Hello, my friends,
So many things happened back-to-back during these past couple of months that we decided to combine two of our February getaways into one blog: our little adventure to Martigny for snowshoeing and my long-awaited visit to Barryland, followed by our romantic escape to St. Moritz for my birthday celebration.
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| Winter glamour at the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz ✨🎄 |
Originally, around January 2026, my partner and I had hoped to fit everything into my birthday week. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a proper snowshoeing track in St. Moritz that suited what we were looking for. However, after some research, we found a promising option in Martigny instead. Since visiting Barryland had also been on my bucket list for a long time, we decided to separate the snow adventure from my birthday celebration, which, in hindsight, was probably the best decision.
Arrival in Martigny: Snow Above, Rain Below
It was pouring rain when we arrived in Martigny on February 6th, 2026, but strangely enough, that felt like a positive sign. If it was raining in town, that usually meant it was snowing higher up in the mountains, exactly what we were hoping for.
As soon as we arrived, we went straight to the tourist information office to ask which snowshoeing area would be the safest and most suitable for us. After that, we had a lovely lunch at a Thai restaurant, called O Petit Thaï. The food was so delicious that our usual portions simply weren’t enough. Our absolute favourite dish there was the chicken pandan.
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| Spicy Thai in the heart of Martigny 🇹🇭🇨🇭 |
After lunch, we headed to our hotel, Hôtel de la Poste, which unfortunately turned out to be rather disappointing. The check-in was done virtually, which felt awkward from the very beginning. Instead of being welcomed by a receptionist in person, we were greeted by a huge screen and a camera at the entrance. We also couldn’t safely leave our luggage downstairs, the lift seemed to be permanently occupied by the cleaning staff, and the room lacked some basic amenities.
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| Stepping into the quirky Hôtel de la Poste 🕰️✨ |
Still, we didn’t want to let that ruin our mood, so after settling in as best we could, we continued with the highlight of the day: finally visiting Barryland.
Finally Visiting Barryland
Barryland is both a museum and a sanctuary dedicated to the famous Saint Bernard dogs. The unique details about it is that, from above, the building is shaped like a paw, such a clever and adorable touch.
We wandered around the museum first, took the iconic souvenir photo in their photobooth, and then went upstairs to see the dogs. They were absolutely adorable and enormous! One of the Saint Bernards, Athena, was being groomed and doing a hydrotherapy session when we arrived, which was such a delight to witness. I was even allowed to pet her, and honestly, that made me ridiculously happy. Visiting Barryland had been on my bucket list for so long, so finally being there felt very special.
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| Just two lovers 💖 and several oversized babies 🐾 |
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| When Athena takes the grooming very seriously 🐾 |
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| A memory I had wanted for so long, finally shared with my favourite person |
Before leaving, we also visited the Infinity Room, an immersive experience that only allows a maximum of five people at a time. Inside, you can witness in three dimensions the story of Barry, the legendary Saint Bernard known for rescuing people in the snow and avalanches. It was a beautiful and memorable experience.
Since we still had some time before dinner, and our reservation at the crêpes restaurant wasn’t for another couple of hours, we decided to stop for a beer at a bar next to our hotel.
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| Taste the love in every sip |
Dinner at Our Favourite Crêpes Spot
This place is very well known, and the tables are almost always full, so making a reservation is absolutely essential. In fact, I booked our table three weeks in advance. We both ordered Galette for the main course and sweet crêpes for dessert, the perfect combination!
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| Date night with our indulgence of Crêpes 😄💖 |
The crêpes were every bit as delicious as we remembered. We even told one of the waiters that we had been there three years ago, and ever since, we had wanted to come back just for those crêpes. She seemed genuinely delighted to hear that, which made the whole experience even sweeter.
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| Au dessert 😋 Une crêpe banane-caramel et chantilly |
That wrapped up our first day in Martigny. After dinner, we returned to our strange little hotel, got ourselves ready, and went to bed early for the next day’s snowshoeing adventure.
Snowshoeing in Champex-Lac
The next morning, we woke up much earlier than usual, around 5 AM, and headed straight to our favourite Boulangerie Michellod for breakfast before making our way to the train station.
