Chocolate, Cheese & Trains: Switzerland With Your Grandchild

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel and checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax. You might like to take a stroll on your own in Lucerne before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. On this program, breakfasts will typically be European style buffets with cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, fruit, yogurt, breads, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. Unless noted otherwise, lunches will typically be two-course set meals, while dinners will typically be three-course set meals, with water included at all meals. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Kids will also get a special city map indicating child-friendly places (made with kids from Lucerne) for free time. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room, we will have a three-course set meal with water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles; city streets and sidewalks, cobblestones, unavoidable stairs.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, fruit, yogurt, breads, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation in the hotel lecture room introducing Switzerland’s history and cultural regions. We’ll then take what we’ve learned into Lucerne on a walking scavenger hunt in the old town as we explore in small groups. At the end of the morning, we will arrive at the Swiss Transportation Museum.

Lunch: At the Swiss Transportation Museum, we’ll have a two-course set meal featuring a local specialty with water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will explore the Swiss Transportation Museum with a member of the staff. We’ll see and learn about historic trains, cars, boats, and airplanes, all up close in the museum. We’ll then have some time for independent exploration to see what interests each of us most.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to go for a walk along the lake, swim (in nice weather), or enjoy entertainment activities that may be scheduled at the time of the program.

Activity note: Getting on/off trains, on/off a boat. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven countryside terrain, some rough areas and inclines on Mt. Rigi.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We will walk across the street to the train station and set out on a field trip to the Nature Reserve and Wildlife Park in Goldau, a scientifically managed zoo. More than 100 species of European animals — many of them endangered — live on more than 100 acres (42 hectares) in natural settings divided by huge rocks. Led by a ranger, we’ll walk to explore an open area and see deer and moufflon sheep up close. Animals such as wolves, lynx, wild boar, and wildcats are housed in large enclosures. We will also have some independent time to see what interests each of us most. The landscape we see today is the result of an earthquake in 1806 when millions of tons of rock thundered down from a nearby mountain.

Lunch: In the Nature Park restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will take the oldest cog railway in Europe to Mt. Rigi, affectionately known as the Queen of the Mountains. The highest point is nearly 6,000 feet (1,797 meters). During a walk with our Group Leader, we will learn about cows that graze in Alpine pastures all summer long. On the journey back to Lucerne, we will board a paddle steamboat for a ride over Lake Lucerne. A local expert will share tell us about legends of dragons and goblins in the surrounding mountains.

Dinner: Hotel dining room.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting on and off trains. Walking up to 3 miles; groomed pathways, city sidewalks, some cobblestones and unavoidable stairs.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will walk to the train station and set off on the Pre-Alpine Train for a ride through countryside along Lake Zurich and over spectacular viaducts on our way to Lake Constance — also known as Bodensee. (Our luggage will be transferred separately.) As we ride, our Group Leader will tell us about the charming town of St. Gallen, informally known as the capital of eastern Switzerland, where we will stop. It was named for a missionary monk, Gallus, who founded a religious retreat here more than 1,400 years ago. We will then visit the beautiful abbey church that became famous as a center of knowledge and music. The abbey library contains many priceless documents, some more than a thousand years old! The church and library have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Lunch: At a restaurant in St. Gallen.

Afternoon: Reboarding the train, we will ride on to Lake Constance and check in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax. You might like to go for a stroll along the lake, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central and Western Europe.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: We will gather to hear a local expert tell us about legends of Mount Säntis and the Toggenburg Valley we will visit tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting on and off trains, on/off a bus, on/off a cable car. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven countryside terrain, some rough areas and inclines on Mt. Santis.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We will walk to the train station as we begin our journey to Mount Säntis. As we ride, our Group Leader will tell us about the Swiss Alps, the culture, and the challenges of life on some of the world’s highest mountains. We’ll deboard the train and walk about 10 minutes to an alpine farm, where a local expert will tell us about traditional cheese making and show us around.

Lunch: At the farm, we will have a traditional Swiss specialty featuring the local cheese.

Afternoon: Next, we will ride to the cable car that will take us to the top of Mount Säntis — the highest in eastern Switzerland — for amazing views. On a sunny day, we can see into Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Lichtenstein! We’ll return by bus and train.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to walk along the lakeside path, go for a swim (in nice weather), or play beach volleyball.

Activity note: Getting on/off trains. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven countryside terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We’ll take a train ride through the beautiful Rhine Valley to Maienfeld, the area famously known as Heidi Land. We will hear the beloved story of Heidi that takes place here. The author of the Heidi books was Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), who pioneered a new way of writing children’s literature. Her fictitious heroine, an orphan sent to live with her old grandfather in the Alps, became one of the most famous in the world. We’ll then go for a walk in the countryside to enjoy the clean air, scenic surroundings, and imagine spending time with Heidi.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have traditional local fare.

Afternoon: Sledding in the summer? Only in Switzerland! We’ll have a fast ride on a toboggan run downhill before returning to Romashorn by train. Grandparents and kids can all participate.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off trains. Walking up to 3 miles; city sidewalks and inside a factory.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will walk to the train station and board the train for a ride to Flawil. (Our luggage will be transferred separately.) There, we will visit a chocolate factory to learn about the chocolate-making process in the Chocolarium. As a special treat, we will make our own chocolate bars!

Lunch: At a restaurant in Flawil.

Afternoon: We will continue our transfer to Zurich by train and check in to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room depending on flight departure times.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel and depart to the airport by hotel shuttle bus. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!