travel that speaks to the heart
Can I share with you my happy place? My dream vacation spot in this season of life? My family’s favorite hotel? It’s truly a fairytale. Residing in a quiet corner of Switzerland’s Alps, the Märchenhotel Braunwald is an extraordinary family hotel that we have had the pleasure of visiting twice now – staying 2 nights…
Switzerland is a dreamy place. Almost everywhere you look is postcard perfect. I’m sure you’d recognize the epic scenery of the Jungfrau Region or the magnificent Matterhorn. Truly, Switzerland has no lack of jaw-dropping landscapes. Today, I’m here to share with you ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN ALL OF SWITZERLAND. It’s a sweet secret…
2018 was a great year for great food. Take a look at my list of top eats around the globe and get my tips on how you can have a memorable meal, too!
Looking for things to do in Zurich? If the weather is nice, consider taking a little trip out to Jucker Farm for an afternoon of country delights. Jucker Farm is a well-run operation located just 30 minutes outside of Zurich in the little town of Seegräben above the shores of the Pfäffikersee. This farm is…
Guys, I have some big news to share with you… For months, I have been trying to write this post. Literally, for months I have been mulling over how to update you on our family’s story and explain my emotions behind it all. My post was going to be called “A Lifetime of Hellos and…
This past week, the greater part of Europe was hit with “the beast from the East” – an unusual stratospheric phenomenon that brought arctic temperatures from Siberia’s polar north. As such, the continent experienced unseasonal bitter cold and some strange sights, like snow in London and Rome. Before the snow started falling in Zurich, however,…
When visiting Switzerland, you really can’t have the full Swiss experience without at least one mountain excursion on your travel itinerary. But with so many gorgeous Alpine peaks to explore, how can you decide which one is right for you? In my experience, a day at the Oeschinensee is bound to please most travelers. A…
If you visit Switzerland during the Christmas season, you are likely to encounter a special cast of characters that very well may surprise you. With a history like Switzerland’s – where Catholic and Protestant beliefs have merged with German, French and Italian customs – today’s Swiss Christmas traditions are a rather unique mix. During your…
Without a doubt, the best part about Zurich in the wintertime is the magic that comes with the Christmas season. If you find yourself in this Swiss city from late-November through December, then make sure to check out these fantastic festivities! LIGHTS NAMED LUCY Christmas lights have bedazzled Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most expensive shopping…
Every October and November, families in Zurich ditch the massive orange squash many of us associate with Halloween in favor of another root vegetable: the turnip. Turnips – or räbe in Swiss German – are the stars of the autumn season… somewhat literally. In a century-old tradition, plain purple turnips are transformed into twinkling lanterns…
The first chilly winds of fall signal Alpine communities that the time has come: it is time to bring the cows, goats, and sheep down from their high mountain meadows to their winter homes in the valleys below. This past weekend launched the first of a series of festivals all across Switzerland that celebrate the…
As I mentioned in my last post, the Swiss Family Domecks spent the weekend of Swiss National Day in Zermatt. Thanks to the incredible magnetism of the Matterhorn mountain and half a dozen ways to reach the peaks surrounding this once-small-town in Canton Valais, Zermatt has become a major focal point for tourists visiting Switzerland.…
Zermatt is home to Switzerland’s most iconic mountain: The Matterhorn. With its croissant-shaped peak dramatically thrusting up into the sky, the mountain is absolutely magnetic. Visitors to Zermatt often let out a gasp of delight and awe when they catch their first glimpse of it. (Well, I certainly did!) Although I had visited Zermatt this…
Although I had no idea when I published Eating Through 2015, the meal I described in my last paragraph set the course for a wild and wonderful gastronomical journey through 2016: …I kicked off 2016 with an extremely memorable meal at Prato, thanks to a certain sous chef’s generosity and desire to treat our party with his favorite…
In 1291, three men stood in a field on a hillside above a lake and made an eternal pledge to one another and to the communities they represented. They promised to be there for one another, to defend and protect each other, to share in equal trade opportunities, and despite their differences, to remain united…
After two years of living in Zurich, I’ve been to the Zurich Airport (ZRH) enough to have noted a few things that makes this flughafen a travel experience in its own right. If you ever find yourself flying in or out of Zurich, Switzerland, then keep your eyes peeled for these six things to add…
As you have scrolled through your social media feeds, I am guessing that you have come across at least one article touting the top cities and countries around the world. And if so, you may have noticed that Switzerland and Zurich are constantly at the top of the ranks for “Best in the World.” Why…
When I give walking tours around town, people often ask me where to eat in Zurich. As a result, I have created a running list of my favorite restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, and I’ve organized them by area. Each has met or exceeded my expectations, and my top favorites are marked with a “♥” symbol. Since this list is ever…
Rooted in the folds of the Valtellina Valley in the Italian Alps, you can find a romantic escape from reality. Ever since Roman times, the natural hot springs flowing through the area attract visitors to Bormio, a small town in the northeastern tip of the Lombardy Region. And it was precisely those warm waters that drew the…
The Zurich Wine Exhibition sponsored by Expovina is a Swiss event not to be missed. Every November, the ferryboats of Lake Zurich line up to form an impressive fleet dedicated to showcasing wine, wine, and more wine. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about Zurich’s Wine Boats before diving headfirst into the vino. 1. It’s kind of…
From October to March, fondue pots are bubbling all across Switzerland. Thanks to the Swiss Cheese Union (Schweizerische Käseunion) and huge advertising campaigns over the course of the 20th century, fondue has become the iconic Swiss dish. As a result, many travelers arrive in the Land of Cheese and Chocolate in search of a good…
When cold winds begin to push out the last remnants of autumn glory and the Zurich sky dons its grey cloak of winter, I take solace in one silver lining: fondue season has arrived! Here’s a list of the top restaurants in Zurich to enjoy fondue. Fondue in Old Town: Le Dezaley You can find…
Attention thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies! I’ve just found you a little slice of paradise… Canyoning in the Swiss Alps! Canyoning involves following a rushing river through mountain gorges, where you jump, slide, and scramble your way from entry to exit point. It’s fun, challenging, and one of the coolest activities in the Swiss Alps…
When I give walking tours around Zurich with Free Walk Switzerland, I often begin my tours with a question: What images, products, historical events, or stereotypes come to mind when you think about Switzerland? The typical replies usually include some combination of banks, chocolate, cheese, and timeliness. Sometimes Roger Federer gets thrown in there, too. With…
It’s hiking season in Switzerland, and a yodel-like yahoo! escapes from my mouth at the very thought. Taking advantage of a gorgeous Saturday earlier this month, Justin and I set off from Zurich to tackle our first Swiss mountain of the year. We chose to hike Mount Pilatus, the impressively rugged peak jutting up into the Lucerne skyline. Summiting Mount…