You can walk along the Bisse de Clavau canal among vineyards above the Rh? Or visit the Valais Vine and Wine Museum in Sierre to learn about the history and practice of Swiss wine-making.. Music concerts, firework displays and plenty of local hospitality accompany this day, but you find festivals in small villages throughout the summer.THE VINEYARDSThroughout the summer there are any number of vineyards to visit and cellars in which to taste the local produce. Then again, you could just admire its beauty from afar.THE SUMMER FESTIVALSIf you can, make sure you’re in Switzerland for 1 August, Swiss National Day, when villages celebrate the confederation. Perhaps the most well-recognised symbol of Switzerland and the most photographed mountain in the world, the Matterhorn remains a challenge to the most determined climbers.

A rich variety of species thrive here, owing to the vicinity of Mediterranean grasslands, centuries-old agricultural land, forests and lakes.ZERMATTThis car-free town at the foot of the Matterhorn has been on the tourist trail since the early Victorians set out on their Grand Tours And you can see why. The recently opened nature site offers some of the most pristine expanses found in the Alps – and all protected and cared for by Unesco. Go for the history and stay for the fantastic local wines, produce and hot springs.JUNGFRAU-ALETSCH-BIETSCHHORN UNESCO The first world nature heritage site is is at the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in Europe. Its historic past is written in the cobbles of the narrows streets and reflected in the friendliness of the people. Peaks of ValaisIn a country dominated by mountains, Valais has 47 peaks higher than 4,000m.MEDIEVAL SAILLONThe 1,000-year-old turret in this charming little market town in the Rh?valley between Sion and Martigny.

Medieval Saillon The 1,000-year-old turret in this charming little market town in the Rh?valley between Sion and Martigny. The train takes a little over an hour and both casinos meet it with a bus From New London to either casino is about a 20-minute ride.. You can also take a high-speed Amtrak train from New York’s Penn Station to New London station. Taking the I-95 to New England, you leave the highway at Exit 83 for Mohegan Sun – a little nearer to the city – and Exit 92 for Foxwoods There are plenty of signs for each casino at the exit.

Enough to make me happy – and maybe come back another time.Traveller’s detailsHow get to there: From New York City, the drive, on a good day, might be done in 2½ hours, but count on three. Well, blow me if I don’t a hit a mini jackpot twice, sending quarters rattling into the tray below.Last year, somebody won $6.3m (£4.4m) from one of the machines at Mohegan Sun I watch as my quarters accumulate to $65 (£45). While the gaming tables scare me to death – many have minimum bets of $100 (£70) – I am finally persuaded at Mohegan to risk a few dollars in what I would quaintly call the fruit machines, known here as the slots. Mystic Seaport, with its museum of floating tall ships, is, for instance, only 20 minutes from either of them.And, finally, a confession. You could, in fact, use either of the casinos as a base for a family weekend away that does not involve gambling at all. Beneath the soon-to-open hotel, moreover, there is a very well equipped and welcoming kids’ clubs for parents who arrive with all the family.