Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Myten Big and Small by Nancy D. Brown My favorite tips and locations for visitors to Schwyz, Switzerland. Thank you to Monica Muller of Schwyz Tourism for assistance with this post.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to the main square of Schwyz where you can see the beautifully painted historic town hall. Here you can also take in the beauty of the two majestic mountains called Mythen.

When I crave Schwyz cuisine, I turn to the oldest restaurant, Schwyzer Stubli or Wysses Rossli.

To escape work I go to the car free mountain village Stoos. To reach Stoos you'll need to take Europe's steepest cable car and continue on by chairlift. In the winter time you can enjoy all types of winter sports. In the other seasons you can walk around, enjoying more than 10 lakes of central Switzerland.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in Muotathal, home to one of the world's largest cave systems called, Hell's Hole.

 If you come to Schwyz, get your picture taken in the main square and on a mountain trip to Mythen, Rigi or Stoos. You can also take a sightseeing tour to Brunnen, located 10 minutes from Schwyz, on the shore of Lake Lucerne. Wysses Rossli Restaurant

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Restaurant Wysses Rossli, get the carpaccio made from Muotathaler calf, marinated with white balsamic vinegar and truffle oil with shaved cheese and tomato basil sorbet.

Schwyz is my one stop shop for Eichhorn accordions, custom made cow bells, Swiss chocolate made by Felchlin and, of course, the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife based here in Schwyz.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go to the Mythencenter where Migros and more than 20 other shops are located, including Dany's Fast Food restaurant with a large selection of burgers, pizza and such.

For a huge splurge, I go to Hotel Waldstatterhof in Brunnen by the lake.

Eichhorn Accordion by Nancy D. BrownPhoto opportunities in Schwyz include the Abbey of Einsiedeln and Ital Reding Hofstaff.

The best vantage points are taken by the main square in Schwyz, lakeside in Brunnen and the mountain tops of Mythen, Stoos, Fronalpstock or Rigi.

The most random thing abut Schwyz is the Carnival of Schwyz that takes place in February.

In Schwyz, an active day outdoors involves walking, hiking or biking.

My favorite jogging or walking route is the area of Lake Lauerz.

Schwyz best museum is the Museum of Swiss Charters.

For a night of dancing, go to small bars like Hirschen Pub. In Brunnen, you'll find several bars and music places.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read Bote Der Urschweiz or the Schwyzer Zeitung, but only if you can read German.

Schwyz Cowbell You can tell a lot about Schwyz from visiting the rural valley of Muotathal or Illgau and watching the Swiss Wrestling event on the mountain of Stoos in mid-June.

In the spring you should attend Culinary Swiss Week.

In the summer you should attend the Swiss Wrestling Festival June 10-13, 2010.

In the fall you should visit the Alp Cheese Fair in Muotathal, October 23-24, 2010.

In the winter you should go to the Christmas Market, November 27 - December 10, 2010 in Einsiedeln.

A hidden gem in Schwyz is the monestary at Muotathal.

For a great regional treat, try the Muotatal Alpcheese or the Muotataler Cream Kirsch Cake from the Schelbert Bakery.

 Just outside of Schwyz you can visit Brunnen, Stoos, Rigi, the Mythen region, Sattel-Hockstuckli, Muotatla, Illgau and Einsiedeln.

The best way to see Schwyz is to walk or take the public bus.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Landscape and Animal Park Goldau, the huge playground and jump areas and the summer toboggan run at Sattel Hockstuckli. Also check out the Swiss Holiday Park at Morschach.