Views of Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland was our fourth stop on my family’s trip around the world. Our time in Geneva was a great opportunity for us to catch our breath after the busyness of our other stops. I really appreciated the laid back ease of life that I found in Switzerland. The people we met were very friendly, but didn’t seem too hurried in their daily living. We had a chance to travel by foot, cable car, train, and boat to the locations we visited. I found their public transportation easy to navigate, and dependable.

We enjoyed watching the Swiss countryside pass by while we rode the train.

Our son and daughter looking out at Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps.

One of our big excursions while we were in Switzerland was a visit to Chateau de Chillon castle. Chateau de Chillon has a beautiful backdrop as it is located on Lake Geneva with the Swiss Alps across the water from it. I felt like no matter how many pictures I took, I couldn’t completely capture its true beauty. My kids especially enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of the castle. We learned about its rich history including the many famous visitors to the castle in centuries past.

Chateau de Chillon Castle.

My husband and son found their initials carved into the stone from

hundreds of years ago.

Wine barrels used for fermenting in the basement of the castle.

The train ride to Chateau de Chillon was a treat in and of itself. We had the opportunity to see expansive views of the Swiss Alps along our ride. Having the chance to see the countryside also gave us an idea of what rural life is like in Switzerland. The towns we saw were quaint with effort put towards preserving their history.

Views of the Swiss Alps during our flight.

Something that I really appreciated about the Swiss culture was the seamless inclusion of art into their public spaces. It didn’t feel contrived to have these pieces on display, but just a natural extension of their locations. The public gathering spaces were another aspect that I liked about the Swish culture. We had the opportunity to let our young daughter play with local children at one of these spaces after dinner one evening. She loved building castles in the sand, and climbing up and down the hills. Whole families of multiple generations gathered around the space to chat, and watch their children play. There was an outdoor shopping and food stand area next to the space for some added entertainment and dining options as well.

Functional art in the public spaces were a lot of fun.

Our daughter played with local children at an outdoor communal space.

My thoughts on our visit to Switzerland wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the delicious cheeses and chocolates we enjoyed during our visit. Our morning visit to a local fromagerie was a little overwhelming at first with its pungency, but soon turned into a haven of cheese sampling. After picking out one of my favorites, I tucked it away to nibble on throughout the day. We were also delighted to sample Swiss-made chocolates at several stops along our visit to Switzerland. One consistency I found with the chocolate I sampled was its creamy texture balanced with its richness of flavor.

We loved the Swiss chocolates.

Delicious cheese purchased at a local cheese shop.

There’s still more to look forward to exploring on my next visit to the beautiful country of Switzerland. I hope you’ll consider it for one of your next travel destinations!