A Journey Through Lakes, Peaks, and Chocolate-Scented Streets

Switzerland revealed itself to me like a story written in light and stone. My first stop was Lausanne, where the streets are lined with history and Lake Geneva glimmers beneath the Alps. From the terrace of the Lausanne Palace, the city stretched out in quiet grandeur, and the mountains hovered on the horizon like a promise. I wandered through cobblestone lanes, holding my hubby’s hand, following the scent of chocolate drifting from artisan shops.

Sharing a ribbon-tied box of chocolate with my husband felt like the perfect introduction to the country—slow, sweet, and unhurried. We traveled on a small group tour with Tauck (celebrating 100 years in business) and it made it effortless; the transfers, guidance, and little local tips allowed me to soak in the city without worry, and I felt like I was discovering corners of Lausanne I never could have found alone.

The Olympic Museum sits on a gentle hill above the city, and I found myself drawn in immediately. Inside, the history of the Games stretches from ancient Greece to the present day. I traced the evolution of equipment and watched athletes’ stories unfold across generations. The exhibits here are expertly crafted, and I reveled in getting to see Olympic uniforms up close. What struck me most was the quiet sense of inspiration—seeing how ambition and perseverance are captured in objects, photos, and moments frozen in time. The amount of time to wander and explore the detailed exhibits was perfect to soak it all up.

As an Atlantan it was pretty neat to see how the Olympic torches have evolved over time and to see the one from my hometown. Scroll my IG post above to see it.

Interlaken felt like stepping into a postcard, cradled between two turquoise lakes and shadowed by impossibly high peaks. The journey here was as much a part of the magic as the destination. Riding the Golden Pass train, I watched vineyards tumble down hillsides, alpine meadows stretch out with cows grazing, and waterfalls glinting in the sunlight. This was not the hurried blur of travel by bus; it was a slow, effortless glide that allowed me to drink in every turn of the landscape.

And then there was Jungfraujoch. It was hands down my favorite part of the trip. The ascent began with a gondola that lifted me over green pastures into the jagged heart of the Alps. The air grew sharp, the wind more insistent, and my conversation quieted as the world stretched beneath me. Before heading out, our tour guide gave us an already stamped postcard that we could mail back to family in the US (noting it was mailed from the highest elevation in Europe) – nice touch!

Inside the Ice Palace, tunnels carved into ancient glacier shimmered in pale light, and the cold walls pressed smoothly against my fingertips. There are many intricate ice sculptures to marvel at as you walk through the hallways. Plus there are some cool (pun intended) photo ops as well!

Being at the highest railway station in Europe, surrounded by ice and snow, felt almost otherworldly. I could feel the enormity of the Alps and the quiet power of the place settle into my chest.

Lucerne welcomed me back in spades – I was there decades ago briefly in a whirlwind tour of Europe just out of high school. Memories came flooding back from visiting Lion Monument. Of course, this time was a bit more upscale, staying at the Ritz-Carlton overlooking the lake, the long summer days begged us to leave our patio doors open and take in the beautiful views and sounds around us. I loved that we had free time to explore on our own and have an intimate dinner of local cuisine.

Later, our small group boarded a boat across Lake Lucerne toward Mount Rigi. The summit opened onto sweeping views, crisp alpine air, and a quiet sense of awe. I breathed in the mountains, the lake, and the history around me, feeling an almost meditative clarity that only Switzerland seems to offer.

Traveling through Switzerland this way revealed a side of the country I could never have seen on my own. It was not about checking off landmarks, but stepping into the landscape—through train windows framing snowcapped peaks, gondolas climbing slopes, and boats skimming glassy lakes. Tauck’s planning and local knowledge in Switzerland made every transition feel effortless, leaving space to simply be present. By the end of the week, I carried with me not just an extensive camera roll on my phone, but a sense of having really experienced the various charms of Switzerland.