Flying in and out of Zurich first two weeks in October. Would like to spend a week in Switzerland and a week in either Italy of France. Love to drive, see beautiful scenery , meet people and find great restaurants. Have never been to any of these countries(Paris 30 years ago) <BR>and need help with itinerary. Thanks everyone!

Linda, I like the Bernese Oberland and the Wallis area of Switzerland. <BR> <BR>Murren, Wengen, Grindlewald and stops in Kandersteg are among my favorites. <BR> <BR>Those villages I mentioned are about 3-5 hours from Zurich by train. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>I'd pop over to one of those areas and start making the Berner Oberland-Jungfrau scene. <BR> <BR>The Wallis area is nice also. Zermatt and Saas Fee are some of my stops also. <BR> <BR>http://www.muerren.ch/overview.htm <BR> <BR>http://www.wengen-muerren.ch/flash/i...e-muerren.html <BR> <BR>http://www.ski-zermatt.com/zermatt.html <BR> <BR>http://www.saas-fee.ch/frame-e.html <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

A frequent visitor here, and the web site is brimming with Switzerland information. <BR>

What a cool idea to spend a full week in Switzerland. I completly agree about Wegen, Grindlewald and Zermatt. Lovely places in summer and winter! <BR> <BR>May I also suggest that if you are flying into Zurich, going towards the German border a little? You are extremly close to Konstanz (Constance in "American"), if I remember correctly it is only about an hour train ride. Very beautiful town/lake area with lots of history. Also the Rheinfalls and Shaffhausen are close. Shaffhausen has gorgeous painted houses and the Rheinfalls are spectacular - kind of like Europe's Niagra Falls.

Take a look at Ed's great web site also. <BR> <BR>http://www.twenj.com/swissvisit.htm <BR> <BR>

Is it Shaffhausen that has the pretty little painted houses? or is Stein Am Rhein? or are they the same. <BR> <BR>Another area that is looking quite interesting for my trip in June is the Lake Geneva area/ Lausanne, Montreaux, etc. This is the french speaking part of Switzerland. <BR> <BR>I would have loved to go to the Oberland area and hopefully will next time. K.

Just saw the post (sorry, don't get the chance to check the site everyday!). Shaffhausen and Stein-am-Rhein are two different towns, and both are pretty with painted houses. I am a blonde, so have been known to confuse things, and everytime we went to the Rheinfalls we went to both places (in fact took the boat ride twice) but if I remember correctly Shaffhausen has the prettiest houses. Either way, they are both pretty. Stein-am-Rhein (unless my blonde roots are showing) has the castle - which I never went in but from the outside is pretty imposing.