Nyon Beach, Human Snakes and Ladders

Nyon Plage has recently been updated with a new ship with spectacular mountain views. In the woods there are three tiers of steps, rope walk ways and slides. Nyon beach even has something almost approaching real sand. The modern buvette provides lunch, ice cream and beer. A popular destination for good reasons and always busy on a sunny day.

Corbusian Concrete Maze at Bulle

Bulle is a typical Swiss town up near Gruyères. There is a castle and a museum in a park. The playground is a unique cast concrete maze with four slides descending from a couple of high points. There is no place you can stand from which all of the maze is visible so you will loose your children.

Eaux Vives Park and Paddling Pool

The Eaux-Vives park borders Lake Geneva close to the Jet d'Eau. The park itself is beautifully kept with very impressive flower beds. On a hot day the park has a well shaded paddling pool which is not photographed here.
To find the playground walk uphill to the top of the park. The cafe in the park has ice-creams and a reasonable menu-du-jour. As well as the main wooden climbing frame there are some easy swings for toddlers. The day we were there free deck chairs were are also available.

The Secret Playground in Sergy

Two years ago I commented on Sergy's playground with some harsh comments. It seems Sergy was listening and they have updated. A big climbing frame with a wooden chip floor. There are some swings and some springy things.

It's  a large green space and very quiet. It also has an excellent two lane 100m athletics circle for scooter races.

Top tip is to go on Thursday when there is also a take away pizza van on the opposite side of the road.

The playground is located behind Sergy's school.

Artistic Fences at Plainpalais

Geneva's newest creation is on Plainpalais, it has to be one of the most abstract climbing frames in the area being made of logs and fence panels... It's a really good area to play in and some of the obstacles are indeed quite challenging.

In addition there is a sand pit surrounded by concrete dunes. The dunes have push button water for testing your canal construction.

The adjoining skate park is also pretty special.

And while there you can even grab a free bike to get around town.

In summer months bring your sun cream and sun hats - there is very little shade!

Pizza on the Terrace in St Genis

In St Genis Casanova is a pizzeria where you can eat on a terrace overlooking some grass and a climbing frame.

Update 24th September 2012: The previously broken playground has been replaced by a brand new area with a bouncy rubber floor. This is huge improvement allowing you to ignore your children.

Climbing at a Campsite near Seleve

This is a playground on a campsite in Neydens that we used while visiting the restaurant for a coffee. There was also a collection of rabbits to pet and a bouncy castle on the day we visited. Of course the real reason to visit this village is to buy beer from the Brasserie du Mont Saleve.

Sarasin Park near Palexpo

Sarasin park is hiding behind Palexpo. Walk past the entrance to Palexpo and find yourself in Sarasin park in Grand-Saconex.

Signal de Bougy

Signal de Bougy is easily one of the best collection of playgrounds in this region. Everyone should visit here at least once per year!
There's a water play area, numerous climbing frames including a rocket and a large rope polygon.
The park also boasts collections of pigs, cows, chickens, ... to stroll around.
There are lots of picnic tables, a BBQ area and a Migros cafeteria, which includes an indoor play area. Signal de Bougy is  free to enter and enjoy.
For older children there are tree walk ways within parc adventure.

The Tall Ship of Lausanne

It's never too cold to play, even with ice on the ground. The tall ship playground in Lausanne is by the lake in Ouchy. There are also giant chess and draft sets by the fountains.

One of the highlights of visiting here is the journey! You can travel from Lausanne city centre on what must be one of the only sloping tube lines. You can sit up front to "drive" it down the hill!