Switzerland Travelers - Swiss Mountain Weekend
 

Hello Switzerland lovers. I've got a train pass and 3 days off next weekend. I'd like to head somewhere beautiful that I've not seen before. I'll be solo and I want to see some beautiful scenery, get some sunshine, and take a couple nice winter hikes as well as enjoy some nice food and perhaps lounging by a fire with a book. I won't be skiing and don't like precipitous cable cars if I can avoid them.

I want to go someplace I've not been before. Already have been to Pontresina/St. Moritz, Wengen/Grindelwald, Zermatt.

I'm thinking maybe some place French?

I would appreciate any suggestions for areas and lodgings you've enjoyed.

Many thanks as always.

gruezi

Think Lugano might be fun?

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...a=N&tab=wi


Have you looked at a 10 day weather forecast? I haven't, but boy has it been stormy this year.

Personally, I would head to Bettmeralp and walk some Winter Wanderwegs:

www.bettmeralp.ch

But you have to ride a cablecar to get there!

If you want to try someplace in Suisse Romande, how about Gstaad? I know it's supposed to be frightfgully expensive, but we loved our stay at the Posthotel Rössli, and it looks like in January they have single rooms starting at CHF 149:

http://www.posthotelroessli.ch/

Hi Zeppole - I love Lugano, but I've been and I'm hoping to go someplace new. Thanks for the link.

Hi enzian - how does Gstaad compare to say Wengen for charm/winter hiking?

Do you know Val Anniviers? (I may not be spelling this right.)

I don't like hiking alongside skiers so am hoping for a place that has separate wanderwegs for hiking only.

Thanks so much for responding and esp. for the specific links.

gruezi

Hi again---unfortunately, Gstaad is nothing like Wengen. It is a town with a small pedestrian-only center (with upscale shops) but it is in the valley, surrounded by hills.

How about Rigi? Rigi Kaltbad is perched partway up the mountain, and you can get there by train from either Vitznau or Arth-Goldau. No need to ride a cable car!

There are Winter Wanderwegs all over the mountain; click on the "Karten und Ortspläne" on this webpage and then choose the winter map to see them:

http://www.rigi.ch/de/welcome.cfm

The views out over the Vierwaldstättersee are gorgeous; even if the lake is covered with clouds as in some of the photos on the website.

We stayed at Hotel Alpina which is right at the train station and cozy in a traditional way; the Bergsonne is nicer.

Look up the train from Martigny (down in the Rhone valley as it turns towards Montreux) via Châtelard-Frontière to Chamonix-Mont Blanc. It's a gem!

Oh, while I think of it - another gem in that region: Also a mountain train, this one goes up from Montreux via Glion and Caux to Rochers de Naye.

Dear Enzian and DL,

Thanks for your input. I think I need to do a bit more research. Gstaad doesn't sound like what I'm looking for. Rigi would be close...I will check out the links.

gruezi

Here are some ideas:
Lenzerheide: Hotel Schweizerhof
Arosa: No hotel ideas but great walks and some great apres ski huts.
Guarda: Hotel Meissner
Sent: I don't know of a hotel with a chimney though. Scuol might fit the bill better.
Bettmeralp: Sounds wonderful. I've been longing to get there myself.
RigiKaltbad: Some great walks around there.
Samnaun: Long trip but they've got some nice wellness hotels and stupendous shopping.

Have fun choosing!

Dear Schuler,

Thanks for all these suggestions!

How are you? Wrote you a long note on MissJanes thread a while back.

Hope things are going okay.

gruezi

Hi Gruezi,

I'm doing OK right now. The weather is fantastic and I really adore walking down to the local cross country trails and doing the 7 km loop.

Would you be interested in going to a Burn's Night in Zürich? A friend and I have signed up for it. Sounds like a real cultural experience.

Here's the website: http://www.englishforum.ch/commercia...niversary.html

Schuler,

Glad to hear you are doing well!

Oh, I would love that Burn's night - I'm actually just a teeny bit Scottish and a lot Irish in descent.

That is the weekend I'm planning my getaway for, but in case it doesn't work out due to work or something, I will try to come.

Thanks for the link.

I'm still not sure where I'll go for my weekend. I was feeling rather poorly since Friday - turns out to just be a bad cold - but now I'm a bit behing on things and spent today doing Hausfrau stuff not trip planning.

gruezi

Burns night in Zürich? Will they salute the haggis?

Yup!

Here's an excerpt from the venue:

"We shall be serving a menu of Scottish broth, main course of Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, plus Desert, with entertainment provided by the Pipes & Drums Zürich.
There will be a selection of Whiskies, Wines, Beer and soft drinks

The Address to a Haggis will again be performed in Swiss German, and of course Scottish."

and

"As a special treat, and by popular demand, the Burns Supper will evolve in to a Ceilidh after 10PM. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceilidh
I've managed to find a Scottish Ceilidh band that will be playing from 22:00 until 02:00, so get your kilts out, and bring your dancing shoes."

If you like hiking try this site which has winter as well as summer suggestions.

http://activityworkshop.net/hiking/switzerland/


Have fun!

Dear Sherry,

Thanks for that great link.

I found a picture of my village on the bottom of this page as it includes a hike I often do along the lake:

http://activityworkshop.net/hiking/s...uerichsee.html


gruezi

Not French, but perhaps Engelberg or Kandersteg?

Well, I've got no idea where I'm going. Maybe I should just head back to Wengen or stay in Lauterbrunnen and go to Murren and Gimmelwald this time. I keep looking at websites, but I can't get a "feel" for anything.

