My husband, two young children (1 yr and 3 yrs) and I will have four full days in the Berner Oberland the first week of October. We have been to the area before and are looking for some new day trips to consider. We are open to pretty much any type of excursion and will adapt to our kids needs as necessary. We enjoy hiking/walks but need easy ones as we will have a jogging stroller and baby backpack. We have spent time in the Lauterbrunnen Valley already and I have explored Rick's book thoroughly, so am familiar with his recommendations. We would love to explore the Berner Oberland outside of the Lauterbrunnen Valley on this trip. I'd love to know what some of your most memorable excursions and recommendations in the Berner Oberland have been. Can't wait to hear what you suggest.
Posted by
Auburn, Washington, USA
515 posts
Schilthorn is gorgeous. You can go inside the Piz Gloria restaruant and enjoy a meal while it rotates in a 360 degree panoramic view. Trummelbach falls is also a cosideartion, a huge waterfall that flows through the mountain like a band-saw. My parents and I stayed in Murren at hotel Jungfrau and had a balcony room with breathtaking views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains. A walk on the flower trail starting in Murren in a nice hike through the hills and a walk from Murren to Gimmealwald is nice aswell. Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Kandersteg is stunning (Unesco World Heritage Site) and would be easy with small children. The cabine brings you to the top and it's a short 10 - 15 minute walk to the beautiful lake surrounded by stunning mountains and waterfalls. Along the way there are a couple of farms with cows that your kids would love. If you don't want to walk then there is a cute little open-air bus/tram thing that will take you to the lake. There is a nice beach for the kids to play in the water and a couple of cute chalet restaurants right there for when you get hungry or thirsty. Interesting sculptures along the path that goes along the lake and an alpine slide for one of you to take the older one if you want. We were just there this summer and loved it!
Posted by
Columbia, SC
389 posts
Chris, you say you are looking for new day trip ideas, outside the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Do you mean you are actually staying in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, or have you not decided where you are staying?
Posted by
OP
Mahone Bay, Canada
328 posts
Hi Will ... we have already booked our accommodation in the mountains. I'm just looking for suggestions of new things to see/do during the day outside the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Brendan & Anita, thank you for your suggestions! Thanks!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Because you specifically mentioned hikes OUTSIDE of the Lauterbrunnen Valley... You can try the hike down from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald. I've only used the sledge trail in the winter when it's covered in snow, but I read somewhere that it's packed gravel underneath. You should be able to use the stroller on it.
Posted by
Milwaukee, WI, USA
196 posts
How about the boat rides on the Brienzersee or the Thunersee? I've see plenty of kids on both. The boat on the Brienzersee leaves from near Interlaken Ost (East) and is about 3 hrs. roundtrip. The ride on the Thunersee leaves from Interlaken West. It is a little more than 2 hrs. to Thun at which point you can take the short train ride back to Interlaken. Roundtrip is well over 4 hrs. and that might be a little too long with small kids. Both rides give you spectacular views of the Berner Oberland on very calm waters. I am always fascinated by the small towns the boats stop at along the way. You can bring food on or enjoy a nice meal in the enclosed dining area. A rail pass will give you a discount on both.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Speaking of Brienz... there's also the Brienzer Rothornbahn, if you want to ride a steam-powered rack railway to the top of the mountains. It doesn't ascend nearly as high as the Jungfraubahn, but it also doesn't spend as much time in a tunnel, so you get to see more on the ascent.
Posted by
California
492 posts
Check out Ballenberg Open Air Museum.