Linda takes us to di Davos, a little Swiss town in the Grisons canton, located at 1560 metres above sea level. Let’s discover with her this amazing alpine resort, which is perfect for a winter family holiday. Who is Linda?
“I live in Ticino and I am a conference interpreter, I have a daughter named Michelle and I am currently pregnant with another girl.”
What is your connection with Davos?
“I was born and raised in Lugano, but my mother was from Grisons, she grew up in a little village 20 kms from Davos, where we still have a 400-year-old traditional home.”
Where can we go skiing with kids in Davos?
“Davos is famous for its ski runs. There are several ski areas:
- Jakobshorn, a true snowboarder’s paradise (snowpark, halfpipe, slides, jumps, etc.), where you can find the famous Jatzhütte, a restaurant midway a ski slope full of young people dancing to loud music.
- Bolgen, there are some ski runs without having to head too high, which are suitable to the youngest ones: (conveyors, beginner runs, ski schools).
- Parsenn, plenty of ski runs in this area, including one 12 kms long! Older children and teels will surely appreciate the public racecourse with time measurement.
- Rinerhorn, a ski area with few snowboarders because of the presence of bar-t-lifts, with great slopes. There is also a toddlers’ ski lift with obstacle course, and in the forest the “passage over wooden Witches Bridge.
- Madrisa, for the little ones, with a magic carpet, a carousel, runs and so on.
What other activites, besides skiing, can we do?
If you are into sledding you can go to Rinerhorn or to Schatzalp where you can rent sleds. I recommend you wear crampons on your shoes so that you can brake easily if you have children.
A walk that your children will like is the “squirrels walk” (“Eichhörnliweg”), just above the city center (Hohe Promenade) with a great view over Davos town and plenty of squirrels. You can feed them straight out of your hands. Another (flatter) walk is the one around lake Davos, where you can swim (in summer). You’ll see squirrels in this one, too.
Ice-hockey fans should see the Vaillant Arena where the Davos team plays and the Spengler Cup games are held (many matches take place in the afternoon and they are full of children). Next to it, there’s an ice-village where kids can skate. The youngest ones can use “penguins”. Ice-skates can be rented.
Hard-core skaters, in Surava, about 25 kms from Davos, can find an ice path, 3 kms long: www.skateline.ch(winter ).
Inside the Hallenbad Eau-là-là there are several swimming pools (one for swimmers, a recrehetional one with warm water, one for toddlers with little fountains, one outdoor with whirlpool), a wellness area, the “black hole” toboggan (dark inside with tiny bright lights, not too steep. I went with my daughter when she was 4). Between the swimming pool and the ice-rink, there’s a playground.
Forbowling, there’s a nice alley at Promenade 101 . Large parties, book ahead (ph. 081 416 36 73).
There is also an adventure park: Adventure Park Davos Färich, Flüelastrasse, ph. 081 416 18 68
For a night to remember, stay in an igloo. For dinner they will serve you fondue. See their website for some pictures.
The website www.familienratdavos.ch (in German)is full of ideas of things to do as a family.”
What’s the best season to visit Davos?
“Davos is a great year-round destination. In winter it is more lively and there are more events. In summer it’s perfect if you are into hikes.”
A restaurant (or more) that you would recommend…
“I love the restaurant Kaffee Klatsch, it is often crowded but very suggestive, the right place to go for lunch or for a hot chocolate in the afternoon. Their sweets are amazing and they have a little shop where you can things for the home.
A bakery with great cakes is Kaffee Schneider.
For dinner I recommend Hotel Alpenhof or Gasthaus Jslen.”
What shall we eat?
“Capuns, of course. A delicious local specialty (but my daughter doesn’t like it).”
Can you recommend three hotels (in three different price ranges)?
- Hotel Alpenhof
- Appartamenti Solaria
- Hilton Hotel
- Hotel Club
- Intercontinental Hotel
- Kinderhotel Wiesen (a 15 km da Davos): hotel dedicato ai bambini
Something special that one can’t find in guidebooks…
“In Davos there are plewnty of farms where you can take your kids and see/pet animals, as well as several sairy factories that produce the “Davosermilch”, Davos milk, which you can buy in local shops such as Coop or Migros.”
Next time you go to Davos, which activity will you try out?
“They have just opened a new educational trail for kids. In fact there are many trails where kids can learn about nature and have fun.”
A little souvenir to take home…
“Your kids will surely like a toy groundhog or ibex, the animal which is the symbol of the Grisons kanton. At Kaffee Schneider I recommend you buy the “Birebrot”, the famous pear bread, delicious with a little butter on it.”
A special place off the beaten path in Davos…
“Discover the area near Davos by horse-drawn carriage (book online on www.kutschenzentraledavos.ch) and see Sertigtal, a valley nearby, and have something to eat at Bergführer restaurant.”
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.