We were very grateful that we had decided to take the earliest train to Champex-Lac, because even at that hour there were already a few people on the small train. Luckily, we managed to avoid what would probably have become a small storm of tourists later in the morning.
Before starting our hike, we stopped for one more coffee while my partner checked one last time with the local tourist information office to confirm that we were in the right place. To our surprise, they didn’t even know. Honestly, that level of incompetence was quite unbelievable. In the end, we trusted our instincts and decided to stick to our original plan.
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| A pause before snow shoeing ✨ |
And thankfully, it turned out to be the right decision.
Once we found our starting point, the day became absolutely magical. The sun was shining brightly, the mountains were covered in fresh white snow, and everything looked incredibly majestic.
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| Cold air, warm hearts, and a little adventure ❄️🤍 |
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| A shared pause beneath the Alpine sky ❄️🤍 |
Parts of the trail were a little icy, but the scenery made it all worthwhile. One thing that really surprised us was seeing huge formations of ice by the river along the way, they looked almost sculptural.
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| Laughing our way through the snow ❄️🤍 |
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| We ran into some Saint-Bernards 🐾 in the Champex-Lac |
We continued along the snowshoeing track at a comfortable pace, taking breaks here and there to admire the views. At one point, we stopped to enjoy our sandwiches surrounded by the panorama, and also did some nice pictures of me in the snow.
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| Snowshoe steps and shared smiles ❄️✨ |
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| Proof that winter adventures are better together ✨ |
Fondue with a View
We finished our snowshoeing route at around 1 PM, which was perfect timing for lunch. Nearby, we spotted a well-known fondue place called Le Cabanon, and of course, we couldn’t resist.
We ordered their signature Swiss fondue, and it was absolutely flavoursome. We had the perfect table facing the mountains and the icy lake, and while we were enjoying our fondue, we could see people doing cross-country skiing outside. It felt like such a picture-perfect Swiss winter scene.
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| Raquettes, paysages magiques et fondue partagée 🤍 |
It truly was an amazing day overall.
By around 3 PM, we decided to head back to Martigny, return to our hotel, get ready for dinner, and simply rest after such a fulfilling day outdoors.
The following morning, on February 8th, we returned to Basel. But before that, we took time to visit the Martigny Castle. We’re happy, a little tired, and already excited for the next part of our February adventure: my birthday celebration in St. Moritz.
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| From snowshoeing to visiting Martigny castle, pure happiness |
My birthday fell on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, yes, right in the middle of a working week, which somehow made the escape feel even more exciting. We took the train from Basel, and as expected, it was initially quite full, so we even had to sit separately for part of the journey. Thankfully, from Zürich onward, the train slowly emptied, and suddenly it felt as though we had the carriage almost to ourselves.
I was already fully in birthday mode and wore a sparkling elegant dress for the journey, because honestly, if you are going to St. Moritz for your birthday, there is no reason to be underdressed. As the train rolled further into the mountains, the scenery became more and more breathtaking. We passed wild forests, snow-covered roads, and the famous Albula Line, with its dramatic alpine beauty and unmistakably cinematic views. By the time we approached St. Moritz, everything outside looked white, polished, and almost unreal.
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| Wrapped in winter, dressed for joy 🤍 |
After nearly four hours of travel, we decided to have lunch before checking in, only to realise that the restaurant where we sat down was actually part of the very hotel where we would be staying: Hotel Piz. It felt unexpectedly convenient, the restaurant staffs were friendly and warm, and also perfectly fitting for the atmosphere of the town. St. Moritz has that elegant alpine charm, but with a distinctly Italian touch, something you can feel almost immediately. So naturally, we leaned into it and ordered pizza and aglio e olio pasta, both of which were delicious.
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| An Italian lunch before big dinner 🎂 |
After lunch, we checked in and went straight up to our room. It was modern, elegant, and beautifully styled, with the kind of clean alpine design that instantly makes you feel relaxed. The balcony opened up to a stunning view of the snowy mountains, so of course we took several photos before getting ready for the evening.
