0 Where Next Wednesday: Lucerne, Switzerland

*Photos courtesy of Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor

To Do List
When we first opened up this contest, we were surprised to get so many votes for such a specific location. As opposed to sprawling Antarctica or the massive country of China, what do the 11 square miles of Lucerne have to offer? Apparently an utterly charming medieval city located on a picturesque lake surrounded by majestic mountains. Not too shabby.

• Old Town is the main attraction, with a labyrinth of little streets and squares and building murals abounding.
• Or for a real puzzle, the Gletschergarten (aka Glacier Garden, but doesn't it sound way more awesome in German?) has a mirror maze that sounds super fun! And also a park full of glacier potholes and scratches.
• Ascend Mount Pilatus, the peak hovering over Lucerne, by either a four hour hike or a ride up the world's steepest cogwheel railway. 
• Tour Lake Lucerne by steamboat.
• Walk over Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe.
• Visit Lion Monument, described by Mark Twain as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
• The Swiss Transport Museum, for lovers of all things trains, planes and automobiles.
• The Richard Wagner Museum, for the music buffs.

Yum
Cheese and chocolate. Need we say more? We have it on good authority that Lucerne produces the best hot cocoa in the world.

Get Me There

There is no airport in Lucerne itself but the convenient Swiss Railway easily connects you to the major national hubs. Flights to Geneva or Zurich from Boston in September are currently going for $626 on United.

Did You Know?

In 1471 a Swiss chicken was found guilty of laying a brightly colored egg and it was burned at the stake.

The Word

Away Together - The bridge leads to the Old Town square, full of Alpine architecture with flag-topped turrets and gold-rimmed clock faces that must have inspired the designers of Disneyland’s Fantasyland...