I have a lot of favorite hikes throughout Switzerland, France and Italy,  but if it comes down to one “best hike”, my answer is easy and always the same… go to Obersteinberg.

The Bernese Oberland is set up for family adventures, and not just for the 7 year old who kicked my butt on a Bernese Oberland Tour tour a few years ago, but as a mother of a non-stop wound-up and sassy two year old, it’s the perfect place for a family adventure of any shape   Continue Reading →

Soglio is an almost impossibly charming village in the Bregaglia valley in Southeastern Switzerland.  Not far from famous St Moritz and cozy Pontresina, this hidden valley and beautiful village are nonetheless firmly off the beaten path.  It’s long been one of our favorite destinations and occasionally shows up as an overnight or a dayhike on   Continue Reading →

Engstlenalp is one of our favorite alps.  An historic inn and scenic farm, tucked at the end of a pretty valley above Meiringen.  There are lakes, views, lifts, cheese and great walks.   A visit to Engstlenalp is a great day out anytime, but being right above Meiringen, it works particularly well as a warm-up day   Continue Reading →

Here at Alpinehikers we’re often asked questions about traveling solo in the Alps.  I recently sat down with Abby Strauss-Malcolm, a veteran guide and head of sales for Alpinehikers and our partner company Run the Alps, to ask about her many solo miles traveled throughout the United States, the Alps and all over the world.    Continue Reading →

Switzerland is home to so many different cultures and landscapes, all housed within a small border that is barely 3 times larger than Los Angeles County.  When thinking of Switzerland many things immediately come to mind – chocolate, cheese, tall mountains and precise time!  But something that you may not think of is palm trees.    Continue Reading →

The Niesen is a very striking, almost perfectly pyramidal peak just south of Lake Thun, in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland.  It’s not big on the tourist track, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a trip.  If you do want to visit, the ride on the 11,502 foot (3506m) long funicular railway known as Niesenbahn can   Continue Reading →

One of the things I always share with people about the Alps is that while in this part of the world you are surrounded by non-stop postcard worthy photo opportunities.  The Alps are strikingly beautiful.  With that said, the biggest constraint on capturing these photos is the photography skills behind the camera — at least   Continue Reading →

Lugano, in the southern reaches of Switzerland, is a real gem.  Right on the border of Italy, you’re met with Mediterranean breezes, the sounds of swaying palms, floral notes in the air, lots of sunny days and poolside relaxation.  The geography of the area is fascinating with long fingerlike lakes surrounded by tall mountains that rise   Continue Reading →

Switzerland is many things to many people, a beautiful country of soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, attractive cities and rustic villages.  The landscape is truly daunting, with mountains blocking the way in every direction – “much more up and down than sideways“, in the words of Hemingway.  Of course we like to hike these mountains, but   Continue Reading →