Zurich | Lucerne
In 2017, I spent a week traipsing around Switzerland with 20 students and chaperones. We flew into Zurich, where I ate the most expensive “basic” burger meal I ever had outside of an airport ($50!). Jeff and I split the meal, because we were feeling cheap. After a few hours, we headed to our main Swiss destination, Lucerne. We toured the city, stopping by the Lion Monument, crossing the Kapellbrücke, and ascending the legendary Mount Pilatus in a cable car. We played in the snow and even tried some yodeling. We saved a little money by staying outside Lucerne in a quiet community called Melchtal, which boasted snowy mountain views, a waterfall, and a monastery. In my opinion, you can see the best of Lucerne and the surrounding areas in 2-3 days. Read on for our favorite locations!
Lion Monument
Swiss Guard Memorial
The Lion was carved out of the rock of the mountain here, and it memorializes the Swiss Guardsmen that died during the 1792 French Revolution.
Kapellbrücke
Chapel Bridge
The Chapel Bridge has some great paintings, although many were destroyed in a fire in 1993. It’s still worth a visit to see what remains and has been restored.
Mount Pilatus
Panoramic Views
Mount Pilatus, once the site of great myths about powerful dragons, puts visitors in a literal cloud. Take the cable car up, and take a crack at yodeling! This was a place for our LA kids to play in the snow.
Swiss Forestry
We spent evenings hiking in the Swiss countryside after touring the cities. We saw so many brooks like this one, which appeared alongside a logging service.
Countryside
As we continued our hikes, the brook widened, and we found multiple hills and waterfalls. The countryside is probably my best memory of Switzerland.
Architecture
Downtown Lucerne felt old and quaint. We were a bit chilly, but it was worth it to stroll these picturesque streets.
The Traveling Teacher 