It's all child's play

ALIMENTARIUM (FOOD MUSEUM), Vevey

This museum takes visitors through the different aspects of nutrition — ranging from food and cooking to digestion.

Different workshops help visitors gather cooking tips and teach them how to prepare specialities.

The junior kitchen, exclusively for children, allows them to participate in cooking and activity workshops.

There is also information on how our eating habits have evolved over the years.

The visitors get a chance to test their five senses, get to know more about the digestive tube with the help of a 3-D film, assess the metabolism process and analyse eating habits.

They may also get a glimpse at the founder company, Nestlé's, main products.

OLYMPIC MUSEUM, Lausanne

Dotted with superb sculptures on various kinds of sports, this museum is an open-air exhibition in itself.

There are collections related to sports and the Olympic Games, presentations linked to sporting events and paintings and sculptures by famous artists, such as Folon, Miro and Warhol.

This museum traces the journey of the Olympic Games since the time it was first held in ancient Greece to the innovative spirit of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of this museum.

An entire section of the museum is dedicated to the magic and splendour of the opening ceremonies and the competitions, in which the player and the spectator become one, united by a common emotion.

All this and more is brought to life with the help of various audio-visual techniques, advanced 3-D presentations and various interactive terminals.

This helps recreate that charged-up, exciting and intense atmosphere that characterises the Olympic Games.

PLANETE JEUX, La Croix (Lutry)

With a range of rides, swings, play areas for kids, tennis courts, minigolf, bowling alley, swimming pool, billiards, snooker and trampolines, Planete Jeux has innumerable activities for young ones to choose from.

GLACIER 3000, Diablerets

Glacier 3000 offers breathtaking views of the most renowned peaks in the Alps (Mt Blanc, Eiger and Jungfraujoch). In summer, this place offers varied options, which range from snow parks, snow buses and hiking to dog-sleigh rides.

In winter, this place offers endless skiing opportunities for both novice and experienced skiiers.

The place also has a restaurant, which offers great food along with spectacular views.

BEX SALT MINES, Bex

A visit to this underground world allows visitors a peek into the heart of salt-bearing mountains.

For the more daring types, Trekkmines Aventure offers an opportunity to discover the old galleries, following the tracks of the miners of the 17th century.

On foot, by the light of the helmet lamp, visitors are escorted by experienced guides into this dark and mysterious world with its unique ambience.

MYSTERY PARK, Interlaken

This park is a thrilling, adventurous outing that helps kids unfold the mysteries of the universe in more ways than one. One of the more important sections of the park is the submarine simulator.

This takes visitors on a journey to the spectacular depths of the ocean.

The kids can also marvel at the precious collection of meteorites collected from at least 70 different countries, which serve as evidence of the many heavenly bodies that surround our planet Earth.

Further, the children can strike gold at Gold Creek, where, with the help of a shovel and a pan, they can keep panning till small, sparkling pebbles show themselves — pieces of real gold, and for the kids to keep.

Again, each visitor receives a radio-controlled information system for use during the visit.

With communication available in 11 different languages, this system serves as a guide for visitors to navigate the park.

All this and much more await visitors at this awesome park, which allows them to understand and unravel the mysteries of our strange, intriguing and wondrous universe.

LABYRINTHE ADVENTURE PARC, Evionnaz

Kids can have loads of fun while testing their directional skills in the largest maze of the world.

An interesting treasure-hunt spree forms part of this maze and there are rides for kids of all ages.

Alongside, you can also have the pleasure of riding an assortment of conventional and non-conventional bicycles. Minigolf is yet another attraction.

SMITH PARAGLIDING SCHOOL, Villars

Discover the magic of soaring like a bird with paragliding specialists of the Smith Paragliding School.

The students learn flying skills, flying techniques and improve their knowledge of weather conditions.

The Swiss instructors ensure the trainees get detailed practical advice.

PARC AVENTURE, Aigle

A new concept of leisure is available for newcomers and adventurers alike in the forest of the Parc Aventure.

More than 140 activities are enough to keep the adrenalin pumping.

Equipped with a cross-belt, the kids can safely climb trees up to 22 metres in height. Seven courses of different expertise levels and two kids' courses guide visitors through park ventures.

SWISS VAPEUR MUSEUM, Le Bouveret

At the mouth of the Rhone River, next to the lake harbour of Le Bouveret, lies the Swiss Vapeur Parc, one of Europe's most magnificent miniature railway layouts.

Amid a lovely 17,000 square metre park, dozens of steam locomotives invite people to take a dream journey into the fascinating kingdom of railways.

Created in 1987 by a team of steam-engine enthusiasts, the park hosts a collection of old steam locomotives from various continents.

These trains meander their way over bridges and pass buildings recreated here as mirror images of the originals — but miniature models.

Some of the famous buildings include the Saanen Church and the Aigle Castle.

Visitors can discover the beauty of the decor, the diversity of the railway buildings and the realism of the construction work.

This park has been aptly referred to as the modeller's paradise.