In all my years in Europe, I never set foot in Switzerland. The closest I got was the Annecy area (some 30 KM from Geneva).
As we all know, depending on what part of Switzerland you are, language spoken might be French, German or Italian or a combination.
Today I head for the Italian side of Switzerland, the Ascona-Locarno area around Lago Maggiore.
Food and architecture reflect a strong Italian influence balanced by a Swiss like punctuality.
One of the must see attractions near Ascona could be The Brissago Islands which in 1949 were purchased by local authorities and turned into Botanical Gardens for the Canton of Ticino.
They did not start the garden per se. Here's a bit of history they share:
"In 1885 Baroness Antonietta Saint Leger transformed the island into her residence, where painters, sculptors, musicians and writers gathered. The "Isola Grande" became an exotic garden and the Baroness catalogued the plants cultivated on it in her diary, which was then published in London in 1913 ("The Vegetation of the Island of St.Leger in Lago Maggiore"). She lost then all her properties and in 1927 she sold the islands to a rich business man from Hamburg. Max Emden had the palace, harbour and "Roman bath" built as they can still be seen today, and also had the flowerbeds redone."
The Isole di Brissago site has all details on the gardens. In 2010 they are opened from March 10 to October 24, daily, from 9 AM to 6 PM.
The Ascona-Locarno area is graced with Mediterranean type weather yet the large lake and mountains give you a chance to escape the crowds during the day whether by foot and bicycle.
You can still have a social life in the evening with cultural events like the 63rd Locarno Film Festival running until August 14, 2010.
Don't want to be bothered with traffic and parking take the train to the festival.
I could use a bit of fresh mountain air just now.