Joe,

train travel is the best choice in Switzerland.
"I have a preference for areas where I can speak German".
Then you should go to the French speaking part, they learn decent German at school, whereas in the Düütschschwyz....
To give you a rough idea:
"Waar gohd Gompfi poschde?" is in German "Wer geht Marmelade einkaufen?"
But they may be kinder to real foreigners than to people from the "large Kanton".

Wolfgang (less than half serious; actually, they are very kind people)