider your expectations. Those little laketowns are wonderful, but you've got to stop and smell the roses, and savor the details. If you do, those will be memories you recall years from now to lower your blood pressure or reduce stress. J.

Clousie

Yes, jmw, I know exactly what you mean about expectations, and perhaps I haven't been clear about mine.

When I asked "what shouldn't be missed" I'm referring to those special, unique places that just bring back all the wonderful memories of an area such as the lanes you stolled; having a picnic lunch on a cliff on Ulva; silence, except for the sound of cow bells;a simple cafe in a very rural setting, etc. The places that can only be passed on by word of mouth and never in a tour book. I'm not so into the "civilized tourist attractions" but more so the quiet, natural settings that just exist in an area. Guess it might have something to do with being surrounded by kids and noise for 10 months of the year that I just like to get away from it all when I travel.

I would love to know more about Iseltwald or other tiny places that are special to anyone.

jmw

Oh my goodness, Clousie, I have to top this because I've just noticed your comment about ten months surrounded by kids and noise! God played a little trick on me once when I was tucked into Gerra-Gambarogno. Some of the connections between Locarno, Bellinzona and Gerra require the use of a Swiss postbus. Well, one afternoon's connection found my friends and I on the very bus used by a gazillion junior high school age kids going home after school. I mean we were crammed in like sardines! I still laugh thinking about it, and as a teacher who also looks for some 'quiet time', well enough said. Have you found your destinations? You might want to check out Gersau on Lake Lucerne. J.

Wayne

Just north of Lake Lucerne is the Zugersee, another lovely lake often overlooked by tourists. There are lots of nice little villages along the shores of the lake. My favorites are the towns of Zug and Kussnacht. They'll both make you want to stop and stay longer. There are boats on the Zugersee also, but if you have a car it's just as easy to drive around the lake to the various towns. Good luck.