Spring/Summer Alps Q
 

I'd like to spend a few days in the Alps with my kids and do some hiking and get the feel for the area. It will be in mid- to late-May. I'm not asking much; if I can get a few days of light hiking and have some beautiful views we will be happy. It does not have to a be-all end-all of the Alps experience. It doesn't matter whether it's in France, Italy, or Switzerland. Two requirements are; it would be a bonus if it's easy to get to from Paris, and it has to have some really super-easy hiking trails. My kids are little, and although they are quite used to walking long distances, it would have to be a very easy hike. It's been our experience that traveling with out kids works out better if we "park" ourselves in one place rather than run from place to place, so we are looking to go to one town. Any place you can recommend? Thanks.

My husband and I are going to Wengen in the Bernese Oberland in early July. He's a mountain climber, but I'm a wimp (I'm also an injured wimp these days), so we thought Wengen would be best because there are lots of options for making hikes easier through cable cars, trains, etc. We're splurging by staying at the Hotel Caprice (part of the bargain - yes, I'll hike in the mountains but I want to stay somewhere really nice). It's not super-easy to get to from Paris, but not too bad: fly to Zurich and then a 2-3 hour train ride (but that's part of the fun).

Hi ClaraS,

I think the Gstaad area will be perfect for you. I've been there two times, once to Saanen for a few days and then once to Gstaad for a week.

The area isn't the high majestic peaks of the Berner Oberland but rather gentle, green rolling hills that mark the beginning of the ranges of the BO. I've been on a bike path that runs from Bulle to Gstaad, and it is pretty flat (I don't like to bike hills much!) but surrounded with those incredible rolling hills that go on forever. This has become one of my two favorite areas of Switzerland (the other one is the Lake Geneva region).

Because this area isn't at the high altitude of the BO villages, it will be warmer in May, and you might even get to see the fields covered in wildflowers.

You can take the TGV from Paris to Lausanne, then a regular train on to Montreux and from there to Gstaad. Train schedules are at www.rail.ch.

Here are links to my reviews (w/a few photos) -- hope they help!

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Have fun!

s

Thanks, Kate_W and swandav2000, for your replies. I iwll look into them.

swandav, I looked at the pictures on tripadvisor you posted and they are gorgeous! Thanks.

May be easier to go from Paris to Chamonix, France and the French Alps, than all the way to Gstaad.

ClaraS,

Glad you liked them. If you want more information on this area, go to www.gstaad.ch or www.chateau-doex.ch.

Yes, it will be a long train ride though!

s

Paris to Chamonix actually isn't all that easy---it's still 6 hours by the quickest route, and 2 train changes. It's only a half-hour more to Gstaad; the route Paris-Geneva-Montreux-Gstaad leaves Paris (Gare de Lyon) at 10:30 am and brings you to Gstaad at 17:35. Chateaux d'Oex would be even shorter, and maybe a better choice. I long to go there myself!

Chamonix is beautiful, but I can't think of any super-easy hikes there, unless you wander the valley trails, or walk just a little way along the Grand Balcon (Nord or Sud) trails and then turn around. These may still be snowy or muddy in mid-May.

Update

Thanks for those of you who answered. Here is the update. We never made it to the Alps in May (work got in the way), but we plan to spend 8 days in Switzerland this July, including some time in the Alps. We plan to spend half of it near lake Geneva and spend the other half in Grindelwald, with one day in Gruyere mixed in. Even though we are not going exactly to the places you had suggested, your replies got us excited about our trip. Thanks again!

ClaraS,

How old are your children? We stayed with our young children (4yo and 18month then) last summer near Gstaad. Totally agree w/swandav's recommendation. We found Gstaad area very child friendly--a nice playground/petting zoo between Gstaad and Saanen, and a hotel there (can't recall the name) had a heated indoor pool. Some restaurants even had indoor play areas. You can incorporate a day-trip or an overnight stay at either Interlaken or Thun (the latter is my preference).

Kate---W:
We are leaving in 2 weeks for 3 nights at the Caprice Hotel.
Please tell me all about it. How about the meals? Can you recommend other places to eat?
Also--did you need waterproof shoes?
What about sandals.
I need all the info possible. Thanks,
Fleuve( from montreal)