Switzerland 

At cocktail parties –or anywhere- skiers will namedrop ski areas and tell ski stories at the blink of an eye. Generally, the namedropping turns into a one-upmanship game over anything that has to do with skiing and perhaps even take an odd turn. For instance, any skier who has even been to the large resort of Engelberg in Switzerland can rhapsodize about its famed Mt. Titlis and then suddenly change the subject to the charms of the nearby city of Lucerne.

Count me among these guys who can fire both barrels. And let me elaborate. Lucerne is a city that refers to itself, as the “essence of Switzerland” and its geographic and historic centerpiece. It’s also true that Lucerne is known for its Wagner and other delightful museums, such as the Swiss Transport Museum and Collection Rosengart. The latter is a real gem, with 280 pieces of Picasso, Miro, Klee, Monet and others..

Certainly, Lucerne is a staid Swiss city with the usual Swiss respectability. But in February that image changes dramatically with a Mardi Gras- type celebration that rivals the revelry of New Orleans. Carnival time deletes any impression that the Swiss are a nation shorn of fun. All bets are off when The Carnival in Lucerne kicks off on Dirty Thursday at 5am with a loud boom. “This peaceful city along the lake suddenly becomes a wild, spooky stage for imaginary masked figures to roam.” Along with Fat Monday and Tuesday these become Lucerne’s “craziest and wildest days.” The crowning finish takes place Fat Tuesday evening when roving bands of noisy musicians shake the foundation of the town. Specifically, carnival time turns the town upside-down with a fun-fun atmosphere. In 2006 the fun-loving people cavort from February 23 through March 1, 2006.

However, those of you over the age of 40 may want visit Lucerne in a quieter time. The city can accommodate that with ease. Lucerne is always alive with music and many festivals.throughout the year. For festival info or for more about the fun city of Lucerne click onto www.luzern.org. You’ll quickly notice that it is an ideal destination for mismatched couples---those in which one thirsts for vertical drop on the mountain and the other hungers for culture in the city.

Just for the record, Lucerne is located on the shores of the Lake Lucerne, which features every kind of sightseeing and water sport you can imagine. And year round you can take a delightful cruise on the beautiful lake that never freezes.Visiting during ski season allows you to visit the country; sightsee the city, and of course ski Mt. Titlis and enjoy colorful Engelberg.

You can check out the mountain on www.titlis.ch. Pay particular attention to the fascinating Rotair, a rotating, aerial cable car with magnificent views. To ease the burden of ski travel you can rent equipment and an entire skiing wardrobe at the Titlis cable-car station and you will find that the area is perfect for all levels of skiing abilities.For more on the flavor of Engelberg, click on more in Ted Heck ‘s Spotlight above and Vicki Bancroft's enthusiastic description below.

Engelberg, Switzerland, located in the central region southeast of Luzern, may be Switzerland's best kept secret. Americans in search of a European alpine vacation may more readily seek out St. Moritz or Davos as their destinations out of familiarity. Engelberg offers top quality skiing with the endless charm of a small, authentic alpine village. It should not be overlooked.

Engelberg sits serenely within the Swiss Alps. A lesser known resort than many others, Engelberg features a 17 th century Benedictine monastery at one end of its valley and a train station at the other. A short scenic ride through the mountains brings skiers from Luzern in one hour.

The ski slopes cover the eastern and western mountains with the easier terrain on the sunny eastern side know as Brunni. Boarding a gondola right in town takes you to the Ristis Restaurant which faces the Brunni slopes. From here, chairlifts and surface lifts are used to access the trails.

The Brunni side of Engelberg is the location for the Yeti-Park, the children's ski center. In a cordoned off area right in front of the Ristis, children jump on trampolines, ski through hoops and soar off mini jumps with their instructors close by. In addition to the Yeti-Park, Brunni offers sledding on rustic wooden sleds. There are special sledding trails that meander through the woods merging with the ski trails near the base at the Ristis. The slope facing windows of the Ristis offer a fine view of all the winter activity taking place at Brunni and it is a fine spot to enjoy some food and beverage.

On the western side of Engelberg, Mount Titlis rises to 10,000 feet as the highest point in central Switzerland. The glacial summit is visited year round for its spectacular mountain views from the 360 degree rotating gondola known as the Rotair. In the town, ski busses are readily available to take skiers and riders to the base station to access the gondola system.

The first gondola stop at 4,262 feet is Gerschnialp where gentle, novice terrain is found as well as cross country and hiking trails. There is a sledding run from Gerschnialp into Engelberg open from Christmas through mid-March snow conditions permitting). The gondola continues onto Trubsee at 5,904 feet (1800 m) where there is a hotel and restaurants. The gondola stops at Trubsee and chairlifts or cable cars are used to ascend to Stand (pronounced shand ) at 8,036 feet (2,428 m). The “Titlis Rotair” is a 360 degree rotating cable car that carries 75 passengers from Stand to the Titlis summit at 10,000 feet (3,028 m).

One of the many glories of skiing Titlis is being able to access intermediate terrain from the summit with inspiring views. The “Ice Flyer” chairlift over the glacier carries skiers to both difficult and intermediate terrain just to the south of the Rotair. Very comfortable intermediate trails between Trubsee and Stand serviced by a chairlift enable solid upper intermediate skiers the thrill of alpine skiing as it was meant to be experienced.

If you are visiting Engelberg with non-skiers, they will not feel left out of the experience as they are welcome on the gondolas and can enjoy the on-mountain restaurants without having to ski. The town is easily navigated on foot or using the ski bus. Shopping is unique and plentiful as are restaurants and bars.

Engelberg will always be a destination of choice for me no matter the season as it is easily accessible in central Switzerland and offers plenty of reasons to return. If your travel plans include Switzerland, be sure to visit Engelberg.