At UnTours, we believe travel has a ripple effect—it connects generations, deepens family bonds, and leaves stories that live on long after the suitcases are unpacked. Few stories capture this better than that of long-time UnTourist Sue Hamilton, whose family’s travels to Switzerland span three generations. What began as one man’s remarkable wartime journey has blossomed into a family tradition of exploration, gratitude, and joy.
Planting Seeds of Joy: A Legacy of Family Adventure
By UnTourist Sue Hamilton
Giving a gift that is enjoyable in the moment and offers lasting pleasurable memories is a great privilege. This past summer, my husband, Steve, and I had this opportunity when we took our children and grandchildren on an UnTours vacation to Switzerland. The particulars of the trip were a part of our planning and conversation for a year, but the seed for this dream was planted decades before.
A brief history. My father served as a navigator in World War II. On a mission in July 1944, two engines were disabled on their B-17. Unable to return to England, he routed them safely into Switzerland. Like other soldiers, they were interned in Davos. Dad quickly developed admiration for the land and its people.
Fast forward 45 years. Dad and Mom travel to Switzerland in September 1989 with Idyll, Ltd. (a precursor to UnTours), so he can share the country that had captured his heart with her. Nine years later, in June 1998, my parents provided my brother and me and our families with an UnTours trip to the Swiss Oberland region. Our children were ten and six at the time.
Twenty-seven years later, we chose UnTours again and traveled to Switzerland with our grown children and family, this time staying in the Swiss Heartland.
Our recent trip to Switzerland was delightful beyond our expectations. I did quite a bit of reading and planning prior to our trip, which was shaped and enhanced by helpful support from Cathrin Baumbach, a program director on the UnTours staff, our handy Vamoos App, and, once in Switzerland, through our UnGuide, Urs Hofer.
Numerous highlights captivated the children (ages 4, 8 and 10): first plane ride and trip abroad, seeing huge mountains and beautiful lakes, traveling by train, visiting a castle, watching a Swiss National Day Parade, taking funiculars and trams up and down mountains, hiking, the sounds of cowbells, alphorns, waterfalls and yodeling, trying new foods, and perhaps best of all, the surprise of a zip line at the park in Meiringen enjoyed every day! Experiencing different languages, landscapes, and customs broadened their worldview as they engaged in the wonderful laboratory of learning called travel.
Steve and I know firsthand the joyful nature of this gift, as recipients and most recently providers. New seeds are already being sown. Where will we take our family next? Time is needed for planning and saving. When and where this trip occurs, UnTours will be a part of the journey.
Stories like Sue’s remind us what travel can mean when it’s done differently—with care, curiosity, and connection. At UnTours, we’re honored to play a small role in these generational journeys—helping families experience the world together, at their own pace, and in ways that leave a lasting impact.
If you’ve ever dreamed of sharing the world with those you love most, we invite you to travel the UnTours way—independently, meaningfully, and with the support that lets every traveler, from child to grandparent, feel right at home. Explore our Family Travel collection and UnTours in Switzerland.