DAY 1
Guess where we are!
The city of Zürich was the perfect place to welcome us to Switzerland for a family vacation. We were greeted by a stunning lake, the perfume of chocolate, and a whole lotta clock towers.
Strolling through the side streets of old town Zürich, we discovered postcard-worthy cobblestone paths and adorable shops where we literally got to stop and smell the roses. We found a small cafe to eat lunch (surprisingly enough, the microwaved chicken on the plane wasn’t enough to tide us over).
Picture this: the year is 2002. You’ve just been greeted by a bearded old man in your home and are now aboard a train to a ominous castle where you will be taught the mysterious ways of wizardry. You’re Harry Potter. No. Reverse. You’re still aboard a train, but this time you have a stunning view of the Swiss countryside and are either munching on a train station ice cream cone (if you’re Annabelle) or taking another three-hour nap (if you’re Ellie). Next stop: Zermatt.
Stepping into the picture perfect ski town of Zermatt, you’d think you were living in a fairytale. From the classic chalets covered in flowers to the car-free streets, strolling around the real-life-snow globe is ~quite~ the treat. 
We’re staying in the luxurious Hotel Alpenhof (above), but are disappointed we haven’t had the chance to try out the pool. Splish splash. The easy location in the middle of town has been amazing, but the Swiss breakfast is even better!
For dinner our first night, we boogied down the river to a cozy lodge-like restaurant for cheese fondue. Even Ellie (who usually has a lifelong enemy pact with cheese) gave her seal of approval to the melted concoction.
DAY 2
We started off the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Next, excursion time!
This morning, we jetted off to the Matterhorn via gondola. Our views ranged from tiny hillside cabins to monstrous snow-capped peaks to sparkling alpine lakes. No complaints here.
A highlight of the morning (aside from the hot chocolate at the top) was getting to go into the Matterhorn’s Glacier Paradise, a network of ice tunnels containing snowy sculptures and photo ops. There was even an ice throne to sit on – which gave Annabelle total Narnia White Witch vibes (Tilda Swinton who?).
Before we reached the bottom, we hopped off the gondolas on our way down the mountain for lunch at a tiny restaurant. We’re still dreaming of that pasta…
Part of the family spent the rest of the afternoon taking electric bikes around town (i.e. Ellie chickened out). We went on a mini adventure by the river and up steep paths leading to isolated cottages on a mountain. From there we got to see beautiful wildflowers and take a much needed breather. The bikes’ “turbo mode” were a big help on the inclines, though Annabelle fell once or twice.
Dinner took place at an upscale pizza place, capped off with decadent cheesecake and tiramisu. Now, we’re ready to start planning for tomorrow’s adventure!
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