We Couldn’t Pick Just One Favorite
Our top moments from two weeks in Europe
We Couldn’t Pick Just One Favorite
Our top moments from two weeks in Europe
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Our top moments from two weeks in Europe
Schwan Family
7/18/2025
After 14 days, 5 countries, 3 gondola rides, and more pizza than we’re willing to admit, we came home with a suitcase full of memories—and a short list of moments that keep coming up again and again.
Here are our top favorite moments, in no particular order (because honestly, we couldn’t agree on the rankings anyway):
Braden (14 years old)
Braden (14 years old)
- Pizza!!! Seriously, this kid had more pizza...He even ranked them!
Pizza Rank #1: Ristorante La Pergola, Oberdorf, Switzerland
Pizza Rank #2: Pizzeria Ristorante Ranch, Lenno, Italy (he had it twice at that restaurant!)
Pizza Rank #3: Centrum Grill, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
- Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
- The views from the top of the mountains
- Visiting the many soccer stadiums and soccer stores
- Rhine Falls: Europe's largest waterfall, near Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Callan (12 years old)
Callan (12 years old)
1. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy, specifically kayaking
1. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy, specifically kayaking
2. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
2. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
3. Mt. Titlis in Engelberg, Switzerland
3. Mt. Titlis in Engelberg, Switzerland
4. Mountain Coaster in Switzerland
4. Mountain Coaster in Switzerland
5. The Duomo in Milan, Italy
5. The Duomo in Milan, Italy
Lilliana (12 years old)
Lilliana (12 years old)
1. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
1. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
2. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy
2. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy
3. Mt. Titlis in Engelberg, Switzerland
3. Mt. Titlis in Engelberg, Switzerland
4. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
4. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
5. Swimming (both in Lake Como and with friends in France)
5. Swimming (both in Lake Como and with friends in France)
Brian
Brian
1. Hiking & the amazing views in the Swiss Alps
1. Hiking & the amazing views in the Swiss Alps
Truly unbelievable. The pictures can't put it into perspective. The rolling fields, massive mountains, the vibrant colors. Awe-inspiring. This was my jam.
2. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
2. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
I tend to be frugal one in the family, so I often balk at spending, but Jen always comes through and knows the things that'll get the "bang for the buck." This one did just that. It brought together the family in a fun way and we all learned a lot that we'll bring home with us for future pizza Fridays!
3. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
3. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
Soccer in Europe is on another level. We're huge soccer fans in the US, but nothing quite compares to the atmosphere you get in Europe.
4. Tons of amazing photo opportunities
4. Tons of amazing photo opportunities
I love taking photos and Europe has so many great opportunities for it: From old cathedrals and cobblestone streets to rolling fields and massive mountains. Capturing the real trip and the beauty surrounding us was thrilling!
5. Watching the kids' excitement and growth
5. Watching the kids' excitement and growth
I've said it plenty throughout these blog posts, but I was truly amazed by the kids. They overcame fears, challenged themselves, came out of their shells, knew when they needed alone time, adapted, and learned about new cultures. As big of an advocate as I am for education, some of the best lessons can't be learned in a classroom.
Jen
Jen
1. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
1. Pizza & gelato making class in Milan
Seems this was a fan favorite! You know what they say ... When in ... Milan?
2. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy, specifically kayaking
2. Lake Como / Ossuccio, Italy, specifically kayaking
3. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
3. Attending the Germany vs. Denmark Women's Euro Cup game in Basel
4. Appenzell, Switzerland
4. Appenzell, Switzerland
5. Appenzell, Switzerland (yes, it's listed twice!)
5. Appenzell, Switzerland (yes, it's listed twice!)
Appenzell, Switzerland is one of those places that sneaks up on you—quiet, stunning, and deeply authentic. It’s not flashy like Lucerne or crowded like Interlaken, but that’s exactly why it feels so special.
Not every great memory has to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s a quiet view. A snack shared on a train. A deep breath in mountain air. But when we look back on these two weeks, these are the moments that rise to the top—not just because they were beautiful, but because they were ours.
Catch Up On Past Blog Posts
Catch Up On Past Blog Posts
Part 19: If We Could Do It Again
Planning a multi-country European adventure for five people—including three middle schoolers—is no small task. And while we had an unforgettable trip filled with beauty, challenge, laughter, and gelato… there are a few things we’d tweak next time.
This isn’t a guidebook. It’s the kind of list we wish someone handed us before we left...
by Brian Schwan
7/17/2025
Part 18: This Was Never Just a Vacation
We didn’t set out to check countries off a list. We weren’t trying to do it all or prove anything. What we were looking for was a break from the routine, a chance to reconnect, and a shared adventure that would challenge and delight us all—together and individually. And as it turns out? We found more than just castles, coasters, and cliffside restaurants. We found pieces of ourselves we didn’t know were missing...
by Brian Schwan
7/16/2025
Part 17: The First Day of Looking Back
Every big trip has a day where it begins to end. You can feel it—the shift from exploring to returning, from wonder to reflection.
After two weeks of nonstop movement—Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein—our family woke up in Appenzell, Switzerland, and began the long journey back to Milan. This wasn’t just a travel day. It was the first day of looking back...
by Brian Schwan
7/15/2025
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