swiss photo journal: zermatt and Venthône

some final photos from our holiday in switzerland [how is it already february]. this year there was barely any snow which is rare for december, but it was beautiful all the same. after a week in the geneva area, we drove out to the mountains for some fresh air to ring in 2017. 

ZERMATT:
this mountain resort lies below the iconic matterhorn and is a no-cars-allowed little ski village. we parked, took the cute little train [15 minutes] and arrived in the lively world of wood cabins, apres-ski and good vibes. if you have the time [and the cash] stay here for a few nights. the skiing is great in the winter, and hiking is gorgeous in the spring or summer. we took the gondola up and had lunch on the mountain before heading back down to the car to make our way to valais. 

VENTHONE / VALAIS: 
we stayed with family in this extremely cozy mountain village, but i imagine there are airbnb and other home rentals available in the area {crans montana nearby is the more touristy ski mountain}. our time was spent exploring, eating delicious food, drinking wine, relaxing and enjoying our time together before the holidays were over. my favorite part of our stay here was doing a night-hike [which is usually done with snow shoes but these weren't needed] which ended at a cozy fondue restaurant. my kind of hiking! 
 

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5 day trip ideas from geneva, switzerland

GRUYERE, 1 HOUR & 20 MINUTES FROM GENEVA
this medieval village gives its name of course to gruyère cheese and is located at the top of an 82 meter-high hill overlooking the saane valley & lake of gruyère. the village is CUTE and fun to walk around, pop into shops, eat fondue [reservations are helpful, sit upstairs!], and take a look around the gorgeous castle. you can also tour the cheese or chocolate factory, if you want to learn more about how it's all made. read more about the activities here or read our post about << 7 things to try when you visit switzerland >> 
 

MONTREUX, 1 HOUR FROM GENEVA
montreux is often referenced as a "resort town" on lake geneva, and is absolutely worth at least a day visit. nestled between steep hills and the lakeside, it's known for its mild microclimate and the long running montreux jazz festival, held in july. but it's fun to see all year round – the town's promenade is lined with flowers, sculptures, trees, fun restaurants, cool bars, fancy shopping and gorgeous architecture. and if you're into castles, chillion makes for a fun after-lunch activity and beautiful photos. 

ROCHERS DE NAYE, 1.5 HOURS FROM GENEVA
after passing through montreux, rochers de naye is a mountain region overlooking lake geneva, in the canton {district} of vaud. your options here can be either luxurious or adventurous – take the cog railway to the top and have a drink, enjoy the views and perhaps sleep in one of the yurts. OR choose to hike up to the train station and take the train back down, which is a good way to earn your snack/drink at the top! ... for true adventurers try climbing the viaferrata along the mountainside cliff - you will need helmets, rope and carabiners.
 

EXPLORE THE TINY VILLAGES: 
switzerland is covered in cute little villages and you can't really go wrong in any of them – stop wherever feels right! some of our favorites for popping in and having a walk around are gilly, st. prex and rolle. wander the cobble stoned streets, stop for lunch and try the locally famous filets de perch. << see our recent photo journal here >>

ANNECY:
if you're looking for a full day trip, annecy [in france] is often referred to as the "venice of switzerland" and is a charming little town to explore their historic streets, channels of lake water running through to pastel colored buildings, and delicious food.  
 

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7 things to try when you're in switzerland

HOLIDAYS IN SWITZERLAND
we were looking forward to meeting up with my family for the holidays in switzerland since day one of our trip. my step-dad is swiss and we have many friends and family living in the geneva area. more photos and stories from our trip later. but in the mean time, are you heading to switzerland any time soon? if so, these 7 things are a must try. also see our << swiss photo journal here >>. 

1. CHEESE FONDUE:
even my vegan mother makes an exception for swiss fondue because it really is that good. if you have time [and you're close] it's worth making a day trip to visit the town of gruyere. but fondue is everywhere in switzerland. some tips? avoid looking like a tourist and order white wine with the dish. don't drink any water or soda, as the acid from the wine helps break up the cheese. if you don't drink wine, anything warm will do [tea is best!] ... try ordering the tomato version if you're looking for a twist
 

2. TARTIFLETTE:
this is technically a french dish from the savoy region in the french alps, but it has slowly crept over the swiss border and is most popular in the french speaking part of the country. it is made with potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons and onions. can't beat this on a cold day.

3. RACLETTE:
it doesn't look like much more than cheese slapped on a plate, but it IS so much more than that. this dish has a long history and has even been mentioned in medieval writings [or so they say]. raclette traditionally starts as a wheel of cheese, that is heated either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners' plates. the term raclette derives from the french word racler, meaning "to scrape", a reference to the fact that the melted cheese must be scraped from the unmelted part onto the plate. the dish is often accompanied by small potatoes, gherikins, pickled onions, white wine and sometimes dried meats. 
 

4. ROSTI
is a swiss potato dish that consists mainly of potatoes. originally a breakfast dish, this is now eaten all over the country at any time of day. it can often be seen with spinach, grilled onions, fried eggs or cervelas... i prefer it with a sausage! 
 

5. SWISS WINE
... is some of the best wine i've ever had. it's rare to find it in the states because the swiss prefer to keep it all for themselves as they drink almost all that they produce. go for a tasting at one of the many local wineries and you wont be disappointed [beware, they have a heavy pour]. we loved our tasting at château de duillier (nyon) and château de villa (valais). 
 

6. STEAK FRITES
this restaurant in geneva originated in paris with the tradition of ONLY serving steak frites and salad. nothing else. like, really ... nothing else. and it's the best. medium rare is recommended, and the steak cooks a bit more on the flame in front of you. red wine is a must. 
 

7. MERINGUES & CREAM
you'll see this for dessert without a doubt if you visit gruyere. it's hands down my favorite dessert in the entire world and you MUST try it. the crunchy sugary meringues mixed with the tart creamy cream ... it's actually insane and we have nothing like it in the states. 
 

photo journal: switzerland holiday vibes

why is everything so much cuter in switzerland? i am slowly sorting through our photos from the holidays, and wanted to share a few favorites from around all of the different little villages and towns...