And to make a real day of it, catch the boat at Brienz for the short ride to Giessbach, walk up or take the funicular to Grandhotel Giessbach for lovely vieews, and then walk to the waterfalls.

Boats from Interlaken i believe usually stop at Geissbach before going to Brienz - do they stop on the way back - anyway i believe it's the same boat. When i did this trip i did get off at Geissbach first to do the Shuler mentioned fine stuff - we then actually walked to Meiringen but could have taken another boat to Brienz as they run in season about hourly.

I am sorry for the delayed replies...was out of town for a while.

We have decided to go with the 15 days pass...its much more convenient...

PalenQ, Schuler and Enzian...thank you for your ideas of making a trip to Ballenberg and Meiringen.

However this is our first trip to Switzerland and we wanted to do at least one scenic train ride. Then Chateau De Chillon also holds a lot of charm for me.

Schuler as far as I have read I thought the whole idea of doing a scenic ride was only there on a good weather day. Is that true?

We do have Ballenberg as a bad weather day activity...but honestly the way you describe in PalenQ...I am tempted!

Wish we had a little more time in Switzerland...

Schuler,

Thank you for the Slow travel link...I have taken a print out. I have also got similar suggestions on hikes in this area on one of my earlier posts. We will definitely keep one day for it.

Thanks
Genie

You'll be in lots of scenic areas so I'm not sure if the train ride is an overkill. It really depends on your needs and preferences. Going through Gstaad and Zweisimmen is very pretty, as well as going down to Montreux but a whole day sitting in a train while the sun is shining is a long time.

Maybe others have better advice to offer.

be prepared for cool weather at Murren, fairly high altitude and be sure to take the gondola or short walk down to Gimmelwald, of Rick Steves fame but an impossibly quaint farming hamlet lying in midst of stunning glacier-laced peaks all around. Have a meal there at the local hotel.

PalenQ...my husband and I still talk about our incredible lunch at Gimmelwald. We had a mixed salad, steamy fondue and large cold Cardinal beer sitting on the sprawling deck with the gorgeous views just filling our senses. Friendly service, incredible quiet...nothing but a few peals of laughter from next door at the hostel and the sounds of cowbells.....ahhhhh

yes Linda - a special place whose atmosphere is hard to convey to folks not knowing about it but worth the short gondola ride or downhill walk from nearby Murren - a different world - just a few houses and all those glaciers and jagged peaks across the valley. I've heard good reports about the restaurant by the Mountain Hostel and even ate there once long ago and had similarly good local fare.