By Ron Stern |Global Gumshoe

Although Switzerland is an iconic wintertime travel destination, summer has charms of its own that will enchant the senses and delight the soul. When the snow melts, the fun is just beginning in the idyllic towns of St. Moritz, Crans-Montana and Bern.

St. Moritz, an outdoor playground

Located in the larger Engadin Valley, St. Moritz is a postcard-perfect playground for anyone who loves the outdoors. With its majestic snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests and meadows, St. Moritz offers the traveler a wealth of engaging activities.

Start off easy with a tour of the Ricola herb garden in nearby Pontresina. More than 100 Swiss farmers are involved in growing herbs for these popular medicinal drops and they are quite proud of their final product. Next, rent an E-Bike for a ride through the Alps to Morteratsch. These cycles are partially powered, making you feel like a superhero gliding up and down inclines.

At your destination, enjoy a feast of meats, breads and cheeses at the Alpine cheese dairy.

In the early afternoon, take a train and gondola to Diavolezza Mountain for a top-of-the-world view of the Swiss Alps. While you’re soaking in the scenery, you can relax with appetizers, wine and cheese, or a nice lunch. Here, you will also find the highest elevation hot tub in Europe.

For your final activity of the day, hire a horse carriage to take you past green meadows and stately pine trees to Lake Staz and the Hotel Restorant Lej da Staz. Enjoy some typical Swiss dishes and for dessert, you simply have to have a generous helping of their creamy vanilla ice cream. Don’t be surprised if this is best you ever had anywhere in the world. Happy cows, I guess?

Crans-Montana, natural family destination

Enjoying 300 days of sunshine each year, Crans-Montana is a mountain resort that lies on a plateau 3,000 meters above sea level. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and trees, it has one of the few alpine sandy beaches in the country (Crans-Montana Beach Club), making it the ideal family destination.

From the railway station, take the funicular from the town of Sierra up to Crans-Montana. The towns are spread out and offer a variety of restaurants, cafes and historic highlights. Stop by David L’instant Chocolat for exquisite truffles, chocolate-covered almonds and other heavenly temptations.

Hiking trails are everywhere and the one that runs along the irrigation channels is particularly beautiful. Pink and purple wildflowers adorn the slopes as you pass by waterfalls and shaded country pastures. Near the top, you can enjoy a lunch in a rather modern restaurant constructed out of concrete and glass. There is nothing like having wine, risotto, meat and melting raclette cheese in front of a fire while gazing out at the idyllic landscape through large windows.

Bern, the Swiss capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this capital city is located in the heart of Switzerland. It is quite the cosmopolitan city with beautiful churches, bridges, the famous Zytglogge (clock tower), and even a bear park.

The Aare River runs around the town and is a popular swimming location at certain times of the year. The bear is the symbol of Bern and a newly constructed park is situated on one of the Aare’s banks, attracting thousands each year.

The 16th-century Zytglogge guards one of the city’s original gates and is an amazing feat of engineering. Each hour, figures on the outside turn and whistle, and crowds start massing early to watch the spectacle. Take the tour, however, to see the inside workings where one man, without any formal training, created this amazing mechanism.

Bern has the longest covered arcades in Europe as well as a modern mall, and you can shop for jewelry, clothing, watches, chocolate and everything else under the sun. Dining options run from casual to elegant, and the Kornhauskeller offers great local fare set among warm wood tones and artful decor from the Baroque era.

—Póngase en contacto con Ron Stern en [email protected].

(FTC disclosure: All of the services received and mentioned in this story were sponsored by the Switzerland Tourism Board.)