Our last full day in Switzerland arrived too soon. After breakfast, because the weather was supposed to improve, we made the decision visit Mt. Pilatus, which is Lucerne’s very own mountain, that on a clear day offers views of 73 Alpine peaks. We didn’t choose the most adventurous way to the top which included a bus ride to a boat ride to a cogwheel train ride! We chose instead to drive to Kriez and take the aerial car ride and then transfer to a gondola to reach the top.

We lucked out with some partial clearance at the top which was at almost 7000 ft. although, we near cried later that evening when we reloaded the webcam from the top and saw the clouds had cleared mostly! It’s all about timing with these viewpoints.

That said, we had a really fun time and Mira was a trooper, putting up with lots of heights which is not her choice activity. 

After a quirky lunch stop in the viewpoint cafeteria (quirky because some visitor whipped out an accordion and serenaded everyone). The kids and I had fun bopping along while we ate our lunches. 

After lunch and many pictures, we exited partway down at Fräkmüntegg (1415 meters altitude) where we all tried our first tobaggan run!

With amazing views and fun curves and a tunnel, it was a ride that will remain very memorable. You sit on top of seat with runners and a hand control that when you push back, activates a break. Pushing it all the way forward helps to let the runners do their job and take you down the track at faster speeds.

Mira, who doesn’t like heights or rides, really challenged herself this day and even made herself go down the ride. Sebastian went first, followed by Ryan, then Mira, and finally, me. Before Mira took off the man that was releasing us down the run, joked to Mira that if she pulled on her break too much a giant spider would appear to chase her down the track. Helpful or not-helpful (lol) she did great!

We have some fun pictures that were automatically taken as we were going down as camera/phone use is forbidden and fined. At the end of the ride you get back on and are pulled back up to the top and at that point you can take pictures of the stunning lake views.

We rounded up our stay with a lovely dinner at Brasserie Löwen Am See. I tried a delicious local char and Ryan opted for a mild vegetable curry with lentils. After dessert, Ryan and the kids declared that they were tired.

Since the weather had cleared, I found my reserve energy tank and decided to walk along the Zugersee that final night there. The clouds had cleared, and the riverfront was filled with many local families walking their dogs, friends sitting on piers eating pizzas, and local high school students in groups of two to eight laughing and sharing a drink (drinking age is 16 for beer and wine). I was a lone visitor walking by myself it seemed but I loved soaking in the views and listening to the happy conversation around the lake.

The next morning, we were greeted with a farmer’s market below our hotel. I purchase a pastry and observed all the fresh fish, olives, produce, apple preserves and other specialties for sale.

Moments later we were headed to Zurich airport for a flight into Rome, followed by a 2.5 hour drive to an Umbrian hillside town called Spello. It would prove to be a long day, made longer by a restaurant forgetting to make our main courses! Eventually we made it to our rental home’s beds and have been enjoying getting to know Umbria.