Zurich
Lake Zurich
Burkliplatz -
Limmat boat - A fun and inexpensive boat ride is to take the Limmat boat (Limmatboot). The boats run every thirty minutes in a loop, from Burkliplatz up the Limmat River to the Landesmuseum, then down to the Zurichhorn Park, over to Enge Hafen on the west side of the lake, and back to Burkliplatz. The boat ride is free with a Tageskarte day fare, and very modest otherwise. Strollers are okay on the boat. Lake cruises - Departing from Burkliplatz are a variety of lake cruises, from 1 1/2 hour round trip cruises (also included in the Tageskarte), to longer trips to Rapperswil, breakfast and dinner cruises. Boats have full meals, snacks and cold drinks.Rent pedal boats - Explore the lake at your own pace with a pedal boat ( "pedalo"). Boat rentals are located north and south of the Quaibrucke. Life jackets in kids' sizes are provided.
Lake promenade (Seepromenade) - Going south from Quaibrucke/Bellevue Platz on the east side of Lake Zurich is a lovely long promenade.
Just below the bridge, stop to admire the oodles of white swans, gliding through the sparkling water. All along the promenade are benches, so bring your picnic lunch and join all the other Zurichers doing the same thing.
Continue walking down the promenade, past the little stone statues piled up along the lake (like cairns), and shallow spots where kids can wade. Along the way, kids might want a snack, such as delicious Swiss ice cream, bratwurst, or roasted chestnuts. You'll see lots of other families, kids feeding dry bread to the swans and ducks, kicking around soccer balls, climbing on the outdoor sculptures, and riding bikes.
Walk down as far as you like, and before you know it, you'll be at the Zurichhorn Park, with large playground and swimming beach. Tip: You can take the bus back to where you started.
