Don't miss these excellent places in Zermatt, Switzerland!

Travel on the Sunnegga underground funicular to reach the station of this novice skier’s paradise. All of the begginers courses are located here, as are the family skiing courses. The Eisfluh includes a magic carpet and a newbie ski run down to Findeln. It is the perfect place to begin learning to ski, or just to warm up before taking on the more difficult runs. As if that is not enough, it also boasts gorgeous views of the snow-covered Alps.

A true specialty of this region, Iglu-Dorf Zermatt is basically an iconic igloo hotel made completely out of snow and ice. It displays Inuit artwork in all of the rooms and features warm lamb skins and expedition sleeping bags to stay warm while surrounded by the cold. Zermatt Igloo Village is well-known for its homemade mulled wine and cheese fondue. This place is great for families and young travelers alike; it’s quiet and non-smoking, but also features dancing, a disco, and an icy bar.

If the thought of year-round snow and glacier skiing on one of Europe’s most distinctive mountains doesn’t get your blood pumping, nothing will. In a Klein Matterhorn cable car, travel up a sheer cliff of rock and ice to a lookout point at 3820m, but take care with the altitude here; it’s easy to get dizzy. Hundreds of mountaineers have died on this peak. It’s pyramidal and deadly, with four faces, one in each cardinal direction. If you go in summer, be aware that the ski lifts close early (around 2 P.M.). due to hazardous snow conditions. From Klein Matterhorn you can see a lot of Switzerland and Northern Italy, making it one of the most spectacular panoramas in Europe on a clear day.

For continued excitement, stop at this tree to tree adventure park. You can glide from one platform to another along ziplines through the forest. Every course has a specific level of difficulty from easy to advanced. Prices vary from $18 for kids to $35 for adults and include a variety of courses. The park is open from 9:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.

To relax after a long day of skiing, check out the Brigerbad Thermal Pools, located about 15 minutes from Zermatt. Open everyday from May to November, this watery playground provides an olympic sized lap pool, a current pool, a children’s pool, a grotto with jets, a snack bar and restaurant, and a fantastic 182m alpine water slide down the side of the actual mountain. The only downside is that you have to rent swim caps to use the hot pool, but still, it’s an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for the whole family.