It all started when I was on my honeymoon in Switzerland some years ago. While hiking, I told myself I would bring my kids back there one day. I remember vividly telling my hubby how I’d want my kids to be environmentalists.
Fast forward and we really planned a trip to Switzerland at a time when my boys are 7 and 5 years old. It’s probably the best age to take them on trips like this where some independence and endurance are needed. Nathanael just turned 5 and he can take his own luggage (trunki) and carry his own backpack. That was a must for us as we were travelling by trains every day. Kids aged 6 and below are free for travel in Switzerland. We bought the swiss travel pass for 2 so Zech is tagged on to one of us and all we needed was to get the free family card from the railway station. Free travel for kids include trains, buses and most mountain transport.
Being able to walk long distances is another important criteria as we had to lug our luggage across the road and along streets to reach our accommodation. Not to mention the hikes I’ve planned in the itinerary.
Our first apartment rental was in Zug, a city in the middle of Zürich and Luzern. In fact, it was less than 30 minutes by train from Zurich. Even though we stayed in a city, Zug has a quiet homely state to it. We spent a few nights there and made it a base to explore the Luzern region.
Needless to say, we visited the old town of Luzern.
Unfortunately, my boys didn’t enjoy walking around the town very much. Maybe it was due to jet lag since it was only our second day. Maybe it was just warm. The town thronged with crowds of tourists, bustling with activities on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately, my boys didn’t enjoy walking around the town very much. Maybe it was due to jet lag since it was only our second day. Maybe it was just warm. The town thronged with crowds of tourists, bustling with activities on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon.
Fencing
The famous chapel bridge.
We watched and heard the alp horns and a brass performance.
We only spent 2 hours walking around the medieval town and decided to go back to rest early.
We only spent 2 hours walking around the medieval town and decided to go back to rest early.
The next day, we took a train to Lenzburg where we visited the castle on a hill. It was a real castle that dated back to the 13th century!
A short drawbridge at the entrance. Hm...rather disappointing.
For a start, a photo with the squire. Looking good...
There were live demos on weaving and spinning. This lady patiently explained and showed the boys the process of spinning.
Here's Nathanael having a go at scrapping the rough bits off the wool so that the soft wool can be used for spinning. The boys got to keep the soft wool. I tried spinning. Certainly not easy!
Interesting to go through the different rooms and learned how the people in the castle lived in the old days. The artefacts and items were authentic, passed down from the days of old.
See the bear behind the boys? It was hunted in the old days and now hanging in the museum.
The best is yet to come. My boys, especially Nathanael, could not wait to go to the kids' play area at the top of the tower.
The kids' area was really cool! Dressing up, a mini castle for play pretend, a little kitchen at the back, a secret room up a winding staircase, craft area, toys corner. It was no wonder my boys found it hard to leave. There was so much to explore!
Father and children making swords together in the craft corner.
Along the way out, we passed by some little huts and the boys explored the little houses before taking a bus back to the railway station.
The boys with their handmade swords.
The boys with their handmade swords.
It was easy to travel to Lenzburg from Zug by train. But the bus came every hour so if you miss it, you need to wait.
It was on a Sunday we visited Mt Titlis. And yes, it was super crowded!
To travel to Mt Titlis, we had to to take a train to Engelberg. The Luzern-Engelberg Express train has a cabin dedicated to kids. It’s called the Globi Express. There were children books in German with interesting pictures.
Kids get to complete an activity where they needed to answer 6 questions by looking out for Globi at various stations. My boys were totally occupied throughout the train ride. If there are at least 4 correct answers, they can redeem a lunch box with goodies at Engelberg. My boys could not wait to redeem their gift!
To travel to Mt Titlis, we had to to take a train to Engelberg. The Luzern-Engelberg Express train has a cabin dedicated to kids. It’s called the Globi Express. There were children books in German with interesting pictures.
Kids get to complete an activity where they needed to answer 6 questions by looking out for Globi at various stations. My boys were totally occupied throughout the train ride. If there are at least 4 correct answers, they can redeem a lunch box with goodies at Engelberg. My boys could not wait to redeem their gift!
The sweeping valley in Engelberg was gorgeous! We took the cable car up to Mt Titlis.
Had a walk in the glacier cave which was thousands of years old. It was brrrrr cold but my boys got a kick out of touching the ice.
Once we were out in the open, Nathanael felt like home. He simply rolled in the snow and became the snow angel. He couldn’t keep his hands off the pure white snow!
Zech joined in soon after.
They made snow balls. I instructed them to throw the snowballs down the mountain and not at each other.
They tried making a snowman but papa was too cold. My head was feeling heavy. Not in the mood at all to make anything. There were no twigs. Nothing to make the eyes and nose. So I told the kids to save it for our next winter holiday and since they have made one last year, we were not missing out much.
Then the boys climbed up a little hill and slid down the slope. The wonders of snow!
Had a walk in the glacier cave which was thousands of years old. It was brrrrr cold but my boys got a kick out of touching the ice.
Once we were out in the open, Nathanael felt like home. He simply rolled in the snow and became the snow angel. He couldn’t keep his hands off the pure white snow!
Zech joined in soon after.
They made snow balls. I instructed them to throw the snowballs down the mountain and not at each other.
They tried making a snowman but papa was too cold. My head was feeling heavy. Not in the mood at all to make anything. There were no twigs. Nothing to make the eyes and nose. So I told the kids to save it for our next winter holiday and since they have made one last year, we were not missing out much.
Then the boys climbed up a little hill and slid down the slope. The wonders of snow!
We took the cable car down to the middle station to hike around the lake.Hiking in the Swiss alps is like having a fresh mint in your mouth. As you slowly inhale, it does wonders to your body, mind and soul.
