Day trip: Toggenburg

HAPPY SWISS NATIONAL DAY!  Go hike a mountain or ride your bike, then eat cheese, sausage, and chocolate to celebrate Die Schweiz!  Ironically, I have a post for you about what we did on USA's Independence Day since I'm always catching up on the blog :-)

On July 4th, we escaped the heat wave and went up into the mountains for the day.  I've been waiting for a good day to do this specific hike-the Toggenburg Tone Trail.  It was a good length, about 3 miles, had great views, but the best part was the theme.  Along the trail, there were over 20 musical "instruments."  Maddie walked about half of the way, just motivated by the next instrument to play.

Maddie was decked out in her red, white, and blue gear.  She gets so excited about going to the mountains or going on a hike.  (...at this point, I think she expects super fun things like a trampoline, playgrounds, or an ice cream since the last few times, one of more of those things were included in the day)

I think the best views were right when you got off the gondola.  It was a perfect day to be up there!  Some of our most relaxing meals have been at restaurants up in the mountains where many places have playgrounds next to the outdoor seating area.  Notice that super fun bouncy castle?  Let's go grab a beer and a pretzel while the kids tire themselves out!

This was the first "instrument"--a see-saw xylophone thing with a little ball that rolled along the notes.

Another instrument--deep clanging bell sounds inside tree trunks.

Another one--washers that spun down these spindles making a loud funny sound when you pushed it back and forth.

And another--

And another-- (sorry if this is boring you...but the Swiss seem so creative with natural resources and children's entertainment!)

And one last one that I'll share...

And then we had lunch.  Maddie was in heaven with the playground equipment right next to the restaurant.

Then we took another gondola to the very top at Iltios.  Going to the top made for a long day, but it was so beautiful.

She insisted on walking at the top (which wasn't as dangerous as these pictures appear-we always put her in the backpack when the footing is difficult!).  She was so excited to find the next trail marker.

You know that fun go-limp thing that toddlers do when they aren't getting what they want?  Perfect capture below.

We sat and watched paragliders prepare, run, and jump off the side of the mountain.  It was pretty amazing.  It was so frightening and so graceful at the same time.

And snow at the top! She was very upset that we didn't bring her gloves.  She wanted to throw snowballs.

Then we rode the gondola back down to the restaurant area and continued on our hike.

Hiking in Switzerland is such a neat experience because many of the trails go through farms, backyards, ski resorts, and then the usual national forests and parks.  You often pass through gates and fences to keep the cows or other farm animals in their pastures.

Right when I was really beginning to sweat, Maddie got a bug bite and started fussing, then Carter woke up from his nap, we heard loud techno music and saw this-our chair lift down with a fun play area and restaurant.  Hooray-almost done!  Everyone was getting hungry and tired.  (We went up one chair lift on one side of the mountain and down another.)  So we played for a few minutes before we headed down one of the last lifts.  Most lifts stop around 4:30/5pm on Saturdays.

Hiking through people's yards again...(the yellow trail signs below)

He was excited to get out of the backpack.  I think about 3-5 miles is our max hiking with these little ones.  It's a little easier with Maddie because she isn't confined to the backpack, she can walk, then rest in the backpack (but she is getting heavy...).  Poor Carter has to sit in it most of the day except when we stop and eat or play.

We all have fun taking our shoes off and playing at the playgrounds :-)

Then we drove home looking for a place to grab a quick take away dinner.

"There's a place!"
Closed.
"What about that place?"
No cars in the lot. Closed.
"Is there a McDonalds? They've gotta be open."
None on the way without a detour.
"We have to get home for a normal bed time."

Then we stopped at a gas station, got cheese, pretzel rolls, apples, and chips for dinner.  We kept saying, "Maybe we'll pass a Panera?  Even better, a Panera drive thru?... Or a Chick Fil A.  ...Maybe a Subway?"  Haha.  Even if they were here, they'd all be closed at 5pm on a Saturday because people don't want to work then, right?  It's Saturday night!