Hello fellow EFer's,

My 16 year old nephew is coming to visit this summer for two weeks and I am wondering if any of you have suggestions for activities to do together? I know he likes cycling and video games. I know that doesn't give too much info, but I haven't seen him in a few years. Aside from having time to catch up, I live in a village outside of Zurich where its not too exciting so I wanted to have a few ideas in my back pocket rather than sitting around all day with his 30-something aunt :-)

So far I was thinking of:

-boating on lake Zurich
-swimming at some of the badi's around lake Zurich
-rollerblading around Greifensee (can you rent rollerblades?)
-riding on of those special bikes down the mountainside near Adelboden (there is a name for the bikes, you kind of half-sit, half-stand on them but I'm not sure what it's called
-go on a hike (or two)

Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!

House Cleaning,
Cooking of Lunch,
Laundry (make sure he understands that whites are separate),
Maybe helping to carry grocery bags?
If he will be here ling enough maybe you can rent him to a local farmer so he can help sow the winter rape or wheat?

He is gonna be bragging to his friends about Switzerland when this is all over.

Some day trips that might be of interest:

The rope course at Pilatus was a big hit with my nieces and nephews at that age:
http://www.pilatus.ch/de/pilatus-akt...atus-seilpark/

As was climbing school (Kletterschnupperkurs) at Braunwald:
http://www.braunwald.ch/de/navpage-S...BKT-47942.html

With cycling you are spoiled for choice - maybe a trip in the Bodensee region? Or perhaps Einsideln/Ybrig or Kerenzerberg if he is used to hills? For ideas, see:
http://www.veloland.ch/de/routen.cfm

Ditto hiking - so many choices, Again Pilatus, Rigi, Ebenalp, Flumserberg, Säntis are easy from ZH... I usually decide by asking 'where is it not raining today?'

No matter what the age, all my visitors love Ballenberg:
http://www.ballenberg.ch/

On a hot day, paddle boating or kayaking in Rapperswil.

Swimming at any of the Zürichsee Badis.

Rainy day activities like museums, concerts, a castle or two... (Train to Belinzona, Castelgrande, and some great Italian food... )

What I usually do is to give the youngster a Swiss Pass for the days he/she will be here and show him/her where the computer is - the youngster can then plan his/her activities. Thus avoiding the rolling-of-eyes at the suggestions made by the frumpy middle-aged aunt.

Of course you know what your 16 year old visitor really wants to do, don't you? Order a beer in a bar. Legally.

Firstflyer, Grindelwald http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/tourism/ex...un-activities/

Rope Course Interlaken: http://www.outdoor-interlaken.ch/en/summer/earth

Haha! I don't want a 16 year old boy sorting my laundry...let alone making my lunch :-))))

...you know, the first question my husband said was "he's 16 right? He can drink legally here!" (well beer anyway). men...I suppose you would know better!

Thank you for all the fantastic ideas, I'm looking into them now. He's from small town Canada and has never even left the country before, and clearly I am endeavouring to be the coolest aunt he has (out of 5 others!). I'm sure tackling even half of these ideas will be a big hit and hopefully he'll be back next year for round 2!

These are both perfect - thank you!

girls & alcopops

Xbox 360 (with internet connection of course), girls & alcopops.

illegal substances, Xbox 360 (with internet connection of course), girls & alcopops.

I do vaguely seem to remember a film, probably back in the 1970's as I was fast approaching being a 16 year old, where an aunt, pretty sure it was an aunt, had nephew stay for the summer, anyway she seduced him and it looked a great summer holiday I remember wishing I had a young sexy aunt at the time.
Its only a vague memory, so maybe it wasnt a film maybe it was my own fantasy, and maybe she wasnt an aunt at all, but anyway....

If I bring an Xbox into my house I'm afraid I'll play it more than he does!

seriously? ...that's disturbing

Yep, feel quite disturbed by it myself, am thinking maybe it wasnt the aunt but her maid / housekeeper who seduced the boy
I did say it was a vague memory, and an obviously wrong memory, and it looks like im now losing my marbles and writing before thinking

Well let's hope it was the non-related-and-under-18-maid, if anything!

Hm ... what about chasing waterfalls?

(I know, I'm very helpful )

Illegal substances, Xbox 360, pornography, girls, Kleenex & alcopops.

alcopops is 18+, but beer, cider, and wine is o.k. keep in mind that he can buy those freely and w/o restriction.

ps: the seduced guy was 21 and it was the wife of his fathers business partner

my nephew (15) loved the Museum für Gestaltung (my kids took him) - it's quite hip and until the end of july there is even an exhibition on Freitag products.

I found this: http://www.dynamo.ch/
it's a centre for young people with activities, courses, concerts. it would be worthwile calling to ask if they have something in english if he doesn't speak german.

they also do the "Pickeltours" ("acne tours"), cool tours of Zurich for teenagers.
no idea if they have something on in english, too, so this might be completely irrelevant.

on the whole I can say my nephew simply loved playing football on the Zurichhorn meadow! if he goes there alone he can quickly find company and join someone else playing.

My niece/nephew like the amusement parks, concerts and aquaparks. But if they don't have a companion they are depressed and nothing can turn them up.
If there are teens around then he can make friends and problem solved.