It was a lovely 2 hours hike. A gorgeous day with the Swiss Alps in all its glory albeit a little too warm for me.
My nature lover boy picked flowers (to my horror!) and threw stones into the lake together with his big brother. Had a hard time educating them to enjoy nature in the right way.
My boys loved doing this, much to the annoyance of the papa. But he didn't see this because he was too focused on hiking. :)
Some parts of the trail were wet and covered with snow. It was end of winter and not officially summer yet. Somehow, we managed to walk through without much difficulty. That was the adventure of hiking. Never really knowing what was ahead.
Was very grateful to a couple (probably European) who took the initiative to help us take a family photo. The old lady was so kind and even shifted Nath out so that her husband could get a better shot for us. She was one of the many nice people we had met on this trip.
It was a lovely 2 hours hike. A gorgeous day with the Swiss Alps in all its glory albeit a little too warm for me.
My nature lover boy picked flowers (to my horror!) and threw stones into the lake together with his big brother. Had a hard time educating them to enjoy nature in the right way.
My boys loved doing this, much to the annoyance of the papa. But he didn't see this because he was too focused on hiking. :)
Some parts of the trail were wet and covered with snow. It was end of winter and not officially summer yet. Somehow, we managed to walk through without much difficulty. That was the adventure of hiking. Never really knowing what was ahead.
Was very grateful to a couple (probably European) who took the initiative to help us take a family photo. The old lady was so kind and even shifted Nath out so that her husband could get a better shot for us. She was one of the many nice people we had met on this trip.
We took the cable car back down and walked to the train station, where the boys redeemed their gift for completing their activity booklet. They were exhilarated with their lunchbox filled with goodies and a box of colour pencils! Beaming with joy, they told me there were 2 packets of gummies in the lunchbox.
Our next day trip was to Mt Rigi. Took the cogwheel up the mountain.
A pity the view at the top was shrouded by clouds. We could see nothing except the cogwheel.
See how misty it was?
We went back down to the valley because we left our camera in the supermarket at the railway station. Thank God we managed to find it as the cashier kept it for us!
See how misty it was?
We went back down to the valley because we left our camera in the supermarket at the railway station. Thank God we managed to find it as the cashier kept it for us!
Then we decided to take the cogwheel up again but we got down at a lower station, took the cable car and to our disappointment, it was just as misty. Nevertheless, we continued with our hike. Was very glad we did this because it was one of the best walking trails ever!
Sometimes, we could see only what was ahead but there were times when the mist lifted a little to reveal parts of the valley.
We had a wonderful picnic lunch on a bench just next to the cows in the meadow.
Listening to the sound of the bells on the cows and a cuckoo bird singing nearby while munching on our yummy egg mayo sandwiches were one of the highlights for our trip. So engaging for the 5 senses! I think my boys will always remember this experience. Observing the cows at such close proximity was something my boys enjoyed. I guess Nath cultivated his love for cows starting from here.
A little house selling snacks and drinks for hikers. Just be honest and place the money inside.
There was even a rest and relax bench!
The hiking trail was super easy. My kids were in great spirits despite the mist.
We had to cross an old railway tunnel. Nath was scared. He pulled me back, telling me there was a bear inside. So much for reading 'We are going on a bear hunt'. It was really dark inside but I told them excitedly we were on an adventure even though my heart was beating quite fast. Looking at the two sides of the wall in the tunnel gave me the creeps.
We passed by the old railway track and saw the old train.
There was even a toilet in the middle of our hike. It was the cleanest and one of the most modern toilet I’ve been to! I’m serious and it’s in the wilderness!
A different herd of cows.
There were so many beautiful wildflowers in the meadow I finally began to understand better the Bible verses from Matthew 6:25-34.
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
A kind gentleman saw Nath trying hard to blow the dandelion seeds so he picked one and gave it to him.
The highlight of this trail for the boys was supposed to be a playground. However, they did not get to play due to the mist. They tried this instead.
Once we reached the cogwheel station, we took it back down to Vitnauz, where we boarded a ferry to Luzern.
Lake Luzern looked so surreal.
There was even a lower deck where we could look underwater. Just like being in a submarine!
My boys love cruising on Lake Luzern and found the ride too short. The ferry ride was slightly over an hour.
Before we left Zug the next morning, we took a stroll along Lake Zug which was 2 streets away from our apartment. A quiet morning, there were quite a few people at the park. With the Swiss alps in the distance, the lake glistening under the bright morning sun, several ducks swimming in the water, it was a sight to behold, considering this was a city.
Photo credits to Zech!
Was pleasantly surprised to see a mini bird enclosure and as we walked, we were amazed at the variety of birds in the enclosure. It was almost like going to the Jurong Bird Park! My favourite had to be the barn owl as I’ve never seen one at such a close distance.
It was a walk I’ll never forget in time to come.
Just before we left for our next destination, here's a picture of our apartment in Zug.
Photo credits to Zech!
Was pleasantly surprised to see a mini bird enclosure and as we walked, we were amazed at the variety of birds in the enclosure. It was almost like going to the Jurong Bird Park! My favourite had to be the barn owl as I’ve never seen one at such a close distance.
It was a walk I’ll never forget in time to come.
Just before we left for our next destination, here's a picture of our apartment in Zug.
Except for the stairs we needed to climb with our luggage (we stayed on the second floor), the apartment was fully equipped with a kitchen and even a washing machine in the basement. The kitchen was important as I planned to cook our daily meals. That helped us save quite a bit because eating out in Switzerland is expensive. A Burger King meal for our family of 4 set us back at least $40 sgd whereas cooking our own lunch or dinner probably cost half of that.
Our next destination? An authentic Swiss farm stay and the ever popular Interlaken. We chose to stay in Brienz, a lakeside town just one stop away. More in my next blog post!
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