I will be in the Bernese Oberland for 4 nights in August with my 3 boys (14, 11 and 8). Any recommendations on what they might enjoy? We will be staying in Beatenberg (20 minutes from Interlaken).

My two grandsons are so different that I am at a loss to give a full answer.
The gondola ride from Grindelwald to First on a clear day is spectacular.
(First means ridge in that part of the world.)
Whether or not they would enjoy it, I am not sure. The 13 year old would love it; the 11 year old probably would not.
I am reasonably sure that sampling the goodies at local bakeries would be a hit. I like that, even as a grandfather!!

The Jungfraujoch is an expensive trip, but if it is in your budget, there are activities up there like riding a cable hanging from a mountaineer's harness, riding the dog sled, and visiting the ice palace. But that trip is pricey.

There is a little Sherlock Holmes museum in Meiringen, but if there is no interest in Holmes, then going there is useless.

Beatenburg itself has Fairy Tale days, and a Mystery Park. There are also scooter rides and a swimming pool that is highly touted. (I never have seen it so I don't know.) There is in the area also in-line skating and mini golf.

Beatenberg is high above the lake, and here is a cable lift from the lake to the village itself.

Ballenberg has an open air museum of Swiss culture that is said to be very good. It is on my list for this summer.

I don't think you want your kids bungee jumping, paragliding, or white water rafting. But those activities are also in the area.

Thanks. The Jungfrau is expensive, but not as expensive as one might think. If I get Junior cards for my kids, it is free for them. The cost of the card is 20 swiss francs each for the first two and free for the third.

Europewithkids:
Visit Brienz on Lake Brienz to view its marvelous wood-carving. If you call the Tourist Office ahead, you can often go during wood-carving school hours to view. A ten minute bus ride from Brienz's train station takes you to the open-air collection of old Swiss dwellings, set in a many acred woods (think Colonial Williamsburg). Take a picnic lunch and meander from old building to building (two-three inexpensive restaurants also available). Daily demonstrations like cheese-making, pottery-throwing, etc.
Afterwards, take a cruise on the pristine Lake Brienz. Brienz also has a swimming beach--5-8 minutes walk from station. Thun has a castle for touring, and of course, its own lake.
Of course, you will be touring the caves at Beatenburg, yes?

Sorry, forgot to give you the name of the open-air museum in Brienz...Ballenberg.
visit www.ballenberg.ch and click on english for a description

Rach: Thank you for the suggestions. Yes, the caves are in our plans, as are the Trummelbach Falls and probably the Jungfrau. Is Lucerne of interest to kids? I know it is beautiful (I was there 20 years ago) but is there anything of interest for them, other than Pilatus?

We visited Luzern a few years ago, when our daughter was eight, and we found there was a lot to keep her entertained:

The transportation museum -- excellent; it can easily take up a half day.

Pedal-boating on the Vierwaldstattersee.

The Gletschergarten park, which has a mirror maze and some other amusements that are kid-friendly, in addition to the preserved geological formations.

Climbing around on the old city walls and up into the old towers.

The trip up to Pilatus. We took the gondolas up, then the cogwheel train back down the other side and a boat back across the lake to Luzern. You can buy that package as a round trip (don't remember the cost).

Also, we did the BO on the same trip. Highlights were:

The gondola ride up to Grindelwald First. On a nice day, the paragliders will be taking off from there; it is a lot of fun for everyone to watch. There is also a nice hike of about 3 miles RT to the Bachalpsee -- a little uphill on the way, but lots of kids were doing it.

A trip up to the top of the Schilthorn. You take a series of gondolas to get there, then at the top you can walk out a little on the mountain.

The hike between Mannlichen and Kleine Scheidegg, fairly flat with stunning views of the Eiger as you walk. Another nice, easy walk is the one from Murren to Grutschalp (then take the funnicular down to Lauterbrunnen).

You will not be lacking in things of interest to kids in this area.

Hi Europewithkids,

If they're interested in trains, engines, etc, how about the Transportation Museum? If they're interested in history, how about the Lion Monument? And if you haven't already od'd on ferries around Interlaken, how about a ferry ride on the lakes -- maybe to the Rutli meadow, where the Swiss Confederation began in 1291 or to one of the villages around the lake. Maybe rent a bike and cycle along the lakeside?

Hope this helps --

s

If Luzern is on the schedule, the transportation museum is very interesting. It has something for all interests. There is a limited balloon ride which draws quite a few passengers. There is also an IMAX style theater, although I presume the language is German.

Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen valley is interesting. The falls are recessed deeply into the side of the valley. The walkways and viewpoints are lighted and there is an elevator.

The other suggestions are good, too. I have done most of them at one time or another.

I think some of my reservations lie in the fact that some youngsters enjoy the hiking and scenery, while others do not.

If they like James Bond movies, one of them involved the revolving restaurant at the top of Schilthorn, so they might like that, and of course, on a clear day the view is wonderful. They have an area in the restaurant building that, I think, plays clips from the movie, but we didn't go in to see that.

A good day might start at Lauterbrunen with the cog rail up the side of the valley, then walk along the clifftop to Murren, then take the cable car up to Schilthorn. Coming down, take the cable car from Murren to the valley floor (everyone gasped when this car went over the edge of the cliff and we realized how high we were), and hike back to Lauterbrunen, possibly stopping at Trummelbach falls as you will be passing it. You will also pass the famed Staubach falls just before you get back to Lauterbrunnen, but it may not be that impressive as you will already have passed innumberable falls, which line the valley.

Enjoy your trip.

Lots of good suggestions on this thread, and I don't have a lot to add. Just this: never under-estimate the kid-pleasing power of mini-golf. Bob Brown mentioned there was one in Beatenberg, and I know there is one in Grindelwald as well (and probably more around the area).

Kids dig mini-golf.

What if we get a day or more of rain. Any suggestions (a mountain excursion will not be worth it in the rain, I imagine)?

Rain in the valleys does not equate to rain on the mountaintops. We looked out our balcony window early one morning at what I assumed was fog. In fact, it was clouds. In one direction, down the valley, it was raining, while in the other direction, up the valley, it was sunny. We did have one excursion planned for a rainy day, an art museum in Bern, and we went there just because we wanted to see it, not because it was raining. Weather in the mountains is far more varied and changeable than I have seen anywhere else.

Trummelbach Falls is the perfect rainy day destination in the Berner Oberland. It's mostly inside the mountain, so outside conditions aren't a factor. Plus, you're going to get wet seeing it anyway. Save it for your rainy day...and wear a jacket!