Living in the Moment in Switzerland!

11 countries. Many cities. But one place stands out as being the clear winner as my favorite destination from my summer travels.  Keep in mind a favorite place may be for a very specific reason.  Who you traveled with, a place you explored on your own, a picture perfect destination, or possibly because of the amazing people that you meet along the way.

And sometimes if you’re lucky, a place checks all of the boxes… Engelberg, Switzerland. Nestled 3,000 feet up in the Alps, this cute cozy village left me with all the feels that travel should give you.  As the switchbacks took us higher and higher the view around each curve literally made me gasp.  Not due to elevation (I’ll get there!) but because the scenery became more beautiful the higher we climbed.  

After copious amounts of photos and videos were taken, we pulled into our super cute bed and breakfast– The owners came out and introduced themselves to our group and I knew that this inviting little place would be perfect for our 3 nights below the snow-capped mountains that surrounded us on all sides. 

Walkable to the cobblestone street of shops, small restaurants and bars, we made our way to dinner which was planned through our tour.  I had the pleasure of meeting some other parents and we quickly became friends who looked for ways to entertain ourselves while our kids were doing the same.

If you know me, you know I love my red wine, I love to sit outside and low and behold I found the cutest little wine bar complete with inviting outdoor seating!  Enter La Dolce Vita Wine Bar. This wasn’t just any ole’ place.  Let’s keep in mind that even though it was July the temps at night were in the 50s and this gal had on shorts.  But the sweet owner, Alexandra, didn’t just pour our wine… She brought out blankets and handwarmers as that extra special touch and her exuberant personality made you feel like you had known her for years. I was excited to know that I found my place that made me feel like home 4,000 miles away. 

I will be honest in that I personally didn’t plan this trip– I was a part of my son’s band tour through Europe with VA Ambassadors of Music (highly recommended by the way).  I approached this trip as I would simply be a tourist and live in the moment of whatever came my way.  After a wonderful night’s sleep with the windows open in July (hello…am I in heaven) we were heading up to Mt Titlis, 10,000 feet above sea level.  I love how their website accurately describes the experience: ‘Your feet on the glacier and your head in the sky’.  Remember how I mentioned I didn’t plan– the shock value of this day will forever live on in my mind as one of the best.

I assumed that the cable car I was about to board would take me to the end of my journey.  The beauty of Engelberg below, the sound of cow bells in the pasture, the patches of snow that still glistened in the summer sun had me thinking wow!  It can’t possibly get better than this. We at first exited the cable car to find a beautiful lake complete with rowboats, places to sit and have the picnic lunch we had brought.  But this was just the appetizer.  A little taste of what was still to come thousands of feet higher! 
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We once again boarded the 8-person Titlis Xpress cable car to Stand station and continued up the mountainside. From there we boarded the Rotair which revolves as you complete your climb to the top! Oh My God what an amazing experience.  But it’s literally just the beginning.  Keep in mind that I’m sharing this day with my son and his friends which for me just made everything  more memorable.  We exited and were greeted with a turquoise blue glacier cave, where the 5,000 year old ice made me happy I had brought appropriate clothing for the occasion. There was a really cool throne of ice you could sit on as a photo opp and I was like wow, I'm so glad I made it to the top.  BUT WAIT– I mean why would I come all this way and think I had seen it all.  We slid and slipped our way through the rest of the glacier tubes and made our way outside to the Cliff Walk. 

Europe’s highest suspension bridge invites you to cross the icy abyss below you while majestic mountains surround you.  I don’t think I have ever felt so insignificant in the world other than when I experienced the Grand Canyon.  Both grandeur in size and both leaving you with a feeling that so much more exists beyond where you currently are on the map.  We crossed with confidence, we got selfies and once again we thought we had experienced it all.  Once again, we were wrong.  Switzerland had more in store for us. It was July so why in the world would I think that I may go snow tubing?!

After crossing the bridge, you have the option of heading back down the way you came or you can purchase a ticket for the Ice Flyer.  I didn’t travel thousands of miles or climb thousands of feet to not take this ride.  The one that will leave my feet dangling over a glacier and deliver me to what I was so excited to learn I could do here! Snow tube!  What!? I get to test out my waterproof Vessi’s I bought for Iceland in the snow?  In Switzerland? In July? The harrowing journey down the mountain to Glacier Park left my son begging me to put my phone away as I captured every moment of the beauty before us.

After we arrived, we took amazing pictures in the snow alongside the mountain.  We walked down to the bottom of the snow-covered hill to collect the snow tube from the previous rider, climbed back up, climbed aboard and turned on the video to capture us flying down the Swiss mountainside, laughing the whole way.  I love that I had no idea this would happen and am a firm believer that sometimes the best times are those that happen when you’re living in the moment.

While I could go on, I think I need to make Switzerland at least a two-part blog.  I obviously have way too much to say about a place I truly adored.  And to think we didn’t even head down the mountain yet!  Stay-tuned!