The Tower at Chancy

Chancy has one of our most recent playground discoveries. This is a big and high climbing frame. Once a year this park hosts a Fête des Enfants which is a good time to visit.

La Plage de Saint Jorioz, Annecy

The municipal beach at Saint-Jorioz on Lake Annecy has some good sand in particular. I imagine this place is hugely busy in the summer months. There's a well fenced playground but the main attraction is paddling of course.

The Woods in Argentière

Argentière is 9km from Chamonix. The Petit Balcon Nord is a woodland walk between the two and has a picturesque playground. There's a river beach for paddling in. An unusual thing about this playground is that is impossible to drive to which makes a change.

Lake side Park at Le Vengeron

Between Versoix and Geneva is Le Vergeron. The playground is small but this park is for playing in by the lake side. The park has a  youthful feel with ball games, music and plenty of personal barbecues about.

On the lake in Pregny along from Jardin Botanique

One of the more tranquil and close "beaches" to Geneva is opposite and along from the Jardin Botanique.  I don't know the name of this little park but in has a good buvette and restaurant. The Restaurant Reposoir serves drinks, ice cream, snacks and meals on some very comfy sofas.

The beach  is some sloping concrete but none the less you can paddle.

I've added a new tag Lake Side for playgrounds on the lake.

McLHCb Near Ferney

The new well-known Scottish restaurant is now open just inside France over the Mategnin border. The restaurant and outdoor playground are situated close to LHCb which is one of the four LHC experiments at CERN. You can eat your burger and watch them play while the big bang is recreated under your feet.

View Mt Blanc while climbing on Salève

The Salève is the 1400m mountain right next to Geneva. It's easy to reach with public transport and then can be scaled with the cable car or alternatively you can just drive up. Apart from the obvious walking and view-taking to do there is a small see-saw at the kiosk at the top of the cable car. The Auberge des Montagnards in Croisette has a terrace and small climbing frame (which is reassuringly close to the restaurant's tables) looking out to Mt Blanc, they also have chickens and rabbit as a useful diversion.

Fly the Plane in Petit-Saconnex

This plane and climbing frame are in a school in Petit-Saconnex so visit out of school hours. Nearby is probably the oldest restaurant in Geneva, fondue of course. Just past the playground is an impressive vegetable shop also.

The Icosikaioctagon at Bois-de-la-Bâtie

Bois-de-la-Batie is some woodland right in the middle Geneva affectionately known as Batty Woods. The climbing frames are big, there's an Octopus, a wooden train and a paddling pool with fountain frogs. Within the woods there is an extensive animal park with goats, rabbits, wild boar, chamois, peacocks, .... On a practical note, there isn't a cafe at the park that we know of, so if you are planning to stay a while bring a bait box.

Springy Bull-rushes at Parc de Mon Repos

Parc de Mon Repos is the park by the lake on the way to the botanic gardens from Geneva. It looks to be good for summer with water channels and dams. There is also a recently renovated paddling pool.

As well as a strap in swing there are some springy bull-rushes, which actually look a lot better than they really are.

The nearby History of Science Museum is a great place to visit with children.