The very sound of Switzerland evokes visuals of romance and chiffon sarees for most Indians. Well, we chose Switzerland for different reasons, great weather (spring to be precise) gorgeous landscape and a lot of nature or nothingness for us all. Europe is filled with museums and architecture that I would absolutely love to see, but I know that my young kids don’t really enjoy that for now. They just want to run free. When they are merry, we too are easy and peaceful. So, we planned a kid-friendly itinerary, braving a self-drive through tour with 2 families and jointly 3 young kids aboard. A big MUV, effective GPS systems and loads of enthusiasm were key ingredients.Â
Here are the top 10 super fun things one can do in the Alps!
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1. The Transport Museum In Luzern
I was blown away with the design, so vast, engaging and experiential. It was living inside my son’s toy box, filled with trains, cars, planes and ships! From historic designs to the very latest in tech, all available under one roof. One cannot miss the life-size mock-ups of the airport, the air cargo loading dock, construction cum building site and the adorable push and pull trains, trams and buses. I don’t think there is any of aspect of transport that they haven’t covered. Understanding light and rear view mirrors, accidents, showcasing classic cars, absolutely thorough. Considering I found it difficult to pull myself out of there you can just imagine the kids.
Don’t forget: Keep a minimum of half a day free for this one. The same compound also houses a planetarium, swiss chocolate adventure (Lindt) and a film theatre! So, that’s a sure shot full day if you wish to cover it all.
2. Play In The Snow On A Summit
It was freezing cold even in spring but sheer delight at the same time, playing in a pure white scape. The only colour around are cold red cheeks, noses and bright winter coats. One can ride up the mountain in a cable car or take the charming cog wheel train. It was the first time my children touched snow, so it will always be special (a little embarrassing too, as my son went scooping from places and gulping it rapidly) but that very sight was also my joy for the day. Watching their quivering hands struggling excitedly to make snowballs and toss them all around. One can try snow tubing and sledging if you’re looking for the adrenaline rush. Or take a base course in skiing if you’re up to it. We enjoyed making our snowman and a good old snow fight. Say a quick prayer as well as it seems mighty high and feels like heaven must be just a cloud above.
Don’t forget: Carry a hot drink in a flask and a snack if possible, kids can demand a picnic in any weather conditions. Keep lemon ginger drops handy if they feel dizzy with heights.
rigi.ch, www.jungfrau.ch, www.titlis.ch/en, www.zermatt.ch/
3. Riding Up The Funicular and Down The Toboggan
There are many places in the world one can do this, but riding down the toboggan along with snowfall has its own charm. Freezing and thrilling both! We took a short ride since it was a first for the kids but I had a very hard time convincing them later that the ride was indeed closing as we were expecting a snow storm. They simply loved it! A charming funicular on the way up (funicular is a hybrid of a railroad and an elevator or lift) and a thrilling toboggan on the way down.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/tin-toboggans.html
4. Lazy Afternoon In The Park
Nothing beats the feel of sunshine on a cold afternoon. Switzerland is one huge green garden, every frame is beautiful, every breath you inhale is fresh. The kids can run galore while you soak in the bliss of the space. If you need the romance alongside choose the gorgeous floral gardens in Interlaken (a popular destination for filming) else trust me any garden is good as the weather, view and facilities are fantastic 360 degrees.
Don’t forget: Highly recommended a lakeside picnic.
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5. The Dinosaur Museum
Saurier Museum in Aathal
My son is almost like a tiny living dinosaur, growling and roaring all day. So, we were pretty sure we would do this one. It didn’t disappoint us! It covered everything, the evolution of dinosaurs, eggs and embryos, huge mock-ups, real fossils, dino diggers at work, digital kiosks, clippings, outdoor play area and a lovely shopping store. Highly recommended if you have a budding fan. I got goosebumps when I saw the size of an original fossil.
6. Chocolate And Gelato Tasting
There is no better place in the world than the Alps to taste the yummiest milk ever. The yogurt, gelato, ice cream, cheese and chocolate, all deserve an instant gobble! Thank God for the sight seeing and hiking, else I would have gained a lot of weight. I would recommend experimenting and trying flavours that are new to your palate. I am not a very big strawberry fan but thoroughly enjoyed the sourness of the raspberry gelato.
