After landing in Zurich, we drove about 2 hours southeast to the beautiful town of Arosa, Switzerland. Though we were all fighting jet lag, we were struck by the gorgeous views as our cars followed the winding roads to the quaint town. We must have taken about 100 photos while en route to Arosa, the scenery is that stunning.
We drove through the center of Arosa, passing the small lake in the center of town, the post office, small stores and a pharmacy. We made our way to Kulm Hotel, where we checked in and had a little break before heading out to scout the town. We were warmly greeted by a wonderful staff who thankfully spoke perfect English! As it turned out, the General Manager had once lived and worked in Chicago, so we had a lot in common with him as we chatted during the afternoon welcome gathering at the hotel during which guests could mingle over a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Our rooms were quite lovely, but the views and amenities are what made the hotel an extra special experience. While luxurious, the Kulm Hotel was also very family friendly! For kids, there was a mini golf course, a miniature train display and even a bowling alley. Families can take advantage of the outdoor firepit in the evening and if staying for at least 2 nights during ski season, kids can take ski lessons for free! There is also a kids’ club offering all sorts of fun activities led by caregivers as well as movies and other family accommodations.
In the summertime, guests at most hotels in Arosa can take advantage of the Arosa All Inclusive Card. The card provides families with access to a ton of free entertainment and transportation, including the bus and cable cars. You can use the card to go to the golf driving range, test out the rope course and even scooter around the town like we did for our show!
I joined a local family for a tour of Arosa via scooter. The boys pointed out the fun things to do in town and told me about the beautiful light show that takes place at the lake in the evenings (Tues, Fri and Sat from mid June to the end of October). It’s known as the biggest water display in Europe complete with music and lights so be sure to catch it if you are in town.
Arosa has received the designation as a “Family Destination” in Switzerland, meaning that the town has put special emphasis on providing activities for the whole family. In the summer, people like to hike in the mountains with all types of themed routes including the squirrel path where kids can feed the little critters. Mountain biking is another very popular activity. In the winter, Arosa is a skier’s dream location. Of course there is much, much more to experience in Arosa for families, from music concerts to activities in the ice sports hall to a visit to the local history museum. Your family can easily spend your vacation in Arosa and never run out of things to do!
