Eastern Switzerland Feature

A bibliophile's paradise: Pretend you live in the Rococo richness of the library at the Abbey of St. Gallen, with all the time in the world to read its 100,000 priceless books.

The cows finally come home: Take part in an Appenzell Alpfahrt festival, when cows are herded up into the nearby mountain slopes (in spring) or back down (in fall).

Fast-forward to the 1400s: Open a new window in Schaffhausen—the "City of Oriel Windows"—then discover the medieval magic of the preserved old town of Stein-am-Rhein.

The Rhine maidens: See Europe's third-largest river in its adolescent phase as it snakes its way to Germany. Take a lunch-boat ride, cycle along the river's grassy banks, or visit storybook castles.

Lofty Liechtenstein: Make a pit stop in this tiny country for a day: there's lots of shopping, museums, and an office to get your passport stamped, all waiting within Vaduz's 4-block radius "downtown."