DAY 7:

This whole trip was based on improvisation, we didn’t plan any specific stop, and the camper an allowed us to drive as far as we felt like every day. But when we realized that we were going to make it to the Swiss Alps with ample time, I got really excited about checking out the most famous mountain in Europe: the Matterhorn.

From Interlaken, where we were staying, it was going to be a long day trip, though the outstanding Swiss rail system made it not only feasible, but even enjoyable. 3 trains and about 2 and a half hours later, we arrived in the town of Zermatt. From there, we got on the cog train to Gornergrat, where we walked around loving the 360 views of the snow-capped peaks and glaciers. The Matterhorn itself was mostly covered by clouds, but we didn’t care, because it was a beautiful day and our baby boy dressed in lederhosen looked stunning.

We jumped back on the cog train and got off at the Riffelberg station to see the cute blacknose sheep. And we were also rewarded with perfect views of the Matterhorn, as the clouds dissipated. Back down in Zermatt, we walked around yet another charming mountain town, before starting the long trip back to Interlaken.

DAY 8:

Interlaken is one of those towns completely shaped by their geography, it even takes its name after it. We walked around soaking in the beautiful scenery, and took the funicular up to the Harder Kulm platform to admire the lakes from above.

Then we got in the van and made the short drive to Lauterbrunnen, another place that has become super famous in the age of Instagram, and for a good reason. Just walking a couple of minutes from the main parking lot, we got to a perfect viewing point of the spectacular Staubbach waterfalls. After a quick lunch, we started the long drive to Fussen, Germany (almost 5 hours), where we would spend the night.

DAY 9:

We started the day with a stroll through the cobblestone, colorful streets of Fussen. Then we drove up to the castles Neuschweinstein and Hohenschwangau. After parking in the massive parking area, we couldn’t quite figure out how to get tickets for the shuttle up the mountain, so we hiked up pushing Lucas in his stroller.

Given our lack of planning throughout this whole trip, we had not made reservations to visit the castles, so we simply enjoyed the views from the outside. It was a lovely walk with many picture-worthy angles. And we could totally see why Neuschweinstein, in particular, inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.

Back in the van, we decided to make one more stop, at the small town of Oberammergau (45 minutes), which I had fond memories of from my trips in the region as a kid. Oberammergau is known for its painted buildings and its tradition in woodcarving. We browsed some cute shops and took pictures at my favorite paintings, depicting some brothers Grimm’s fairytales.

And then it was time to leave the Bavarian Alps behind, and drive to Munich (an hour and a half). We ate one final kebab, did some shopping and got some rest. The following morning we would return the van, which had serve us so well, and take the long flight back to LA… thankfully, Lucas was a champ one more time, sitting in his bassinet and smiling at everyone 🙂