Excursions at your doorstep: Experiences for those who don’t like snow

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If you don’t like snow, you’re probably dreaming of a warm trip. But you don’t need to get on a plane for a short stay in the tropics; This is also possible in Switzerland.
The tropical house at Frutigen BE has a pleasant warmth in its name. Here, a tropical garden was created from the waste heat of the Lötschberg tunnel, where 170 southern plant species such as bananas, mangoes and papayas grow. Various themed paths through the large greenhouse provide interesting information about bananas, chocolate and spices. You can refresh yourself at the on-site restaurant, which serves tropical vegetables and fruits.

Papiliorama in Kerzers FR also offers a trip to the south, where more than 1,000 neon-colored butterflies flutter across 1,200 square meters of space. Papiliorama can be visited individually. Anyone who wants to learn in-depth about the life of butterflies can join the guided tour. A special feature is Nocturama, where nocturnal animals crawl and escape.

Thermal baths also give a summer-sun-beach feeling even in the middle of meters-high snow. Switzerland offers many first-class thermal baths known far beyond its borders: Therme Vals GR, Taminatherme in Bad Ragaz SG or Leukerbad VS, whose hot water was already used by the ancient Romans.

A special tip remains the Mineralbad & Spa in Samedan GR, Switzerland’s first vertical mineral bath. There are baths and steam rooms with different temperatures on five floors, including the oriental bath. It starts on the ground floor and ends on the roof terrace with views of the historical village center of Samedan.

When it’s cold and scary outside, you need comfort foods and treats that will make you feel good. And perhaps because it sometimes rains cats and dogs on the island (“cat and dog rain,” as the British say), the British invented afternoon tea: a gourmet feast of tea, sandwiches and sweet morsels that nourishes body and soul in equal measure, delighting.
In this country, too, some tea rooms and luxury hotels offer the English tea feast, often called afternoon tea.

The best address is the Hotel d’Angleterre in Geneva, whose name is “English hotel” and guarantees an excellent experience. You can choose afternoon tea with or without champagne. A variety of sandwiches, pastries and scones are also served.

Other addresses include Grandhotel Les Trois Rois in Basel, Hotel Bellevue Palace in Bern or St. There is the Badrutt Palace in St. Moritz GR. The pleasure isn’t cheap – but afterwards you’ll wallow in blissful bliss.

Action fans who aren’t interested in skiing, snowboarding or sledding are having a bit of a hard time right now. Indoor amusement parks offer an alternative where you can exercise regardless of weather conditions.

Skillspark in Winterthur ZH offers a collection of different fun sports for exercise and fun. In the old Sulzer area, BMX professional Roger Rinderknecht (42) has made a childhood dream come true: a haven for fun and action on several floors. In doing so, he created the largest facility of its kind in Europe. Of course, the focus is on the bike and skateboard trails. A recreated cityscape offers everything skaters usually enjoy in cities.

There is a bowl and three large air jumps for experts to practice jumping and movement. The trampoline area is more suitable for the masses with its 24 systems of different designs and difficulty levels. Even beginners can get on the mats without any problems. If you’re looking for an even more challenging shot, you can climb, jump, run and overcome obstacles on the course.

Visiting a museum is an obvious choice to get away from the snowy hustle and bustle. With over 1,000 museums in Switzerland, you’re guaranteed to find the right one for every interest. Between the Rhine and Lake Geneva, there are well-known classics as well as curiosities such as the newly opened Enter Technikwelt Solothurn, which opened its doors to visitors last December. Ten themed worlds take you through the history of technology in an area of ​​over 10,000 square meters.

The collections include, among other things, originals from the radio and TV studios of SRF and RTS, rare works such as the Apple 1 or the Enigma cipher machine, and the first radio broadcasting system in Switzerland. A total of 30,000 exhibits can be admired. Enter Technikwelt Solothurn was created from the passion of two local entrepreneurs coming together. In recent years the exhibition has been accessible on a small scale and the new interactive museum in Derendingen SO opens in December 2023.

There are more than 20 zoos in Switzerland, but only one aquarium, where you can experience animals and learn more about their lifestyle, no matter the weather. Aquatis in Lausanne is the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe. The most important freshwater ecosystems of the five continents are presented in 42 aquariums and terrariums of 3,200 square meters. If you want to learn more about the world of trout, salamanders and the like, you can choose from a variety of thematic tours.

Fly: Switzerland almost has a second aquarium – in Konstanz on the German-Swiss border there is Sea Life, part of the international aquarium chain and offering fresh and saltwater environments.

Source : Blick