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Interlaken: Full of Beauty and Wonder!

Interlaken, Switzerland is a feast for the eyes. Surrounded by lakes, valleys, and the surrounding Alps, Interlaken is the place to go for some post-card like memories. Located in the Bernese Oberland region, Interlaken is a great jumping off point for a visit to the nearby Jungfrau area, and is within a whisper of the mountain peaks of Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger.

The main gathering spot in Interlaken is the Hoheweg, the square in the middle of town. This area was originally owned by Augustinian monks, but was acquired by hoteliers in the 19th century who turned it into a city park. Horse drawn carriages clip-clop along the main street. See the much photographed famous view of the Jungfrau. Another beautiful sight is the flower clock that fronts the casino (Kursaal). The area is lined with shops, cafes, and gardens.

To see the Alps from above, a trip to Jungfraujoch is usually a highlight of a trip around Interlaken. Located at 3,454 ft, it is the highest rail station in all of Europe. The views of the surrounding mountains down into the valleys are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Take the Sphinx Tunnel to an elevator that brings you to a observation deck called the Sphinx Terraces. From here you can see the Monch and Jungfrau peaks. Also visible is the Aletsch Glacier, a 14-mile river of ice, the longest in Europe. From the terminus of the rail station, a 5-minute walk brings you to the famous Eispalast (Ice Palace). This is the area of "eternal ice," caverns cut out of the slowest moving section of the surrounding glacier.

To see the Alps from below, how about taking a ride on one of the many boat tours on the twin pristine lakes of Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. Cruises can be boarded at both the east and west end of Interlaken. The scenery will bring an exhilarating gasp as you float along the crystal blue waters. Most of the ships offer entertainment, and the food is usually unbeatable!

Where there are Alps, there are waterfalls. A couple spectacular ones sit neatly perched waiting to receive Interlaken visitors. Trümmelbach Water Falls is a unique spectacle in the valley of Lauterbrunnen, and comprises no fewer than 10 glacier-fed waterfalls. The impressive falls - floodlit and accessible by a special tunnel lift - carry up to 20,000 liters of water a second. Nearby, huge amounts of water rage through the wildly romantic Giessbach Valley and fall over the 14 waterfalls of Giessbach Water Falls, and spill into the green-blue waters of the Brienz Lake.

Wherever you go around Interlaken, hiking opportunities abound. Signposts are everywhere giving estimated hiking times for round-trip hikes. One of the most famous is to the Harder Kulm, which yields a panoramic view and has other trails extending out from it. There is also a funicular to the top if you have children, of don't feel in the mood for a stroll. More hiking opportunities can be found around the nearby village of Grindelwald, which sits against a backdrop of the Wetterhorn and the towering north face of Eiger. Grindelwald is surrounded by folksy hamlets, swift streams, and as much beauty as can be had in Switzerland. Visit the local tourism center for a trail guide to the almost limitless number of paths.

The best way to describe Interlaken is simply...full. It is full of opportunities for some of the best sight-seeing in all of Europe. It is full of great cafes, restaurants, and shops that will satisfy the palette as well as the pocketbook. It is full of friendly, helpful residents ready to share their heritage with visitors. It is full of challenges for those who wish to venture away from the set trails and tackle the mountains on their own. Interlaken is a full-time vacation destination that will leave visitors full of wonderful memories.