SouthernKarebear

I was wondering if anyone had any family friendly tips for Luzern/Central Switzerland?

In August, our family will be staying near Luzern for 2 weeks. We will be traveling by car from Amsterdam with our 2 girls (3 & 4) and our dog.

We hope to visit Pilatus and Rigi, maybe a day in Brunni. I know not to plan to much beyond maybe swimming in the lakes. But does anyone have other kid friendly and/or dog friendly ideas? Like an indoor playground?

Thanks,

Southern Karebear

ms_go

Swiss Transportation Museum and the Gletschergarten park, both in Luzern - good for kids, but I'm not sure about the dog.

kleeblatt

There are lots of swimming areas. Lucerne has a nice one called Lido. Seewen (near Schwyz) has a nice "badi" on the Lauerz lake.

Go to the Tierpark in Goldau. It's perfect for your girls and the dog.

What about Titlis? They have a short intertube sled run on top and colorfully lit up ice caves.

For a nice lunch or dinner, check out Alpenhof in Kussnacht am Rigi. It has a wonderful playground outside and a working farm to tour.

On your way to Brunni, you can stop at Beaver Creek Ranch, a nice restaurant with a super playground. It's located before coming to Rothenthurm. Also, don't forget to check out the church in Einsiedeln. It really is an eyeful.

They have just built a new gondola lift in Sattel. The top is called Mostelberg and they have a huge "Gumpischloss", with all these huge blow up mattress-like castles where the kids jump around. You can also take the rodelbahn for a few fast rides. Afterwards you can take the easy Engelstock hike (about 1.5 hours) that brings you to Restaurant Herrenboden. They have a great playground and super food. This will bring you back to Mostelberg, where you can take the Gondola back down to the parking lot.

You are in my area....Welcome to Switzerland!

SouthernKarebear

Thanks so much. I have always wanted to go to Swizterland since moving to Europe. I am looking forward to this trip. Also, I think it is appropriate to bring our dog because he is a Bernese Mountain Dog, Berner Sennenhund.

We will be staying on a farm near Sarnen. This is something new for all of us. My Dutchie speaks German, so we hope to make ourselves somewhat understood.

I didn't mention Titlis, because I read somewhere that there wasn't much for younger kids.

Thanks again.

kleeblatt

Gruezi!

Sarnen is beautiful. I love the Obwalden area. Check out if any fests are going on during the time of your visit. They have great family fests and folklore events. Also, Sarnen lake is clean and great for swimming.

Melchsee Frutt is a nice mountain area to visit from Sarnen. Flueli Ranft is the home of Brother Klaus and shows his home in it's original state.

Have fun with the family and your Berner Sennenhund. Switzerland is dog friendly...just don't forget to use the Robodogs for the bags of dog poop.

SouthernKarebear

Robodogs, I have to remember that.
I run around with the very small trash bags for my dog.
They had something like that in Amsterdam a decade ago (I only read about it). But no one used it. Ugh!
If you are ever in Amsterdam, you have to look down a lot because of the dog poop. I can't stand that!!!! Dog tax or not, pick up what you (your dog) left. You feed it, you clean up after it.

Edward2005

There is a good Swiss open-air folk museum about an hour's train ride from Luzern. Take the train to Brienz and then a 10 minute bus to the Ballenburg folk museum.

Edward2005

Also, there's a nice big grassy park in front of the Transport Museum. People like to picnic there and bring there dogs, so that might be a dog friendly activity, too.

SloJan

Dogs were not allowed in the tierpark at Goldau and the schwimbads when we lived in Luzern. Another dog friendly area that is absolutely beautiful is Megganschlosshorn in Meggan, near Luzern. We spent many an afternoon there, walking and picnicking, as well as speaking to the farmer and petting the farm animals.

Titlis is fine for the kids and dog, though Brunnialp may be better.

If the weather is not cooperating, there is a nice indoor swimming pool in Baar and another small one in Weggis which is combined with a great lake swimming area.

Cheers,
Jan

kleeblatt

You are right about no dogs at the Tierpark and the swimming areas. Didn't think of that.

However, almost all the swimming areas are cheap, clean and have drinks and snacks available although only a few have lifeguards.

Growing up in Washington State, we didn't have nearly as many swimming areas although there are many lakes.

mr_go

Pedalboats on the lake. Trust me.

SouthernKarebear

With each response, I am getting more and more excited to visit this area with the whole family.

Thanks for all the help.

I am counting down the days eagerly.

SKB

isabel

How about taking your Bernese Mountain dog to the Bernese Mountains? In researching my trip (I'll be there in a couple of weeks) I read a post (it might be an old one) where someone described sitting in a cable car heading up into the mountains and a Bernese Mountain dog got all excited when he saw the mountains. So apparently they allow dogs in the cable cars. And there are lots of easy hikes, relatively flat and less than an hour or two.

SloJan

Yes, dogs are allowed on the cable cars and the lifts! They are the price of a child (I think). We hiked with our dogs a lot in der Schweiz. You will see a ton of the Sennenhund there. It is a great trip for a family with small ones and a dog.

One thing we did do when our kids were 3 and 4 was climb to the top of the glacier (via steep steps) with the dog. It was nerve wracking but so fun! It is the Glacier by Grindelwald. I only recommend it if you are fit and have good nerves.

Cheers,
Jan

SouthernKarebear

Thanks again everyone!

From what I read there is no such thing as the Bernese Mountains. The reason why they are called a mountain dog because they work well there besides just on farms in Bern. He also looks like a bear in a way, which Bern is noted for.

We won't be going to Grindelwald. I nearly broke my ankle a couple of weeks ago. It still isn't 100% so I won't try anything to crazy. Plus my 3 yo just fractured her right ring finger. She had to put in between the door and the hinge. *sigh* She is a daredevil as well. So I might have her on a leash as well in the mountains, besides the dog. *laugh*

Switzerland better we ready for our crazy family. We are looking forward to our vacation.