Zug is more of a business destination than one for tourists, but there’s a really lovely old town hidden away from the business and industrial district. Nice waterfront, good food scene, exotic birds. You can bike ride around the entire lake in about three hours and you should – it’s beautiful, not too strenuous, and filled with castles, cows, fancy cars, and grand houses. There are also many hiking options – we really enjoyed the Alpine Panorama Trail 9, which was scenic and not too strenuous. 

Zug is very accessible from Zurich and Lucerne, and a nice pairing with Schwyz.

If you stay on the lake, rent a house on the water or just stay in Zug (town) itself. We had a decent experience at **Hotel & Brasserie Löwen am See – it’s a lovely waterfront location in a historic building, with formal staff and a very nice (fancy/expensive) bistro. Food was very good, rooms were surprisingly bland and corporate.

Food:

• **Zum Kaiser Franz claims the best schnitzel in Zug, and it really is excellent. Emphasis on classics with a seasonal touch, formal/fancy, very good service.
• **Gasthaus Rathauskeller: excellent, in the old town. Classic Swiss standards and a nice rotating menu of elegantly plated seasonal options.
• *Restaurant Zugersee Lido: really pretty setting on the southeast side of the lake, but fairly average food, windy and exposed, and indifferent service. It’s okay, but not a destination.

We tried hard to stay in Arth at the Southern end of the lake  (it’s pretty from a distance), but the hotel and restaurant options are pretty depressing.

Technically in canton Zurich but close to Zug, there’s a small *Johanna Spyri Museum, in the schoolhouse she attended in Hirzel. It’s a little odd and  conceptual, and takes maybe 15 minutes. There’s a good English-language brochure that gives more info than the signage itself.