The weather is bad, skiing is not on the agenda, and the kids are already pinging off the walls? Here are a few suggestions for getting rid of some excess energy and getting through a long Sunday with your sanity intact!
Go Swimming!
Zug canton is blessed with some fantastic indoor pools, which are open almost all year round.
Hallenbad Lättich, Baar has a baby pool with fountains and slide, shallow pool for non-swimmers; 25m lane pool; large recreational pool with massage jets, bubble features and a current channel; diving pool with two 1m diving boards; whirlpool; sauna area; restaurant.
NB: The Lättich pool complex is closed for annual maintenance from 11 December 2015 at 18:00 until 26 December at 09:00.
Hallenbad Röhrliberg, Cham has a 25m lane pool; shallow pool for non-swimmers with inner tubes, foam boards and a range of other aquatic toys for children; 1m diving board; kiosk for snacks; fitness room can be used at extra cost
Both pools at Hallenbad Herti & Hallenbad Loreto, Zug are 25m long; the pool at Herti also offers a shallow pool for children. These pools are used primarily by the Zug schools during the week, but are open to the public on weekends and holidays.
Go Climbing!
Instead of climbing the walls at home, try out these indoor climbing halls in the vicinity.
Bouldering is climbing without ropes, it requires no experience or special equipment, and is great fun for all ages. The hall at BoulderGate, is not usually staffed and operates on an honour system, so you need to calculate your entry and make your payment into the safety box provided. Please ask one of the locals how to do this on your first visit. There is also a fitness area on the lower level of the hall with spinning bike, slack line and other equipment available for use. Note that socks or climbing shoes are compulsory (climbing shoes are available for rent, non-skid socks are recommended if you/your children prefer to climb this way). The water in the taps does not pass the Swiss standard for safe drinking water so bring your own, and children need to know that the Number One Rule of bouldering/climbing is never to stand underneath another climber who is on the wall. Highly recommended!
The largest and most modern climbing centre in central Switzerland is Pilatus Indoor Climbing Centre, Root. Pilatus Indoor provides something for climbers of all ages and levels of experience, from beginners to experts. In addition to the large central climbing and bouldering areas are areas for training and theory-courses. Non-climbers are comfortably accommodated at the Bar, Bistro or Lounge area. Pilatus Indoors offers a range of courses to suit every need, and age group, and as well as birthday parties, team building events etc.
Send the kids to Open Sunday!
Two brilliant initiatives offered by the Zuki (Zukunft Kinder) Verein in Cham offer children the chance to work off their energy and have fun on a Sunday during the winter months (the current season runs until 20 March 2016). Both take place at the Röhrliberg Turnhalle in Cham.
Ä Halle wo’s fägt: 9:30-11:30
Children from 0 to 6 years accompanied by an adult can swing, climb, jump, balance, run and have fun on a range of equipment set up by qualified sports teachers. Costs per family are CHF 5 for the first child, CHF 3 for the second child, and additional children free.
Open Sunday 13:30-16:30
Children from the 1. to the 6. Class can attend (without parents!) an afternoon of supervised fun and games at the Turnhalle at Röhrliberg. Once a month there are special workshops held in addition to the usual programme, where children can try their hand at activities ranging from Aerial Silk (6 December), Yoga (10.01), Dance (31.01), Smolbal (28.02) and the ever-popular Zorb (13.03). Reservation is not necessary for the workshops. Gym clothes are recommended and indoor gym shoes are compulsory. There is no charge.
Play tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis, billiard or golf-indoors!
At Sports Zugerland in Cham you can rent courts and equipment to enjoy your favourite ball sport. Reservations for the tennis courts at Halle Lättich in Baar can also be made through Sports Zugerland, and additional courts can also be rented at the Sport Centre Aegeri.
Go Bowling!
At the Cherry Bowl in Baar the whole family can enjoy trying to knock over the pins.
Go Ice-Skating!
Not strictly indoors, the ice rink at the Bossard Arena in Zug is nevertheless covered and allows children and adults to test themselves on the ice whatever the weather.
This post was contributed by Gay Saxby
