Hi,
Our Son is coming to stay for a week before we take him back to University.
Although he loves this place when It's warm ,sunny and he can swim in the lake, and especially in winter when he can ski/board. However, this bit in the middle is difficult and we really have to try hard to get him to leave his party lifestyle back home to come and visit us. His opinion is Switzerland is boring for him! He does though appreciate the vast beauty of the Country( being a Geographer) so would love to take him to see something spectacular that we don't yet know about.

It'll just be him and me (his mum) during the day as Dad and sister will be at work and school. Any suggestions please as to what we can do together? we haven't lived here long, so not too familiar yet as to what to do, although by reading some of the threads ,I see we have loads to look forward to. We live near to Kussnacht.
Thanks.

Hiking/mountain biking ?
Boat down the lake to Rapperswil and then lunch ?
Art Museum
University Buildings
There are a heap of museums attached to the university- what is he studying ?

You're spoiling him...

Lots of parties in CH... Beginning of semester student parties now ...

I know I'm spoiling him, That's what Mums are for? I love and spoil my Daughter too, but only with love!

He would love the partying scene mentioned, but as he doesn't live here, he's' Billy no mates' Does anyone have any Sons of this age that I could get him to contact.

He's going to Cambridge to study Geography. He's fab ( I would say that though, but most people agree!) Football mad, plays for 3 mens teams at the mo. and supports Liverpool YEY!!

It would make the world of difference if he had someone to hook up with when he comes over for sports/hanging out etc. Ta.

There are some fascinating things very near the place you live.
Send him up to the Gnipen on the Rossberg through the area covered with enormous rocks from the slide 200 years ago which almost wiped out the village of Goldau. Or do this route from Küssnacht

The Rigi itself is quite interesting too. Lots of ways of getting up and down including a steam train. That part of Central Switzerland is quite unusual weather-wise too. The Föhn wind coming through the valleys is most impressive. The Axen Road runs along the Urner Lake - not so long back the main north-south route through Switzerland - with the new galleries to protect the road from the unstable rock above. The bit now used as a bicycle or pedestrian path was once the road!

This Swiss Site has loads of information which might help you to make up your minds. This bit with newer events on. This with autumn walks, and this with the famous new bridge up near the Trift glacier. They replaced the old (wasn't all that old either!) bridge, completing the work this spring.

There is much more than this on the site though and it is well worth spending some time looking through it.

Hope you have a good week.

Maybe Zurcher's Free Quality Dating Site could help there...

If you have a car, then take a driving tour of some of the high Alpine passes with him. There's some stunning geology to be seen from the road that I would think a Geographer would be interested in, and it's easy enough to find somewhere to park and go for a walk to see it up closer. It's a great time of year for hiking, just bring a fleece and a jacket when heading up high. A lot of the cable cars are still running, albeit on slightly reduced schedules - tourist offices can give you more info.

My husband's also a Geographer and he once took his class to do this:
http://www.swissraftadventures.ch/Ra...28.0.html?&L=1

They were eggggstatic

it depends on how soon he arrives but....

this weekend is freestyle.ch...massive snowskiskate comp and party in zurich....quite famous would recommend mucho. =D =D =D

ice hockey is started..?

zuri film fest? every night and during the day...

and the superleague swiss soccer is alright too..

and, though i can't actually say how good this is cos i havent done it, but there are kayak trips on lakes al over switz...

oh, and if he's keen for the swiss culture, then myself and some mates are heading to a "schwingfest" early nov.....swiss wrestling and general old school behaviour?? all are welcome.

hope that helps =D

clubs in zuri are not to be sneezed at (well, theyre all right)...but he'll probably figure that bit out himself =D

And let him drive, of course

Hahahaha ha ha hahaha ha. Nice.

Why not get him to bring one of his mates along with him.

You have recommended some wonderful outings, Thankyou very much.

If there are any guys of a similar age reading this, please get in touch if there is a group of you going out and he can join in. ( he'll kill me for this!!) He is arriving tomorrow and leaving next Fri 2nd Oct.
Ta.

Someone else mentioned ice hockey, and I second that. If he likes the atmosphere at English football games, you should all go out to a Swiss ice hockey game. The teams in the top leagues get big crowds showing up who make lots of noise thoughout the whole game (at least, that's how it is in Lausanne). It's early in the season right now, so there should still be tickets available to the matches.

I wouldnt be comfortable if my mum organised a bunch or ramdoms for me to "play with", it would gfeel like being a kid again. Don't try too hard and cross the "embarassing mum" border... take him to the Zoo maybe, out for a drink in the evening to somewhere with live music... the usual stuff lads of that age enjoy doing in an evening.

Will Zurich be extra busy on Saturday Sunday due to the film festival?

Not likely. There are a few flags here and there but it's not Mardi Gras.

If your Son is looking for points of geological (I know you wrote Geographical!) interest, there's a lot to see in the National Park, which had Dolomite strata and all sorts of freaky rock stuff, but it's not likely to get him too excited at his age.

Perhaps the best bet is to try to arrange two hours a day where you two can be together, and the rest of the time give him heaps of cash for trips into Zurich. There's a midweek drinks evening next Wednesday (see calendar) where everyone is welcome and he's sure to be a hit with some of the ladies.

Zurich has a gazillion museums and galleries, perhaps a look on the tourism sites will arouse interest?

There are occassional Sunday afternoon five a side football games in Zurich (use search) where I'm sure he could let off some steam.

Show him the ropes with the trains etc. and let him off his leash

What about freestyle happening this weekend? Lots of events music and food venders.

You could also let him see Switzerland from below:

http://www.trekking.ch/deu/hoehlen.asp

You can book tours from 1 hour to 1 weekend.

Doc.