Hello!

I've got my in-laws coming this weekend and as I can see snow on the tops of the mountains from Geneva - I'm hoping to take them somewhere for some good views of the lake and maybe a mountain village or something - we've only just gotten round to buying a car so had no time to research! Anyone know any great places to go for the day - prob max and hour or so drive away please let me know!!!


On the same subject we have friends coming to visit soon and I have heard about some hot baths - outdoor hot swimming pools and stuff, not nude though, not on the same lines as Paqui Baths cos I'm still getting over that experience - enough wrinkly old todger on sight there to last em a lifetime!
Prude English I know - but what I actually mean is I read some you could take children if they were over 4 - so again if anyone can recommend these close to Geneva, very grateful.

Also are the xmas markets in Geneva any good - ie: lots of mulled wine and european beer and german sausages etc...or just crafty stuff?

and lastly...the Escalade event coming up soon, we have a 4 year old son would he enjoy going into the old town to watch??

Thanks for any help guys!!!

If it's the Alps you're talking about those snow caps are further away than they look.

Closer to geneva, on the Jura side you could try St. Cergue:
http://www.st-cergue.ch/

You don't have to go up into the mountains to get great views of the lake. The elevated stretch of between Lutry in Lausanne and Vevey (take the corniche road through the UNesco World heritage Lavaux vineyards) has the most beautiful views of the lake with the snow capped mountains on the French side coming right down to the lakeshore.
http://ead.nb.admin.ch/web/welterbe/...orin_small.jpg

You could stop off in Vevey and/or visit the Xmas market in Montreux:
Both have excellent views across the lake to the mountains just on the opposite side

http://www.montreuxnoel.com/main.php?lang=en
Chateau chillon is also close to <montreux:
http://www.theswitzerlandtraveler.co...2008/06/c1.jpg

If you want authentic alpine villages, there's nothing that close to Geneva.
I'd suggest taking the train from Aigle to Les Diablarets or frm Bex to Villars sur Ollon (then up to Col de Bretaye) but you won't get a view of the lake. Bear in mind at this time of year the roads can be dicey so train is a good way to get up there. Though this year there's no much snow at lower altitudes.

A bit further afield but a train trip to Gstaad via the MOB in Montreux would make a great day out. The train ride from Montreux to Gstaad is stunning in itself.


I don't know of any close to Geneva. There are outdoor non nude child friendly baths at Lavey and Saillon which will give everything you're looking for and easily reached by autoroute from Geneva in 1.25 to 1.5 hours in the direction of Valais.
Aigle is not far from Lavey so you could maybe combine a Diablaretsor Villars/lavey themal baths trip.

The Geneva Xmas market is not the best, frankly. Montreux is better (see link above) and the biggest in the region. You'll find lots of mulled wine, not a lot of European beer and very little in the way of German suasages. However you'll can stuff yourself with as many cervelats/saucisses de veau as you can eat. All Xmas markets in Switzerland are mainly crafts.

Soldiers, horses, medieval costumes - he'll love it. But up in the old town it can be a bit of a crush. If it's too much you can watch the procession in the main streets. I was there last year and there were lots of kids his age up in the old town. People were even very kind, moving aside so the kids could get to the front of the barrier to get a good view. There's lots of stuff happening over the weekend of the escalade so pop into the tourist office for details. Just one warning. Last year it was bitterly cold so wrap up warm.

You can make a trip on the Salève, nice view over Geneva's lake. And if you move on the other side, you've got a fabulous view on the french territory....

Now you've got also nice view on Geneva from the *french Jura*

A lot of people in Geneva head to the French Alps instead of the Swiss Alps because they are closer to them. The larger resort towns would be Morzine and Chamonix, but there are lots of nicer, smaller, places scattered all over. Unfortunately, there's not much snow right now unless you get pretty high up.

The closest hot baths to you that I know of are in Yverdon-les-Bains, but they are not surrounded by mountains, which is often part of the charm of these places. A lot of people in Lausanne instead head to Lavey-les-Bains.

Your 4 year old should love some of the Escalade events. I'm not aware of everything that goes on during the weekend, but you should take him out to watch the short, costumed, running "race" on the Saturday evening / late afternoon, which is called "La Marmite" I believe. Lots of families take part with very elaborate costumes. Maybe you can starting making plans for what you'll make to wear next year.

