Lugano, Switzerland: When It's Time to Relax

I seldom take "real" vacations--you know, the relaxing kind. "Vacation" is usually when I'm working my hardest, scribling in notebooks, schlepping bags budging with camera equipment while making mental notes to remember to back up my pictures. Sometimes I'm telling myself, "there's simply way too much to do here!"

That's why I can't figure out how people can take 2 weeks and call it a vacation.

In any case, I took a deep breath when I got to Lugano a couple weeks ago. It's a nice little town. In fact, it's the largest town in the southern Switzerland Ticino region, barely nosing above the 50,000 person benchmark in population. When you're not in a funicular rumbling up a hill, everywhere you look you'll find natural beauty. It's not the same beauty as Italy, just across the border, with its crumbling ancient monuments and cute medieval stone houses perched on wooded hillsides. No, your eyes are drawn sinfully to water and mountains and trees.

It's not exciting to be in Lugano. It's relaxing to be in Lugano.

So take a boat ride from the waterfront (but bring your passport--Italy is very, very close), or rent a paddle boat and head out to roil the pristine waters. If you've got the energy and the legs, then hike up the famous Monte Salvatore (If you don't have the legs, there's a funicular--don't miss the views from the top). If you're anxious to shop, there's plenty of pedestrian-only zones and ATMs.

Before you go, take a look at our Lugano Pictures.