Bern
Bern is the capital of Switzerland, but the city center feels like a cozy small town, and the Altstadt is so beautifully preserved, kids can walk through the Middle Ages. According to legend, in 1191 the Duke of Zahringen named the city after the first animal he killed in a hunt - a bear. Bears, the symbol of Bern are everywhere, and kids will want to go on their own special hunt for hazelnut cookies decorated with white icing bears.
Bears, bears, bears - As you travel around Bern, kids can look for bears in all shapes and forms. Here's bears we found - bears on the Clock Tower, live bears and carved wooden bears at the Bear Park, cookies decorated with bears, bears on the Kornhaus facade, statue of the Duke of Zahringen with a bear eating his helmet, bear fountain on Kramgasse, silver bear drinking cups, the flag of Bern, bear statue in the middle of the Aare River, bears hanging off a hotel window.
Fun food
Sweet shops (confiserie) are stocked with traditional Haselnusslebkuchen, hazelnut cookies decorated with bears, or cookies in the shape of chubby bears.
Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, convenient to fun things to do with kids in:
