I stayed in Meiringen for a few days recently and was pleasantly surprised as to how much the area offers. It is a relatively undiscovered area compared to Interlaken at the other end of Lake Brienz.

It is easily reached via Lucerne over the Brunig Pass or via Interlaken from the Bern area.

Meiringen offers a range of accommodation from grand hotels to B&Bs yet is not overrun with tourists.
Among the attractions within easy reach are:
The Sherlock Holmes Museum and Reichenbach Falls for all Sherlock Holmes fans. The falls are spectacular in their own right. Above the falls is the Rosenlaui Valley and gorge as well as Schwarzwaldalp leading eventually to Grosse Scheidegg and Grindelwald for the Jungfrau area.

Ballenberg open air museum is just a few minutes down the road, and just beyond that is Brienz. This offers lake trips, trains to Interlaken and the Brienz Rothorn steam railway.

Just outside the town in the opposite direction is one of the most famous attractions of the area, Aareschlucht.

Just on the edge of the town is the cable car to Alpen Tower. The ticket is sold as a day pass so you can stop at the intermediate stations for hiking or a meal etc. If paragliding is your thing, tandem trips are offered from the Alpen tower.

The alpine passes are also within easy reach. I took the Postbus trip over the Grimsel, Nufenen, Gotthard and Susten Passes as a great day trip.

If anything, the area has undersold itself and could do with a few more facilities. The plus side of this is that it is not over crowded.

Here are a few threads about the area:
Trip to Meiringen
Lauterbrunnen and Meiringen
Apartment/Hostel/B&B recommendation Meiringen
Ballenberg - Your experience requested
Aareschlucht

__________________
"I'll say I can't tell you when, But if my spirit is strong, I know it can't be long, No questions I'm not alone, Somehow I'll find my way home" Rod

Sssshh, keep it quiet, we don't want loads of tourists ruining it!

I understand what you mean. The area certainly could do with a few more people and facilities to keep it viable but it doesn't want to become another Interlaken.

I saw a couple of fairly large hotels in Meiringen that are standing empty. A new TexMex restaurant has recently opened near the station and seems to be attracting some of the youner people in particular.

In Brienz, it seems that the vast majority of people head straight for the Brienz Rothorn railway. When that closes at the end of the day, the town goes very quiet.

Last year I stayed at Meiringen and Grindelwald. Though Grindelwald is lot more touristy, it did seem to have more options for hikes of all levels. I am yet to go over to Rosenlaui Valley, thanks for your post.
bls.ch is running a promotion for $25 day-pass in that area.

oops I meant CHF 25 and not $25

25CHF with a Halbtax - Jubilaums Tageskarte

We recently spent the weekend in Halisberg, above Meiringen, and really enjoyed hiking in the area though we passed on some of the more "industrial tourism" sites.

We we had dinner one night at the Victoria Hotel in Meiringen and the food was excellent - not something I say very often in CH. Apparently it has a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating, which the kind couple sitting next to us explained meant "good food but at a reasonable price." This couple were from the UK and were staying at the hotel on half board - their meal looked amazing too.

Thinking of a morning trip to Brienz tomorrow. Park. Walk along the lake. Maybe find a bakery or similar for breakfast. Stroll through a supposedly picturesque town. Most likely leave before noon.

I’ve checked google and the town/tourist sites. Any personal recommendations for food or on what to see or experience?

Thanks!

Sitting on the portico of the Hotel Giessbach enjoying a mineral water and a relaxing view of the falls.