Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider painting the Matterhorn, a Swiss cowbell, or a Brienz wood carving.
Need more inspiration? Check out these Swiss wood carving artists at work.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for Switzerland include:
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
- Heidi (2015)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study why many international organizations are based in Geneva and why Switzerland has stayed neutral throughout history (hint: it’s written into their constitution!). Then, tour some of Switzerland’s ancient history and modern marvels with these free virtual tours of Swiss mountains, glaciers, lakes, and more.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cheese fondue party with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try ooey-gooey raclette, Toblerone or Milka chocolate, or crispy rösti potatoes.
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common Swiss German phrases to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
The Swiss consume more chocolate annually than any other country in the world!
Meet Your Partner in Travel
Alex spent four summers working as a camp counselor at a sports camp in the south of Switzerland. He learned how to make raclette and fondue, climbed Trublestock twice, and skied on the Matterhorn. He used his spare time to hike many of the hundreds of trails throughout the country and grew to love the food as much as the landscapes and sights he encountered. Now back in California, Alex maintains his love of Switzerland by making the local food when he can and reading one of his favorite books, Hotel du Lac.