The final legs up to Grindelwald and Wengen are by cog rail. The trains may be interminably slow, but soon you will have fabulous photo ops. That is because each village sits amidst the most spectacular scenery in Switzerland. Without cars, tiny Wengen is on a sunny plateau guarded by the glacial three sisters, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It also overlooks year-round waterfalls cascading off the precipitous Lauterbrunnen Valley palisades. Grindelwald has the dynamic Eiger up close and personal. The sun’s rays change the color of its deeply crevassed face throughout the day. The nature loving English discovered these centuries-old farming hamlets in the early 1900’s and have been coming back ever since. They have always known good things when they see them

Speaking of our English cousins, you do not have to be a member of their ‘Downhill Only Club’ to enjoy the more than 130 miles of trails linking Wengen, Grindelwald, and Mürren. The efficient rail and newly minted up-to-the-minute lift systems interconnect the villages with the three ski areas: Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, and the Schilthorn – all part of the Jungfrau region’s impressive line-up. Wengen’s Männlichen cable car in the town’s center brings skiers over to Grindelwald. For those willing to test their mettle against the world’s best, try the two and a half mile, 3,500 foot vertical Lauberhorn run. It is the longest, most difficult of all World Cup downhill races. In these days of many extreme skiers, the very steep, last 200 yards are now open to all!