Swiss canton bans hiking in the altogether

In case you were planning on going hiking with no clothes on this summer holiday, you will be disappointed to hear that it’s no longer allowed in the Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. If you are found hiking in the lovely mountains of this tiny Swiss canton wearing only hiking boots you will be fined.

So how did this come about? Well, the local government of this picturesque canton found that it had to take action when naked hiking suddenly became popular in the region. The sudden influx of nude hikers happened a couple of years ago, with most of the naturists being from Germany, where FKK, or “free body culture” is quite popular. This did not please the worthy citizens of Appenzell Innerrhoden, which is considered to be one of the most conservative regions of Switzerland, only giving women the vote in 1990.

"We were forced to introduce the legislation against this indecent practice before the warm weather starts," said Melchior Looser, justice minister of the canton said earlier in the year.

"The point is many children visit our mountains in the summer".

In the UK Steve Gough, aka The Naked Rambler, walked from Lands End to John O’Groats in the nuddy, but was arrested and imprisoned several times.

So if you still fancy some naked hiking you could head for Alaska, where nude hiking is largely tolerated, probably because your chances of running into other human beings in the wilderness are fairly remote.



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Go skiing!

One good method of chasing away the end-of-summer blues is to start thinking about skiing holidays, and they needn’t cost an arm and a leg if you shop around for a good deal.

So where is the best place to go skiing? The French Alps offer some of the biggest ski circuits, spectacular vistas, and all the good things about France, from its wine to its cuisine, as well as some lively après-ski in the pubs and clubs of the Alpine regions. Over the border in the Italian Alps you will find similarly good skiing, as well as the great Italian culture, pasta, pizza and wine. The après-ski in Italy is also renowned for being excellent and not too expensive.

Switzerland offers breathtaking mountain scenery and pretty lakes, as well as a number of places where you can go skiing and snowboarding all year round. Resorts like St Moritz offer the last word in luxury, plus the opportunity to spot glamorous celebrities, but there are value-for-money resorts as well. Another popular European skiing location is Austria, which has a great number of skiing resorts dotted with pretty wooden chalets, and slopes with mountain bars where you can warm yourself up with a little schnapps. As well as modern nightlife, there are also traditional Austrian restaurants offering après-ski music and entertainment.

So whether you are an advanced skier who can’t wait to get back on the slopes, or a careful beginner, a good antidote to winter is to go skiing.


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#9: St. Moritz

Well, you had to know we'd get to St. Moritz eventually! Switzerland's most famous ski resort isn't nearly as expensive as you might think (as long as you're willing to cut corners and not spend much once you get there!). It's definitely not for the hardcore ski enthusiast – the slopes are almost all intermediate, with a decent selection of beginner. But if you want a flashy, glamorous, and highly entertaining holiday with skiing thrown into the mix, St. Moritz is the place for you!

St. Moritz focuses on providing all-around winter fun, so in addition to skiing, they boast winter golf, polo, and cricket (yes, in the snow), as well as fantastic fireworks displays and family activities. The town site, while not particularly attractive, is comfortable with its status as a tourist magnet, and provides plenty to see and do. You're sure to find something to your taste in St. Moritz!

Furthermore, the resort's surroundings are some of the most breathtaking Switzerland has to offer. A family hike will lead to spellbound silence as you gaze at the snow-covered Alps in all their glory.

And there's certainly no shortage of sophisticated, luxurious places to stay and eat – after all, that's what St. Moritz is known for!