Switzerland Trip with Kids

This was a partial work trip for Andrew that we took in 2017. He had a 2 day conference or training and then we took a vacation. Our two boys (ages 4 and 6 months at the time) came with us and my parents came along too!

Cool things about Switzerland:
    -kids under 6 get in to many attractions for free
    -water fountains are (were) everywhere
    -types of transportation (funiculars, tunnel lift, gondola, cogwheel train)

When looking at Airbnbs we were able to find places that were able to provide a crib/playpen for T to sleep in so we didn't have to bring and haul our own around. It took quite a bit of communication and sending links to examples to ensure they had something correct for the age/size T was at the time.

Apartment in Zürich

Day 1: Flight and Acclimatize

Day 2: Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein 
    -looked at the falls
    -picnic lunch by cemetery near falls
    -walked around city including tour of St. George's Abbey    
    -ship themed playground
    -tiny train ride 

Day 3: Touring Zürich (Andrew worked)
    -playground
    -boat tour
    -Fraumünster
    -Luxembergerli and Mövenpick Swiss Ice Cream

Day 4: Walking Zürich (Andrew worked)
    -fabric shop
    -playground
    -Linden historic city center with views
    -fountain

Apartment outside of Geneva

Day 5: Day Trip in Bern on our way to next apartment
    -Old Town Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site including:
        -the fountains
        -Zytglogge clock tower and Einstein connection
        -large market square
        -high bridge with views
        -Holländerturm
        -cathedral
        -underground cellars which are now shops and cafes
    -Bern Bear Pit and Park 

Day 6: Geneva
    -outside United Nations
    -Broken Chair art installation and water jet play area
    -Musée Ariana had a fun scavenger hunt for kids with a free prize and a great cafe for lunch
    -Walked through local park 'Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève'
    -And along the William Rappard Park lakefront walking trail

Day 7: Yvoire, France and Downtown Geneva

Apartment in Iseltwald

Day 8: Chateau Chillon

Day 9: Hike at Harder Kulm with friends

Day 10: Jungfraujoch
    -by far the most expensive part of our trip

Day 11: E's 4th Birthday and a trip to Heimwehfluh

Day 12: Morning at "Home" and Trip to Grindewald-First Bort Alpine Playground

If I were to go back to Switzerland tomorrow this is where I would make sure to spend more time!

    -all the activities at Grindewald-First

    -the Bort Alpine Playground

Day 13: Lauterbrunnen and Ballenberg Open Air Museum

    -Andrew and I spent the morning (kids were with my parents) in and around Lauterbrunnen

    -visited Trümmelbach Falls (ten glacier waterfalls inside the mountain, accessible by a tunnel lift)

        -kids are allowed at the Falls but because it's in a mountain and the waterfall noise reverberates we             decided it would be too loud for our kiddos

    -saw the beautiful Staubbach Waterfall

    -afternoon at Ballenberg Open Air Museum

Day 14: Aareschult Gorge and Sherlock's Reichenbach Falls

    -morning in Aare Gorge

    -afternoon at Reichenbach Falls

        -I hiked down to the actual place where the fall happened (on my own while everyone else waited) and it was a bit tricky to not miss the turn off the main trail (going down the mountain) and to head back to the falls to see the star and plaque and other viewpoint. Here are some directions, but make sure to ask for information at the funicular station if you don't have a lot of extra time for hiking (map).