Parc des hérissons is an animal or nature-focused outing where children have something concrete to observe. It works best when you want a gentler family plan with a clear theme, but check the official page for feeding, contact or seasonal details.
OutdoorBike parkHikingAnimals and nature
Why special: The park uniquely combines the beauty of the Montagnes du Jura with a variety of outdoor sports and leisure activities, allowing families to explore together. The focus on natural environments creates an immersive experience for children and adults alike, fostering a connection with nature.
Zoo de Servion is a nature-focused zoo located in a tranquil setting where families can observe a variety of animals. Visitors will enjoy watching different species and learning about their habitats, making it an educational and outdoor adventure suitable for all ages.
OutdoorAnimals and nature
Why special: This zoo stands out with its serene environment that enhances the experience of observing animals in close proximity to their natural habitats. Families can engage in learning activities, creating a fun blend of education and outdoor enjoyment that distinguishes it from typical zoos.
A traffic-practice bike area is a small mock road layout where children can ride safely while learning signs, lanes, crossings and basic road rules. It is not a sporty bike day; it is a practical outdoor stop for younger cyclists building confidence before real traffic.
OutdoorSportsEducational
Why special: The useful twist is that it turns road safety into pretend play. Children can practise signs, crossings and lanes in a protected mini-road setting before those rules matter in real traffic.
Water Circus AquaJump is an energetic water park perfect for families, featuring attractions like water jumps, bodyboarding, and mini-golf. In addition to thrilling rides, families can enjoy beach volleyball and pétanque, as well as ample lounging areas for relaxation, making it a great place for a full day of fun.
OutdoorWater and swimming
Why special: Water Circus AquaJump stands out with its unique combination of adrenaline-pumping water jumps and recreational activities in a single park setting. It offers an extensive chill zone alongside thrilling attractions, allowing families to balance excitement with relaxation. The panoramic rooftop bar enhances the experience, making it more than just a water park.
The Sentier Nature en Tout Sens is a sensory walking trail in Grandson, where families can explore the local flora, fauna, and enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Neuchâtel and the Alps. The trail features 16 interactive posts that invite visitors to touch various rocks and experience aromatic plants in a charming garden.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely combines education and interactive sensory experiences, allowing families to engage with nature in a hands-on way. It not only offers stunning views but also encourages exploration through touch and smell, making it a distinctive outdoor adventure for all ages.
The Sentier Ludik Pieds Nus is an outdoor trail where families can walk barefoot and experience various natural surfaces underfoot. This sensory journey allows children and adults to enjoy the beauty of nature while reaching a scenic viewpoint, making it an engaging adventure for families able to navigate the terrain.
OutdoorOriginalHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely focuses on tactile experiences, specifically encouraging barefoot walking to connect with nature. It combines physical activity with sensory exploration, setting it apart from traditional hiking paths.
Sentier des Sorcières is an educational hiking trail in the Gruyère region, perfect for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors. As you hike, you'll encounter local folklore and nature, offering fresh air and scenic viewpoints throughout the journey.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail combines a scenic hiking experience with educational elements about local myths and nature, making it more than just a walk. Families can engage with the rich folklore of the region while enjoying breathtaking views along the way.
The Sentier des arbres et oiseaux is a 2km audio-tactile trail in Bois de Grand Sève. Families can walk the paved path, enjoying sounds of local birds and learning about region-specific trees and shrubs through informative panels along the way. It’s accessible for strollers, making it a great outdoor exploration.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely combines a walking experience with audio elements, allowing families to listen to bird songs and educational content while they explore. The interactive nature of the path enhances learning about local flora and fauna, making it a distinctly educational outing.
The Sentier Botanique de la Chanelaz is an educational hiking trail that takes families on an outdoor walking route through nature, offering fresh air and stunning views. It's a great opportunity for families to engage in movement and discovery together, making it an ideal outing for children and parents alike.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail combines education with outdoor adventure, allowing families to learn about local flora while hiking. The focus on nature exploration sets it apart from standard hiking trails, making it a perfect blend of activity and education.
