Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Sailing Boat in Genthod

For the first time it was one of our children who led us to this playground - she 'discovered' it on a school trip! 
Genthod is a very well to do village of many châteaux and, of course, it has an immaculate and well appointed park. Play structures include a sailing boat, an arial runway, a sandpit and various wooden climbing frames.
It's a short walk from this park to the lake side where you can have a wee paddle. Go down the hill, past the train station and you're there. I think you are really meant to land here on your yacht and head to Le Creux-de-Gentold for your filet de perches... but we just stopped for ice-cream.

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Tipping Water Buckets in Meyrin



Meyrin has surpassed itself with its newest playground. I am sure that Meyrin must hold a record for playground density. The water is button activated, the entire area is covered in bouncy rubber flooring. There are also two climbing frames and some swings. I expect this is where we'll be spending many of our lunch hours over summer.

Sunday, 26 June 2011

The Immaculate Plage at Hemance

Hermance is the last piece of Switzerland on Lake Geneva before you enter France. Hermance is a very pretty village that boasts one of the best kept lake side beaches there is. It's a great place for swimming and the playground and sandpit are also extremely well located. The views of Lake Geneva are among the best. There is also a buvette selling wine, beer, saucisse and ice cream. To get to Hermance there is a ferry from Nyon or it is the last stop on Bus E 25 minutes from the center of Geneva. The plage costs 4CHF per adult to enter. Hermance plage is incredibly well kept.

The village itself has a few shops, restaurants and a large stone tower.

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

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.

Sunday, 22 May 2011

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.

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

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.

Friday, 6 May 2011

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.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

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.

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

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.

Sunday, 3 April 2011

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.