Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Last weekend we drove 2 hours southwest to the village of Lauterbrunnen for a weekend in the mountains.  Lauterbrunnen is a small village in the center of the Lauterbrunnen Valley in an area of Switzerland known as the "Jungfrau Region," which is an area known for 3 iconic peaks - Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger.  The area looks a lot like Yosemite Valley in California, only a lot more green and lush and dotted with towering waterfalls everywhere you look.  We rented a cabin for the weekend and spent our time touring the area.  The weather was cloudy and rainy much of the time we were there but we still enjoyed ourselves.  Saturday morning we drove to Trummelbach Falls, which is an incredible waterfall that flows through a mountain.  So you tour it through tunnels and caverns.  Then in the afternoon we took the gondola up into the mountains to the tiny village of Murren.  The village was completely shrouded in clouds and rain, but we still enjoyed our time there.  The village is known for its breathtaking views of Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger...but alas we weren't lucky enough to see any of the mountains while we were there.  Later in the day we hiked to a beautiful waterfall called "Staubbach Falls," and we got to hike right up underneath it.

The next day the valley was still cloudy and rainy, so we decided to be spontaneous and we took the cog rail train up the mountain to "Jungfraujoch," which is the highest train station in Europe.  Nicknamed "the top of Europe," the station literally sits inside Mt. Monch at 11,333 feet.  It's an incredible technological achievement.  There's observation areas, a cafeteria, gift shops, displays, an ice cave with ice sculptures.  And unbelievably everything is inside the mountain.  Then outside of course is an outdoor "snow park" where you can play in the snow all year long.  We had an amazing time.  We did some sledding and tubing, Megan made a snow angel, and I tried my luck at the "zip line" which shot me from one side of the mountain to the other.  Then when we were done we rode the cog rail train back down the mountain back into town.

Some people believe the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Switzerland.  I haven't been around enough in Switzerland yet to agree or disagree.  But I would say the area has to be in the conversation.  And even though we had a lot of rainy weather to deal with we still had a great time.  Lauterbrunnen is only 2 hours away from our house, so we're definitely going to make a return trip sometime.