I'm writing down many that you provided and am going to do some research on them.
Keep the suggestions flowing, There is just so much to do here and I don't want to miss anything.
OH - someone(s) said something like: tell us what you like so we can direct you. I don't want to do that, I want to know what's out there for me to experience, maybe I'll be very interested in something and I just didn't know that thing existed. For example - Snow Cricket? seriously, I had no idea they did that, would I have told you I was interested --- heck NO, do I want to see it and see if it's something I like --- TOTALLY YES.
Thanks again, and I really do appreciate the suggestions.
OH - another for my list is go ice skating in the woods in Engadin.
The suggestions about hang gliding is kinda on my list -- If I miss this one I won't feel bad, but if I start to run out of things in the next 2 years, this one will bubble up to the top.
OH yeah, spend a night in the Ascher hotel in summer.
Once I create the list I'll rank them for myself in a priority (including cost and availability) order, and work my way down the list. Some of your suggestions also make me think it would be best with another person to make the experience even more special --- like the Train ride/dinner, It will go on my list but I'll tag this one as going with another person would be best.
I'm not sure what determines a "VISIT" but, in my opinion, how you visit a place is as important to what you visit in determining whether the experience is worthwhile for you.
As an example, I had been to Venice many times - but only for the day from somewhere else.
When I stayed there for a few days, down a little backstreet, away from the main tourist haunts, I got to appreciate the marvel of the place, wandering the streets at leisure, without a rushed timetable, when they were less full with day-trippers.
Lots of the places on these lists warrant more than a day's visit so you ought to plan for that.
Totally agree- I just do not understand the 'twicher's guide to travelling' - just ticking places from a 'must' list. I'd much rather see less, but see well, have time to look behind, to 'feel'.
We have been to the USA many times, and always limited out travel to one to three States, and having time to turn left, go behind or over ...
True, specially if you have the GA. But with the Excellence-Class Glacier-Express package which includes the 5-course meal and 2 nights 4-star hotel stay in St. Moritz and Zermatt it still a once in a lifetime treat.
Apart from the 5 course meal on the train....(?) the rest you can organise far cheaper than the "package" they present.
Take a train from Zermatt to Andermatt, stop for an hour or so for lunch, or even a night and then take a train Andermatt to St. Moritz, stop for a night or two, St. Moritz to Tirano on the Bernina Express, post bus from Tirano to Lugano.
This if planned will cost less than the "package"
Go 2nd Class as EVERYBODY travels 1st class as its a once in a lifetime thing, 2nd class is usually empty 4 seats one side and 4 the other, all for your very own !!
Another BIG advantage, on the non package trains the windows open and you can stick your head out for fantastic photos, on "THE GLACIER EXPRESS" the windows are shut, the wagons air conditioned complete with a variety of smells........
I disagree on some of the "must see" places in Europe:
1. Santorini? Been there last year with due to covid only half the tourists it normally has - was already unbearable... people are queuing half an hour to do those "insta shots" and they never show the tourist masses pushing themselves through narrow streets of once charming villages.
2. Cinque Terre? Same but worse
3. Dubrovnik? Same - but its at least big enough that you can take some side streets and get why it got up on that list...
4. Neu Schwanstein?! Seriously? Germany and most of Europe is completely packed with amazing historical castles... you dont need to visit the one that is fake...
So here are some alternatives... not exactly secrets but anyways:
3. If you only make on ski race, make it the Lauberhorn one... or Kitzbühl but thats a lot less Swiss...
4. France: Everyone talks about Provence and the Cote d'Azur... which are nice, but we found the Bordeaux wineries, Bordeaux as a city and nearby Biarritz for the ocean a much nicer trip... and stop at Cognac on the way ;-)
In my defense, Jamboree is from the U.S, where all castles are fake but NeuSchwanstein is just like the Disney castle and so may or may not appeal to them (They decided not to let us know what they like and do not like doing).
I'd second that! We did a flight via Wingly (think Airbnb for pilots) before Covid and it cost about a third of the cost of a typical sightseeing tour. Highly recommended.
These are great suggestions. And Yes I am a tourist and even though places have lots of tourists I can't imagine not seeing some of these places.
Could you imagine returning home and thinking to myself - good thing I didn't see "x" because there were to many tourists.
You could replace "x" with stuff like: old town Zurich, Barcelona, Rome, Venice......
Here is how my brain is working:
* right now I live within a "short" distance from Zermatt (or a ski race, or a well known spa or....) . It will cost me a train ride and maybe a hotel to go see Zermatt
* now imagine I return home and then decide I want to see Zermatt (or a ski race in the alps, or have an experience of visiting a european 5* spa).
-- now the cost just skyrocketed, I need multiple day's of vacation, I need a flight, a train and more hotel rooms......