The Toggenburg valley is one of the most beautiful hiking regions in Switzerland. The hiking trail between Wil and Wildhaus that you can follow for several days, discloses fantastic panoramic views. On hot summer days you might enjoy the refreshing Thur route with the natural spectacles of the Thur and Giessen waterfalls. Even youngsters not so keen on hiking are fascinated by the many diversified and amusing theme trails. Walking across the high moors most grown-ups cannot resist taking their shoes off and indulging in a barefoot stroll. Experience the various trails, such as for instance:

Fable Trail (Toggenburger Sagenweg) The Alp Selamatt above Alt St. Johann offers its visitors the Toggenburg fable trail. In addition to a hiking excursion in beautiful surroundings you get to know adventurous fables, mystical legends and fantastic stories. This trail takes you from Alt St. Johann to the alp Selamatt.

Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views and, with the help of information on wood panels along the way, let yourself be introduced to the fables of the Toggenburg area. The eerie stories about mountain spirits and a white-haired woman called Fetzfräuli might cause you to cringe for a moment or two. You can start this trail at any point. Each story is complete in itself.

Tone Trail Experience Produce your own music with tone objects you have neither seen nor heard of before such as the "bell bath" and the "bell stage", the "flute fence" and many more. The first section of the tone trail was completed in 2005. Since then thousands have visited this place and have been enthused with the unique tone experiences. During the last months local instrument makers have been busy constructing and installing seven further tone objects, which now make your visit to this area even more exciting. The route itself - starting from the mountain railway station Selamatt in Alt St. Johann - offers beautiful panoramic views and is suitable for family strolls.

The trail takes you through meadows and woods to the mountain station Iltios in Unterwasser and from there to the Schwendi lakes. Read the instructions on each tone object and enjoy experimenting with these and the tone of your own voice.

Geo Trail Chrüzegg On this trail 50 signboards contain easily understandable information on the development of this landscape. Glaciations, floods, rockslides and even volcanic eruptions in the Auvergne in France have left their marks in the ground. The information also helps to have a better understanding of the changes in the landscape with its effects on flora, fauna and human beings.

You will marvel and also be surprised about the geological development of this area. There are various starting points for this Geo trail. Start from Atzmännig, Walde, Wattwil, Krinau or Libingen and experience that each ascent to this trail has its particular features.

Nature Experience Trail Round the Schwendi Lakes Embedded in a beautiful area above Unterwasser in the upper part of the Toggenburg are the Schwendi lakes. When the Schwendi glacier began to melt some 14,000 years ago, it left basins behind. These - filled with water - are today's Schwendi lakes. Drying-up of the shores over thousands of years made it possible for the moors to develop. Enjoy the moors at their best during the blossoming season between May and September. Learn while hiking! Take a relaxed stroll along the nature trail and experience the history, topography, forest, flora and fauna.

The compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland has a charming, traffic-free old town. Colourfully-painted oriel windows are a town feature. The Abbey precinct with the cathedral and Abbey Library has been accorded in 1983 a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Baroque cathedral with the Abbey Library, houses some 140,000 documents – in part hand-written and over a thousand years old. The library probably also has Switzerland’s most beautiful Rococo hall. St. Gallen university is famous for the economic sciences.

Highlights

· Old town – charming, traffic-free old town for shopping and strolling;

· New Art Gallery – doesn’t see itself as a museum, but as an experimentation venue for contemporary art, international and regional projects.

· Schoggiland - Maestrani chocolate factory in Flawil, production can be followed from the visitors’ gallery, no prior booking required.

· Textile museum & library – embroideries from Switzerland and abroad from the 14th to 20th century. In the picturesque streets of St. Gallen you´ll find the Swiss-made quality products, you might be looking for.

If you prefer all under one roof you can visit the Shopping Arena in St. Gallen with more than 50 shops.