Any other opinions?

Looking for a charming alpine village that is not totally for skiers that has pretty winter Wanderwegs, good food, and decent accommodations. Prefer something up high enough that I'll get some sunshine as Zurich has been so, so gray the last few months.

Thanks again...

gruezi

Gruezi,

It really does sound like Bettmeralp/Riederalp to me. Here is their page on winter walking:

http://www.bettmeralp.ch/e/winter/wandern.html

They are perched on a south-facing bench high above the Rhone valley, on the south side of the main Alp massif. If anyplace has sun, they should.

Another place that hasn't been mentioned yet is Stoos:

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/infra.cfm/rkey/497

also car-frree, up high, and laced with Winter Wanderwegs. I don't know if there is much of a village there, though; we've never been.
You do have to go up by cablecar, but it is a big strong secure one, and it isn't that high off the ground. Just look up and not back down into the valley.

enzian,

You are sweet to post back. I actually loved the photos of Bettmeralp and it does look like I would LOVE it there, but the whole cable car thing scares me... You may have read my thread about my heights issue from Wengen trip report.

If you are saying the cable is not too high (near the treetops) I'd be okay I think. I will be alone which always adds to my "problem" as no one to distract me with talking or holding my sweaty hand. Do you know about how long the cable ride is? 3 minutes - 10 minutes - longer?

Thanks for your help. I know I sound craaaazzzzyyyy... Just think of me as "special needs."

gruezi

Liebe gruezi,

It is indeed a long cablecar ride (maybe 10 minutes), taking you up almost 4000 feet in elevation. And it is higher than the treetops, so I guess it would be quite difficult for you.

It is not crazy---my sister has trouble with these too, and I did at first, but we go with our kids and must look brave!!!

Stoos probably isn't a good choice either---reached by a very steep funicular. (those bother me more than cablecars do).

So maybe it is back to Wengen for you. Certainly nothing wrong with that.

enzian,

Thanks for helping me with the details. I think I will go back to Schuler's list with Guarda and Arosa and see if I can even find a room.

Your two suggestions sound so nice though... Maybe worth a valium to get up there;)

gruezi

Hello Gruezi,

Speaking of Arosa, here are some events on Jan. 24/25 that might be enticing:

- Jan. 25: horseracing on the ice
http://www.arosa.ch/de/page.cfm/Serv...ventsWAT/10713

- Jan. 24: Curling Schiesshorn Cup

- Fondue Chiniose Buffet in Hotel Astoria

- Daily live music and apres ski at Restaurant Postli
http://www.posthotel-arosa.ch/intro_2.html

- List of restaurants and ski huts with their specialities:
http://www.arosa.ch/de/page.cfm/Service/GastroAT?nav=1

- walking in Arosa: http://www.arosabergbahnen.com/winteraktiv.html

Just some food for thought!

Schuler - Thanks for all the Arosa links!!

I've written a note to a few places in Arosa and the Hotel Meissner in Guarda and depending who has a room that will make my decision for next weekend.

I went to Engelberg and on up to Trübsee on Friday for some snowshowing and fondue at the Igloo Village there. It was a gorgeous day and great fun. Google "Igloo Village Engelberg" if you are interested.

Thanks everyone for your help and great ideas!

gruezi

Hotel Meissner in Guarda it is!

Thanks everyone and of course I'll write a little report back.

The photos of Guarda look wonderful and it sounds perfect for me as it's not a skiing village per se. Plus no dramatic cable car for my heights issue.

It is about 3 hours from Zurich by train for anyone interested to know. The hotel has a pickup service if the hourly post bus is not running near the time of arrival.

Already dreaming of fondue and hopefully mountain sunshine!

gruezi

Just wanted to say...

Just back from my weekend in Guarda at the Hotel Meisser. I had a lovely weekend and was very taken by this special and charming village. Guarda is a must see IMO, but let's hope not too many people feel that way!! I believe it has been designated as a UNESCO or some other preservation group site, so that may be good or bad...

First day, I had an hour walk to Lanvin, pretty walk, didn't love Lanvin.

Also walked to Ardes which I really liked. Very charming and there is a beautiful church in the center of town that just was wonderfully spiritual - sign welcomed visitors in 4 languages to this special place to just sit for a bit in silence and contemplation.

From Ardes I walked onto Ftan. Again, a very pretty area. The walk to Ardes is about an hour and then 2 more hours on to Ftan, but it took me longer as I couldn't find the Winterwanderwegs. They are not very clearly marked.

From Ftan, I took the Post Bus down to Scuol and the train back to Guarda. I had been walking over 4 hours so there was no way I was walking back!

I had my meals at H. Meisser and the food was quite good. Breakfast was a large, typical Swiss buffet. Yogurt, cereals, breads, cheeses, fruit, eggs. Dinner was avail by 2 full menu choices or al a carte. There is a wonderful Engadiner Nuss Torte - do have it...

I also had a wonderful hot stone massage at Terra Nuova. The hotel gave me a "gutschein" for this. The massage was much needed after all the walking and absolutely divine.

Guarda was just 2 hours and 23 minutes from Zurich with one train change. A perfect weekend away and I plan to return when my friend from America visits in the beginning of March.

Any questions please just ask!

gruezi

gruezi,

Sounds wonderful. Visited Guarda last summer, and your trip report brings it all back fresh.

Thanks!
beachtee

Dear Beachtree,

Thanks for your note.

I'm actually bringing a visiting friend to Guarda this week. I hope the sun will shine!

gruezi