The Piste de Luge du Marchairuz is a scenic toboggan run in the Parc Jura Vaudois. Families can enjoy a thrilling 1km ride through forests and open clearings, featuring a mix of bends, gentle slopes, and steeper drops, perfect for winter outdoor fun.
Outdoor
Why special: This toboggan run is notable for its combination of scenic views and varied terrain, making it the longest run in the Vallée de Joux. Unlike many other sledding spots, it offers both gentle slopes and exciting drops, enhancing the overall experience for families.
Parcours d'orientation Baliseor is an outdoor orientation trail that offers families an engaging hiking experience. Participants can enjoy fresh air while navigating various routes, which include interesting navigation challenges and scenic spots, making it both fun and informative.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely combines hiking with navigation challenges, allowing families to learn practical skills as they explore. The mix of physical activity and educational elements enhances the outdoor experience, making it a great way for families to bond while enjoying nature.
Parcabout is built around suspended nets rather than normal climbing routes. Children can bounce, crawl and move above the ground in a contained outdoor structure, which gives the outing an adventurous feel without needing a full ropes-course setup.
OutdoorOriginalAdventure
Why special: The suspended-net setup gives children height and movement without the same harness-and-obstacle format as a classic ropes course.
Parc Animalier Bois de la Bâtie is an animal park where families can observe various indigenous species for free across 2.5 hectares. Visitors can enjoy watching animals in natural habitats, especially in spring when many young animals are born.
OutdoorAnimals and nature
Why special: This park focuses on indigenous wildlife and helps conserve endangered regional breeds, such as native goats and sheep. It's an immersive experience that combines education with observation of local fauna, making it a unique outing for families interested in nature and conservation.
Parc d'Andilly in summer is an outdoor leisure park with a fairytale-style, family-event feel rather than a standard playground. It is best checked by season, because the experience depends heavily on the current programme and opening dates.
Outdoor
Why special: This park uniquely combines themed attractions and wildlife shows, providing an enriching experience with nocturnal birds. Families can also participate in hands-on activities like caring for owls, enhancing their connection with nature and learning about wildlife protection.
Le Sentier du bois des âges is an educational hiking trail located in Prangins. Families can enjoy a scenic walk through the forest while learning about nature from informative signs placed along the path, making it an enriching outdoor experience.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely combines nature walks with educational content, offering families a chance to engage with the environment. The informative signs along the path enhance the hiking experience, making it not only a physical activity but also a learning opportunity for children and adults alike.
Lac Sauvabelin is a serene lake destination perfect for family outings. Located in the greenery above Lausanne, families can explore scenic walking paths, visit the mini-zoo with various animals, and enjoy a large playground with natural wooden structures. There's also a grassy picnic area to relax and unwind.
OutdoorAnimals and natureWater and swimming
Why special: This lakeside spot combines a tranquil environment with a mini-zoo featuring goats, pigs, and more, enhancing the family-friendly experience. Additionally, it boasts the largest playground in Lausanne, made from natural wood, providing unique play opportunities amidst nature.
Lac Lamoura is an outdoor destination perfect for families looking to spend a day by the water. Here, visitors can swim and relax by the lake in a scenic setting, enjoying the tranquility of nature during the warmer months.
OutdoorHikingWater and swimming
Why special: Lac Lamoura offers a unique combination of swimming and scenic natural landscapes, making it a serene escape for families. Unlike typical recreational areas, the emphasis on both relaxation and water activities enhances the outdoor experience.
A corn maze is a seasonal outdoor puzzle where the walk itself becomes the game. It works for families because children get a simple mission - finding the way through - instead of being asked to enjoy a normal stroll.
Outdoor
Why special: This corn maze uniquely combines a playful exploration with a seasonal theme. Completing the maze allows families to participate in a raffle for exciting prizes, such as an airplane flight. It's an interactive way to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy farm life.
