Late April and May is Narcissus season around Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) in Switzerland. The Paper White varietal cover the fields in the mountains above the lake — they smell and look amazing. The best way to view these flowers is to go on a hike so you can get into the thick of them. I have a few favorites kid-friendly hikes around Lake Geneva that provide wonderful views of Narcissus blooms.

Although we were able to ski at epic Swiss ski resorts including Davos, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Verbier, and Crans-Montana during our two years in Switzerland, one of my regrets is that we never got to Adelboden for a family ski holiday. Located at the end of a glorious valley in the Bernese Alps, Adelboden feels remote, yet it is easily accessible from both Zurich and Geneva via car or train.

If you live in Europe or are there for a trip without kids this winter, a two-night getaway to Whitepod, an eco-luxury hotel in Switzerland, is the ultimate romantic escape. 40 geodesic tents (pods) perched over a valley overlook fantastic Alpine scenery. It’s definitely glamping – not camping – as each pod includes a wood stove, a cozy bed, and a complete bathroom. The tent stays toasty but one parent must stoke the fire all night long. Part of the fun!

One of the best parts about living in Switzerland was our easy access to the best skiing in Europe. And yes, I do think it’s worth the time and expense to travel across an ocean for a family ski holiday. Ski experiences vary greatly from country to country and just like any travel adventure, the fun is in understanding and appreciating a different approach to this beloved winter sport.

Dreaming about a ski trip to Europe this season? It’s not too late! Here’s what you need to know:

Most people associate travel to Switzerland with two things: 1) mountains and 2) chocolate. The former is easy to experience as wondrous mountain scenery can be enjoyed in practically every corner of the country. A meaningful Swiss chocolate experience, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated.

Of course, Swiss chocolate is everywhere including at the airport should you not make it a special store while on the road. The point is that experiencing Swiss chocolate in an impactful way entails more than buying a wrapped bar of chocolate. There are two very …

The summer alpine wildflower season is in full swing. We visited Verbier in Switzerland with Mother of All Trips and her kids last week are were greeted with a sea of flowers.

All-family hiking is one of our favorite summer activities in the mountains. Kids of all ages can hike — it’s all about choosing age-appropriate terrain and engaging kids in the experience along the way. Keeping hikes short helps too. Be sure and read our article on tips for hikes with kids for more advice on optimizing the fun factor for all.

In a jet set resort town like Zermatt, finding luxury hotels is not an issue. Uncovering the very select few properties that cater to families in a meaningful way, however, is much more challenging. After experiencing the 165-room Hotel Mont Cervin Palace this winter, I’ll be adding it to our Ciao Bambino’s Switzerland kid-friendly accommodations portfolio in the next few weeks. This old-school hotel icon is an exceptional place for families.

Part of the prestigious Seiler Hotels Group, the Mont Cervin Palace has been hosting guests for over 150 years …

St. Moritz is one of the world’s iconic ski destinations for glitz and luxury. Although it can be entertaining check out all the glam shops, hotels, and restaurants for a stroll or dinner, with young kids, it can be more relaxing to be in a lower key atmosphere where you aren’t consistently aware of how everyone is behaving.

I actually found St. Moritz, the destination, …

When many people hear the name Davos, the first thing they think of is the World Economic Forum, while Klosters evokes thoughts of Prince Charles and his annual ski trip. That’s all I knew before last week …

The full story is that Davos Klosters is a multi-faceted mountain resort (one of the oldest in Switzerland) in the heart of the Swiss Alps with 700+ km of hiking trails in the summer and 300+ km of ski slopes in the winter. We spent a weekend here this month and got a first-hand look at all it has to offer for my Skiing in Europe with Kids’ series.

My skiing in Europe with kids’ series continues this week with a review of Crans-Montana resort in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps.

Those who know about the adjacent ski resorts of Crans and Montana — known together as Crans-Montana — rave about the holiday experience. It’s not a well-recognized international Swiss ski brand like Zermatt or Verbier. Despite this fact, Crans-Montana is not a second-tier ski destination. The opposite is true as the combined resorts have 140 km of skiing available …