Laila Rodriguez
Kids skiing... two have more fun!
SWITZERLAND – On 22 January the Anzère ski station joins hundreds of ski stations around the globe, and 30 more in Switzerland, for “World Snow Day,” by offering one free day on the slopes.
Children 15 and under will get to ski or snowboard, rent equipment, ride the ski lifts and participate in all outdoor activities planned for the occasion, free of charge.
In other words, kids get to celebrate “all things snow” at selected ski stations thanks to the International Ski Federation and other sponsors.
Laila Rodriguez
CAROUGE, SWITZERLAND – The beautiful cité sarde of Carouge, which according to Fodor’s owes its beautiful architecture to Turin authorities, goes all out for Christmas.
The Christmas lights are not the only attraction:
- It also opens 130 of its shops for shopping on Sundays: 27 November, 4, 11 and 18 December
- The Advent market takes place 27 November on Market Square
- It holds is annual Christmas Telethon on 3 December on Market Square
- The outdoor Christmas market takes place from 16-18 December also on Market Square
- The ice-skating rinks opens from December to February at the Sardaigne Plaza, skating is free
Have yourself a great end-of-year holiday season.
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Laila Rodriguez
Swimming instructor at the Bains de Paquis
Geneva, Switzerland – It is hot! Perfect time to swim outdoors, but, where? Well, when it comes to finding a “beach” in Geneva, Paquis seems to come first to mind, but of course there are plenty more options.
In fact, there are officially 14 public beaches in Canton Geneva, several with picnic areas and a few with camping areas, and 116 beaches around the Lake including France.
How to find them?
Here’s our list which includes points of access for boats to the Lake.
Laila Rodriguez
Golden owl for sale at one of the flea-markets in Geneva
Lake Geneva region, Switzerland – ‘Tis the season for shopping (second-hand shopping that is). Get your cash and bargaining skills ready as the La Ville est a Vous celebrations in the city of Geneva have begun.
For those new to Geneva let me say this is a celebration not-to-be-missed.
Neighborhoods close some of their streets to vehicle traffic leaving huge spaces for pedestrians to sell and shop. Anyone can sell almost anything, the one golden rule is that the articles cannot be mass-produced new products. To sell perishable food items you must contact the organizers in each of the quartiers.
Selling is on a first-come first-served basis. These are not like the big “open-air brocantes” where professional sellers try to sell you expensive old items, this is a bargain-hunter’s nirvana.
We are talking about mammoth flea-markets.
Hawk your wares, get rid of old stuff, or find a great bargain. Score anything from a DVD to a chair, after rummaging through Florida souvenirs and paintings.
These are family events: ludotheques set-up areas for children to play in; music, dance and theater performances are offered throughout the day and well into the night; and food stalls can be found at each of the neighborhood parties.
- Plainpalais : 14 May 2011
- Acacias : 22 May 2011 (returns)
- Geisendorf : 28-29 May 2011 (returns)
- Petit-Saconnex : 4-5 June 2011 (new)
- Eaux-Vives : 11-12 June 2011
- Saint-Jean : 25-26 June 2011
- Concorde : 27 August 2011 (returns)
- Jonction : 3-4 September 2011
- Europe : 10-11 September 2011 (new)
Around Lake Geneva
Laila Rodriguez
Kids, seniors and nature, a winning combination in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland - Calling all kids: The Botanical Garden’s Green Workshops are on!
If your kid is not registered for any Wednesday activities or you simply want her/him to enjoy nature and interacting with older adults this activity could be just what you are looking for.
Aimed at children aged 8 to 11 years of age, the workshops at the Geneva Botanical Garden seek to instill in smaller kids a love for nature.
Laila Rodriguez
Geneva, Switzerland – If your teens are staying in Geneva during the summer holidays then the prospect of a seasonal job may be of interest.
Every year the city and the canton of Geneva offer summer jobs that include up to 350 activities. All jobs are offered for a maximum of three weeks beginning on or after 20 June and ending 26 August.
Applicants must meet three requirements to qualify:
Laila Rodriguez
New route to include small comunes in canton Geneva - click to enlarge
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Prepare to run for a cause! The Geneva Marathon for Unicef, which until now has been staged around the city, has been re-routed to include ten communes in canton Geneva.
In 2010, Benjamin Chandelier, director of the Geneva marathon, said to GenevaLunch that the Organizing Committee wanted to introduce “a single 42km-loop for marathon runners” to attract international marathoners and make it one of the top-15 European marathons by 2015.
Marathon organizers have successfully taken the first step towards that goal and the 2011 race, taking place on 14 and 15 May proves so. The race will begin in Chene-Bourg and will then travel through the surrounding towns of Thonex, Choulex, Puplinge, Presinge, Jussy, Gy, Meinier, Collonge-Bellerive and Cologny before returning to the city and convening near the Palais Wilson.
Laila Rodriguez
Cross-country skiing with the family
Geneva, Switzerland – Dear readers I know I sound like I am always looking to save a penny. Well, that is because… I am. Especially, when it comes to skiing with kids and teenagers in tow.
Here’s a resource for those looking to have a fun day in the snow for not-so-much.
The Switzerland tourism department has compiled a list of small and medium-sized family-oriented ski resorts across the country, that offer day family passes (up to two adults and two kids) for CHF120 or less.
For example the Attinghausen resort offers a day pass for two adults and two kids for a total of CHF79; in Aeschi when two adults pay a full fee of CHF33, each child pays only CHF10, and in Mürren all children in the family are free with one paying adult. Now, that’s a deal!
Follow the link to the Family day passes and family-friendly ski pass website and enjoy!
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Laila Rodriguez
SkiVille in the heart of the city - Photo courtesy Ville de Geneve
Geneva, Switzerland - If you are already missing the 31cm of snow that blanketed Geneva (and that are now gone), you may still find some in SkiVille; a skiing extravaganza in the heart of Old Town which begins at 18:00 on 8 December and ends at the same time on the 12th.
It has been three years since the city of Geneva began its re-creation of an Alpine village in the centre of town.
The concept behind it, says the Sports Division responsible for the project, is to make skiing accessible to everyone, including those who would otherwise not have a chance to practice winter sports.
Kids and adults are welcome to ski the 40m-slope which descends from the Promenade de la Treille in old town and climb back again courtesy of an electric tow-bar.
Monitoring is provided by instructors from the Geneva Ski School.
Laila Rodriguez
Which way to go? - Photo Plinio Galeano
Geneva, Switzerland – The skies are gray, the sort of perpetual gray that sets over Geneva each fall making you want to—hike?
If you are new to the region you have probably heard others say that “once you get out of Geneva the skies are blue.” Well, it is true!
Kick those blues away: grab some peanuts, get your light hikers out and discover evergreen trees up to 500 years old, Alpine gardens, terraced vineyards and even a “celestial world.”
The Swiss tourism office has a list of autumnal walks in the Lake Geneva region, and if you want to go further afield, you can tell their site’s database how long you want to walk and where, with all hikes rated from easy to difficult. Some include visiting castles, so there’s a bit for everyone in the family, and lots of space for your four-legged friend to run.