The Chateau de Voltaire is a heritage visit around the writer Voltaire and his estate. It is more of a cultural stop than a play activity, so it suits families who can enjoy rooms, gardens and a short history-based visit.
OutdoorHiking
Why special: This path uniquely combines a scenic walking experience with a historical narrative about a castle destroyed during the Burgundian Wars. The storytelling aspect through the 16 panels engages families, making history accessible and fun while enjoying nature.
Les Gorges du Chauderon features a shaded hiking trail that winds through stunning gorges in a beautiful natural setting. Families can enjoy a refreshing outdoor adventure, with opportunities to immerse themselves in the local wildlife and lush landscapes just minutes from Montreux.
OutdoorHiking
Why special: This hike not only offers spectacular views of the gorges but also allows for an engaging exploration of the diverse flora and fauna in the area. The unique combination of shaded paths and striking landscapes makes it a distinctive outdoor experience for families.
La Ferme Saffronière in Ferlens is a family-friendly farm where visitors can discover a variety of animals such as goats, chickens, and rabbits. Children can engage with these animals, feed them, and enjoy the adventure playground. The farm also offers tractor rides and musical activities, ensuring a lively atmosphere.
OutdoorAnimals and nature
Why special: La Saffronière stands out for its interactive animal experiences, allowing kids to touch and feed a diverse range of animals. Additionally, the farm combines these encounters with fun activities like tractor rides and outdoor fun, providing a unique, hands-on day out for families.
This barefoot trail is a sensory outdoor walk where children feel different natural textures under their feet. It is simple, tactile and unusual, making it useful for families who want a short nature activity with a clear point.
OutdoorOriginalAdventure
Why special: The barefoot trail at Ferme de Chosal offers a distinctive sensory journey, allowing families to experience various textures underfoot. This immersive outdoor activity enhances the connection with nature, setting it apart from typical playground experiences.
Axe throwing is an indoor precision activity where participants learn to throw small axes at wooden targets. It can be fun for teens and adults, but it is not a young-child activity and age rules should be checked before adding it to a family plan.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: This trail uniquely combines education about sustainable farming with stunning alpine views. Families can engage with local agriculture directly while enjoying the tranquility of the countryside. The route's design encourages an understanding of the landscapes that contribute to the region's food supply.
Cascade du Dard is a scenic hiking route located near Croy, perfect for families who enjoy the outdoors. The trail leads to a viewpoint where you can appreciate the beauty of nature, including the sounds of flowing water and the surrounding landscape. Be sure to check the trail conditions if hiking with younger children.
OutdoorHiking
Why special: The hiking trail culminates in a beautiful viewpoint that offers refreshing sights and sounds of nature, making it an ideal experience for families. The focus on natural beauty combined with a family-friendly hiking route sets Cascade du Dard apart from other hiking locations.
Bois des Brigands invites families to explore three educational walking trails set in a beautiful forest. Each loop, designed for different ages, offers insights into nature, allowing visitors to discover local flora and fauna while enjoying panoramic views of the Jura and the Alps.
OutdoorHikingEducational trail
Why special: The unique format includes three distinct educational loops, themed on nature topics like trees and geology, offering a comprehensive learning experience. This makes it ideal for both leisurely walks and educational outings for school groups.
Aux Petits Sabots is an animal-focused outing, likely centred on gentle farm or pony contact rather than a large zoo. It is useful for younger children who enjoy animals, but the exact format should be checked before promising a ride or workshop.
OutdoorAnimals and nature
Why special: This facility offers a unique combination of zootherapy and interactive pony activities, creating a supportive space for emotional growth. Unlike typical farms, Aux Petits Sabots emphasizes therapeutic relationships between children and animals, enhancing personal development through nature-based experiences.
Aquasplash Renens is a lively water park in Renens, offering a variety of swimming and splashing experiences for families. Visitors can enjoy both lake and pool areas, providing an ideal setting for a fun-filled day outdoors in the sun.
