Whether you're a part-time or full-time Working Mom on a tight schedule, or you're concerned about napping schedules, a well-deserved summer break is in order! Here are some ideas for family activities this summer that will help you recharge your batteries without even leaving Switzerland!

Parks in Geneva

On the left bank, there's the playground at Parc Bertrand in Champel, La Grange in Les Eaux-Vives with its superb paddling pool, or the newly renovated playground at Les Evaux in Onex. On the right bank, you'll find the paddling pools at Parc des Franchises and Parc Trembley. Towards the embassy district, you'll find the Mont-Repos park and the Nant de Cayla promenade leading to the Bois de la Bâtie in St-Jean. And don't forget the famous Jardin Botanique, a must-see for the whole family!

Water points in Geneva

Hot weather means looking for places to cool off and play in the water. Of the 18 public pools in the canton of Geneva, 6 are open to the public: Pâquis-Centre, Lancy, Vernets, Varembé, Lignon, Avanchets and Cointrin.

The Baby Plage public beach in the Eaux-Vives district is a sure bet, as is the Bains des Pâquis on the other side, which you can reach by taking the seagull. Because of the health situation, some places are subject to a quota of entry tickets per time slot. It's best to find out how to get in before you go.

Activities canton de Vaud

If you're looking for a large, well-appointed playground, discover the playground in Morges by the lake in the Parc de Vertou, with its foam floors and original equipment. Children can go on a boat with slides, climb a climbing wall, swing on swings, all with a breathtaking view of the lake and mountains. From the square to Préverenges, you can take a lovely stroll that lasts around twenty minutes and is accessible by baby carriage. In Morges, there's also a very nice playground next to the church.  

Closer to Lausanne, if children like to play in the sand and are particularly fond of rope-operated play equipment, there's a great spot not far from the C.I.O. next to the La Vaudaire restaurant. 

At the port of Vidy, children can enjoy a short ride on the little train. However, it's best to find out when the train runs. As in Pully, there's a mini-train for children and a brand-new playground. Here, however, the sun beats down all day long, so we advise against going in the afternoon. 

If you've got all day, the Signal de Bougy park above Aubonne is well worth a visit. There are slides for all ages, zip lines and water features to keep the kids happy. There are also boats on the water to delight parents and children alike, oxygen-filled bubbles for children to roll around in, a wildlife park and the famous Parc Aventure from age 4 upwards. These tree courses can be found at Signal de Bougy, Aigle, Sion, St-Cergue and Onex. It's all great fun, and the courses are adapted to different age groups.

If you're a detective, you'll love theUrba byrinthe in Orbe. It's a playful 2 km-long maze through cornfields. It's great fun reading the stories and finding the answers to the clues as you wind your way through the maze.

Last but not least, if you're looking for a cool spot, head forAquasplash in Renens. There's a Baby Splash for children up to 4 years of age, a playground for children up to 5 years of age and shaded green areas. The biggest, most dizzying slides are accessible to all.

Do you have more time?

Organize a family weekend away from the usual places and think of parks such as the adventure labyrinth, Aquaparc or the swiss vapeur parc. On the other side of the border, there's the Ravensburger playground, the Europaparc leisure park or Legoland for Lego lovers.

We've heard of Vitam Parc in Eytens, but we haven't tried it out yet, have you? Apparently, it's best to avoid weekends and busy days, otherwise you'll be queuing for hours! Stay tuned...

As you can see, the grass isn't necessarily better elsewhere! You don't have to go far to experience a change of scenery and unforgettable family moments. Activity clears the mind, relieves stress and, above all, exhausts our children (laughs).

Let us know what you think if you do any of the activities mentioned in the article, and share your good shots too.

Have a great summer!

Céline Racine
Editor MotherStories - Kids & Family
Working Mom, 1 daughter aged 4