Being that we are graced with a 3-day weekend for the national holiday this year, anyone have suggestions for first-timers? Particularly interested in something unique and/or traditional though we are open to any ideas.

We are based near Nyon but are looking to hopefully combine it with a nice long weekend trip, the itinerary for which will be largely determined by the weather.

Best fireworks?
Best food?
Best atmosphere?
Least tourists?

Very interested to hear your comments!

Personally, we like to sleep in until noon or so.

Tom

Sounds thrilling.

On Sunday (i.e. the night before national day) will be by the river in Basel to see the fireworks.

On the day itself, if the weather is bad I'll have a lazy day, cook an english breakfast, and drink lattes all day while reading on my balcony. And surfing on here posting wonderful insightful and amusing one liners everywhere. If the weather's good I'll sit in the park or cycle slowly around, maybe pop over to St Louis to get cakes (shops should be open).

In the evening I may go to a nearby village which has fireworks that evening.

Basically, it's just a nice random day off!

Not that its on the 1st, but you'll want to come down to Geneva for the end of festival fireworks, they are long, spectacular, and oh, very crowded

Well, you have to start some time, I suppose

...so I suppose that will be the same for Zürich? A few fireworks the night before, lazing about and enjoying the weekend whether it be warm or cold and blustery.

I'm going to enjoy a swim in the Linth, followed by a brisk run through the streets, howling at the moon.

I'll be
a) at the beach, or
b) lounging by the pool

on a small caribbean island...

I go to Konstanz for the day shopping. It's usually soo empty on the 1st of August, I can spend like a MF and not worry about crowds of Swiss!

I quite like that idea - I wonder if it's worth the trip if you are coming from Chur by train?

Im going down to El lokal, Zurich for a sunday session with some mates. All are welcome, the more the merrier. It should be a great afternoon of sunday drinking.

Haven't done this...but brunch at a farm seems interesting.

http://www.brunch.ch/DesktopDefault....=2082&langid=1

Just registered. My first French solo conversation on the tele! Yippee! Hope I didn't register an army

If the weather is good we'll go to Engelberg and see the sunrise on Titlis. Then in the evening we'll probably go to one of small cities in the Central Switzerland to see fireworks. We'll try to find in announcements where the celebration promises to be most interesting

i'd like to get totally sht-faced and have fun with a random girl who's name i probably forgot.

Depends on how much you are planning to spend--with good planning (and an excellent exchange rate) the trip can be worthwhile very easily.


Although my second favorite destination is Landquart--which is a bit closer to you

She was called Eric.

Looks like we may hike up a mountain and watch a sunset while we barbecue in anticipation for the fireworks on Sunday (whereabouts still unknown). Then we'll make our way to Geneva on Monday night for some lakeside festivities.

Thanks for all your ideas (especially about the brunch!) - ears are still open to any others!

I'll be celebrating in Interlaken and in Riggenberg this year. Ringgenberg is having farmers market and a traditional 1st of August breakfast, while in Interlaken there is the Rugenbräu aperatif at the Kursaal, a parade through the town at 3pm. In Unterseen there will be a music, the children's lampion march starts at 9pm and at 10pm the bonfires will be lit and the fireworks will be set off. Party then goes on until midnight. I am really looking forward to it.

If you like a good day hike, I strongly recommend the Sentir des Fromagarie in Gruyere. See http://www.la-gruyere.ch/fr/navpage-...FR-239625.html. It's a respectable climb but not too difficult and the path is very well marked (it's also a snowshoe trial in the winter). The beauty is, you can hike to different fromagaries and get some cheese and a glass (or more!) of beer. The trail head (and parking lot) is near to the big cheese factory / touring place in Gruyere. So while you might get some big tourist busses, if you end there at the finish if your hike, it is a very nice place to sit and relax in the sun with a suitable beverage. Also, there's so much to do around Gruyere that it's hard to beat -- even on a Swiss holiday.