If you're headed to Schloss Neuschwanstein, you'll stop first in the town of Schwangu, and before…read moreyou do any hiking up to the castle - you'll see Lake Alpsee! And it's worth visiting Schwangu and the lake in their own right, if you want to stay near Neuschwanstein and see a little/a lot of cool nature. Alpsee is nestled in the foothills of the Alps, so your view will be breathtaking as you stand on the shoreline of the lake, looking at the behemoth mountains! The water is crystal clear, so you can see the rocks and shoal right through the surface. It's heralded as one of the cleanest lakes in Germany. There are swans and other fowl that like to lay claim to Alpsee and they also make for great photos as they glide across the pristine water. There are boats available for rent, great swimming spots in the lake, and hiking trails all around Alpsee. So it's not just Insta-worthy here, there's also a ton to do and see. So definitely don't skip over Alpsee on your Bavarian adventure!

Gorgeous lake! Right next to the museum of the Bavarian Kings. There's a trail and you can kayak as…read morewell. Highly recommend walking down to the lake even if you're not doing the museum.

Ever wondered what heaven on earth looks like? Here it is, a beautiful blue lake surrounded by the…read morebeautiful Swiss Alps and trees. They take chip credit cards, or cash (5 swiss francs). This is accessible by SBB bus from Zurich, so you could buy a day pass there and get here. Walk is a short 10 min, the absolute shortest I've had to walk to see such paradise. Definitely a must see place at some point in your life. Winter for best results! YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpDH9-vMtCQ

Lake Titisee is a gorgeous little spot right in the Black Forest of Germany. Great for a weekend…read morebreak, day trip, or stop for a few hours on your road trip! We did a day trip to the lake, and it was so beautiful nestled in to mountains on every side. The drive there, through the Black Forest, is also an amazing sight to see, making you feel like you're almost in a fairy tale. Aside from the beauty of the lake/nature itself, there are also several eateries and activities around the lake too. We got to have Black Forest Ham (with local cheeses on a charcuterie board) and Black Forest cake, with cherries and cherry liqueur. The lake region is also known for cuckoo clock making, so we sat with our treats and beers and saw one of the world's largest cuckoo clocks go off. Lake Titisee has influences from Switzerland and France, along with its German heritage as it's kind of in the middle of all three. I think that makes it a perfect little spot to experienced nature, cuisine, and some fun activities for a few days!

Pretty lake. Nice place to walk around and collect your thoughts…read more There are a few cafés, restaurants, small shops and a playground nearby.

We arrived a few days early for our July 2019 Collette 9 day tour of Alpine lakes and Scenic…read moreTrains, spending the time self touring Zurich, Switzerland. Much of the time at various museums, but found time to walk to Lake Zurich. Big vast blue mountain lake on the edge of one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Snow covered peaks of the Alps in the background. Fancy promenade for walking around the parks full of gardens that line the Lake. Water fountain in one area, spewing a geyser of water high in the sky. Bridges and wooden towers line the river full of ducks quaking for a handout. On the opposite side is a lake shore walkway. They have a high dive tower in the summer, where dare devils jump off the 30 foot tower into the deep cold waters of the Lake below. A local band is playing. When they see that I'm recording a few seconds of music, one of the performers stops me afterward, asking if I would like to buy a CD of their music. Trying to get hustled again. Not many Asians in Zurich, and no way for me to hide that I was a tourist. As our tour leader, Marion Roy said, this was the first time she had seen a senior Chinese tourist in shorts and sandals. But she had never been to California in the summer nor Hawaii.

Loved it here. Spent a Sunday afternoon just reading my book on one of the benches. Water is really…read moreclean, which makes the whole setting really nice. Beautiful view of everything.