Almost Endless Summer
When it comes to summer vacations you have to decide if you are a beach person or a mountain person. Since for most people summer activities are usually beach-related, it’s not as often that you hear someone admitting that he just prefers the mountains. If you are someone who hates sand in your shoes, the beating sun on your skin and a packed to the rafters beach, take heart. We at Travel Squire understand. This summer, why not follow your mountain heart to Switzerland? The mountains are beautifully green, the weather is the best and the chocolate … divine.
If you like winter sports, in Switzerland it’s never too late in the year to ski. In summer in Jungfrau, ski games are a popular activity together with a fun sledding park. If you’re seeking a new experience to get your adrenaline pumping but don’t want to commit to something risky like sky diving, try the First Flyer – a reinvention of what we know as zip lining. This alpine ride stretches over a steel cable of 2,600 feet. If you’re more of an artsy type, why not check out the original Art Basel festival in the art capital of Switzerland? This year it’s scheduled for June 15-19. Unfortunately, it’s overlapping with the Swiss Federal Jodel Festival (June 16-19), which would probably be your only opportunity to mingle with 250,000 passionate folk music fans and practice some yodeling techniques yourself.
If you enjoy classical music, hop on the train to the Lucerne Music Festival taking place August 10th through September 18th this year. The town’s opera house straddling Lucerne Lake is not only famous for its world class performances but also for its’ unique architecture. Around the same time also is the official Rhine Swimming Day when thousands of people joyfully dive into the Rhine River for a day of water games.
Although summer ends in September, many Swiss festivals still crowd the calendar. In a country with four official languages and dozens of famous national products you can find a festival for pretty much anything. One example is the Cheese Distribution Festival in Beatenberg which has a history of 500 years and is now open to the public. Sample and purchase different cheeses then watch the ceremonial procession of … cows!
With budgeting an important part of planning any vacation, the Swiss have taken care of creating opportunities for everyone. There are 2-for-1 packages for any U.S. citizen wishing to visit the country during U.S. National Week from July 2-8. With so much to see and do and the best chocolate to keep you revved, who could say no?