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| Snow beneath our feet, mountains above us, and joy in between 💎 |
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| A little older, a little wiser, and very happily wrapped in winter magic 💎 |
And then, the real highlight.
For my birthday dinner, my partner had arranged something truly special: dinner at the Carlton Hotel Saint-Moritz.
We dressed for the occasion and, ended up looking wonderfully coordinated. My partner looked effortlessly chic in a white shirt, blue jacket, and tailored trousers, while I wore a long, elegant baby-blue dress that felt just right for the evening.
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| St. Moritz was the perfect place to celebrate another chapter |
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| Soft coat, snowy views, and a heart very full🤍 |
The moment we arrived at the Carlton Hotel, the atmosphere was exactly what I had hoped for, refined, intimate, and quietly luxurious. Before dinner, we went upstairs to the bar, where the mood was pure old-world glamour. A few guests sat quietly on the sofas, dressed impeccably, while soft live jazz filled the room. Everything about it felt polished, discreet, and effortlessly sophisticated.
We were greeted so warmly by one of the bartenders, who kindly took our coats and arranged for them to be brought directly to the dining room.
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| Our warm barista prepared the tasty snacks for us 😄 |
Since we both love a classic Negroni, we asked if there was a more distinctive variation on offer, and he recommended a smoky Negroni. It was perfect, elegant, rich, and just theatrical enough for a birthday evening. Alongside the drinks, we were served exquisite little snacks, including bread with truffle butter and mini hash browns, which immediately set the tone for the level of detail and quality we were about to experience.
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| Prelude to the fabulous birthday dinner |
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| The smokey Negroni and the most flavoursome snacks |
Soon after, we were welcomed into the dining room by Eduardo, who was leading the service that evening. He was warm, soft-spoken, and wonderfully charming, the kind of person who instantly makes a beautiful evening feel even more personal. We were seated at what felt like the best table in the room, with dim lighting and a romantic atmosphere that made everything feel even more magical.
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| Celebrating another beautiful year in St. Moritz ❄️🤍 |
We began, of course, with champagne.
Fresh bread and sourdough followed, both beautifully soft and still warm, and then came one of the funniest little moments of the evening: while browsing the wine list, our eyes landed on a CHF 17,000 Montrachet Grand Cru. Naturally, we looked at each other and joked for a moment about whether this was the night to become outrageously irresponsible. In the end, we chose a lovely white wine instead, perhaps slightly more reasonable, but still perfect for the occasion.
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| Montrachet Grand Cru Très chic, très rare… très not for tonight 😄🍷 |
For the main course, my partner chose the lamb, while I had what was quite possibly the most delicious baked salmon I have ever eaten. Every course felt beautifully composed, indulgent without being heavy, and absolutely worthy of a birthday celebration.
And then came dessert.
We were served a wonderful Crêpes Suzette, which was already unforgettable on its own, but the evening still had one final surprise waiting for me.
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| Cold air, warm hearts, and a little touch of crêpes Suzette |
Shortly afterwards, Eduardo and one of his lovely young colleagues came to our table carrying the most beautiful birthday chocolate cake, topped with raspberries and blueberries, while singing Happy Birthday to me. It was such a sweet and touching moment that I genuinely felt speechless. I made my wish, blew out the candles, and then had a slice of what turned out to be one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I can remember.
Even now, I can still imagine how good it tasted.
After a few more photos and a final quiet moment to take it all in, we returned to our hotel feeling full, happy, and incredibly grateful. It was one of those evenings that feels suspended in time, elegant, intimate, and unforgettable in all the right ways.
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| A birthday written in snow and sunshine with my handsome companion ✨ |
The next day, we returned to Basel, ending what truly felt like a February to remember, from Saint Bernards and snowshoe trails to birthday glamour in St. Moritz.
My personal tips for these trips are:
If you are combining adventure and luxury in one trip, try not to overpack the itinerary. What made this February so memorable for us, was exactly the contrast: one part felt playful, snowy and spontaneous, while the other felt polished, romantic and celebratory.