Thanks guys, I forgot about Saleve - we over-did it in the summer with vistors getting the cable car up - but this is first visit for Folks-in-law and we have a car now so can drive up, its father-in-laws 75th Birthday on Monday - I was thinking of going to the posh looking restaurant at the top - any ideas if its likely to be open on a Monday afternoon in Autumn/Winter?

I think we will check out St Cergue too thanks, it looks lovely.

Shame about the markets, hubby just went to Germany - a town called Trier and said the Xmas markets were terrible - all crafts and no German beer, only gluhwein and no sausages! As if - In Germany!
The food and drink is the best bit!

Manchester's German Xmas markets are amazing, its one of the things I knew I'd go home for.

Will defo check out the Escalade - anyone know a website for info?

Thanks!!

Do you mean a web site for the restaurant or for the Escalade? Also this link.

This looks like the Restaurant.

Thats great, can't find the times or menu but I will give them a call...fingers crossed they open.

I think I will have to pop into the tourist office for details on Escalade for a schedule of times and places as we just want to pop along for half an hour and have a look.


Thanks for your help!!!

Ste Cergue is nice, very small but quaint, you can walk around a bit, make a little hike from there.

We have just been to Yverdon les Bains a few weeks ago with our 3yr old and she had a blast. One does not really notice the mountains missing when constantly supervising a kiddo, haha. It is very pleasant there, the water is 34 degrees if I remember well, they have swimming aids to help the wee children float.

One nice trip from Geneva we like to repeat every now and then is beautiful Annecy, the view of the hills there is amazing. The only bitch is to find a parking spot there during the weekends, but maybe you will be luckier this time of the year. Check out the little food stores with local delicacies, yummy.

I can also recommend a boat trip to Yvoire across the lake, fancy fish restaurants and a nice cute medieval French mini town. It gets windy there from the lake, I'd make sure to wear enough (your inlaws could be cold..).

If you want a posh restaurant, you've got LE Chateau des Avenières.

http://www.chateau-des-avenieres.com/uk/navigation.php

It's a castle on the other side of the salève with a nice view over annecy.

It's also an splendid hotel which is known to have been haunted....

The food is really excellent.

I would recommend going to the Rochers de-Naye. Stunning views but no village. It is above Montreux.

http://www.swiss-riviera.com/naye/

Regarding thermal baths, I just went to the new one in Charmey close to Gruyere. It is new and spotless and is in a very nice setting.

http://www.bainsdelagruyere.ch/fr/

Dent de Vaulion. From up there you can see Lac Léman, Lac de Joux and Lac de Neuchâtel.

You can also drive to the top of Mt Tendre, the highest point in the Swiss Jura at almost 1700 metres altitude. I would choose that over Dent de Vaulion - it is closer to Geneva and it is 200 metres higher, and the view is similar from both. Both peaks have a restaurant at the top, but I'm not sure when either of them are open at this time of year.

Thanks everyone, we visited Annecy which was really pretty but unfortunetly lots of road works making it very long-winded to get to. Nice walk by Lac d'Annecy then also up to Saleve for a good view of Lake Geneva.
Also went to Montreux to visit the Christmas markets - seeing as Geneva's were a bit pants. Lovely drive to Montreux, we drove along the lake road, never been that far and the scenery was amazing - the plan was to drive back to Geneva through France and do an entire tour around the lake but forgot it got dark so quick and it was pointless after that. Montreux' Christmas markets were fab, had to park far away and get bused in but was worth it, lots of mulled wine and authentic wooden chalets, a big wheel and lots of other rides for kiddies plus all the usual crafts and food and drink (What are those nasty white shacks they're put up in Geneva???)
Really recommend it if you haven't been!!!
Going to check out a few other places mentioned here in the next couple of weeks but defo going to watch this swimming race in the lake at the weekend and the Escalade, visit a ski village, the thermal baths and those view/lookout points!
Thanks everyone :-)

You mentioned that you may try making it to one of the lookouts mentioned above. However, the roads to Dent de Vaulion and Mont Tendre may now be closed for the winter.

Dont have time to read every reply so sorry if i suggest something else that someone has already suggested.
But for outside baths i can recommend yverton-les-bain (accessible by train from Geneva and Lavey-les-bains (much nicer but you need a car)