Don’t forget: Don’t miss their melted chocolate wall, filled with goodness, mind-numbing types of chocolate, macaroon, and gelato, all at the Lucerne store! It is filled with goodness and all types of chocolate, macaroons and gelato.
7. Hike To A Waterfall Or A Mountain
This is hiker’s paradise, but as we all know little people aren’t exactly the best hikers. A small trek is a good start. Walking is a great exercise and a fantastic way of knowing more about a place. You get a chance to closely observe the local flowers and listen to the abundant sounds of nature. We did one to the lesser known Giessbach falls. One can get a view from the front and the back of the waterfall as it is accessible by a little bridge. It was amazing to watch a waterfall from the top, bottom and the inside. I was too spellbound to take a picture.
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8. Make Your Own Chocolate Bar
The kids love this, and why just kids everyone who loves chocolate wants to be Willy Wonka and make their own bar. My sister was smart enough to try many ingredients in different sections of the same bar. Can’t really call it a chocolate bar, it was nearly a slab.
https://aeschbach-chocolatier.ch/
9. Shopping At A Local Supermarket
This is simple, pure fun. Stock up on the cookies, chocolate, fresh croissants, assorted cheese and delicious berries. I would recommend going local again, pick fruits, brands and knick knacks that are regional. The global brands are all available in duty-free anyway. I would also recommend trying the farmer’s markets, their local produce is amazing.
Don’t forget: A word of caution. The kids can go crazy seeing a lot of chocolate and cheese. I told both of mine that they could select only 2 things each, else they were willing to pick an entire cartful each time.
10. Walk Around The Old City Of Bern
While this isn’t really a kiddie activity, the old city is so quaint that it seems like a gem of medieval architecture and it’s worth exposing the kids to some history. The Zytglogge (astronomical clock tower was built in 1530), Renaissance fountains, cobbled street, exquisite boutiques, cafes and at the very end the heraldic symbol of Switzerland’s capital Bern ‘the brown bear’. My kids were delighted to watch them up close and to drop in a few coins for its welfare.
http://www.bern.com/en/city-of-bern/attractions/clock-tower
11. Try Different Means Of Transport
From aerial cable cars to cogwheels, funiculars, trams, trains, vestibular buses, underground metros, boats, and cruises Switzerland has it all! So, make sure you experiment with the different means of transport. My kids loved their tram ride watching cars alongside and hopping onto the high speed underground. In fact, if you take a daily pass (Zurich city) you can shuttle between any means of transport within that zone on the same day.
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There’s a plethora of stuff I haven’t covered above, the Ballenberg swiss open-air museum where one can experience history up close. They have historical buildings, looms, mills, farmhouses, they demonstrate chocolate making, baking, wood carving, sheep grazing, pig petting, rope making etc. The hot air balloon ride, tandem paragliding! Nothing beats the feel of little snowflakes tickling on your fingertips. Quadricyling, a whole family on one bicycle such madness!! The Bern zoo, where we could touch a real snake. The Jungfrau indoor park where they could play on an unexpected snow day. And how can one forget the cheese fondue!
So, get along and pack your bags as what seemed like only a romantic place was actually adventurous and action packed in fun! I would recommend skipping the stay in popular cities and do a village stay (thank goodness for Airbnb, they have amazing chalets for families). Less crowded and far prettier! Take the road route if you can, as every spot is picnic-worthy, and you can explore the path less taken. (PS: they are a left-hand drive country).
A special mention for the Swiss Airways flight, they pampered the kids with colouring books, toys, puzzles and too many helpings of pasta, ice cream and chocolate. Perfect end to a beautiful holiday. I didn’t have to watch them as they were busy eating, napping and having fun!
Here are some other links to make planning easier:
For adventure bookings: www.flyingwheel.ch
Culture queries: ballenberg.ch
For general info: myswitzerland.com
For Food: http://www.alpcheese.ch
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Image source: go-today.com
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KSP Team
Mansi Zaveri
Janani S Koushik
