Europe: Switzerland

Switzerland isn't the most beautiful place I have ever been. Oh wait yes it is. Switzerland holds unbelievable scenery from snow peaks to wildflower fields. I went to Switzerland with my good friend Sydney and her father Bob. We stayed at the Chalet Helvetia in Murren, a very small town of a few hundred people at 5326 feet in the Swiss Alps. It is situated on the side of a mountain range, looking across a valley to another range including the Jungfrau peak which is the tallest in Europe. Our Chalet had amazing views and one of our favorite things to do after a day of adventures was to just sit on the porch and take in the view. The Chalet is actually an apartment above the owners residence, Kurt and Edmee, who were very nice and helpful.

Murren is mostly a ski town, and the summer is considered the off season. The only way to get to Murren is by gondolas. Despite being a tiny town on a mountain (this being Switzerland) there is impeccable public transportation to Murren and the surrounding area. Trains are never, ever late.

While in Switzerland we went white water rafting (see above), hiking in the alps, had breakfast in a revolving restaurant on top of a 10,000 foot peak, and experienced Yodelfest (which is a big deal in Switzerland).

We had fathers day breakfast at the restaurant on top of Shilthorn Mountain. This revolving restaurant sits at 10,000 feet and boasts the greatest panoramic views of the alps. It does not, however, have great food. But that not the reason we were there. The cable car ride to the top is quite the experience as a altimeter shows your ascent of over 5,000 feet to the top.

One of the most impressive things in Murren was the tennis courts. Six red clay courts sit on the most impressive piece of property in the town as they hang over the cliff on the side of the mountain overlooking the valley. I wanted nothing more than to play on them, however I lacked proper shoes, access to the courts, a tennis partner, oh and a racquet.

My favorite thing was our hike through the countryside. We trod through fields of grazing cows and wildflowers, enjoyed the breathtaking view of the surrounding alps, and found hidden waterfalls. We even had a milkshake from a dairy farm way up on the mountain. Needless to say, it was delicious.