Yes, summer of 2022 will be remembered for many difficulties when it comes to travel. We had been so lucky with our trips to Amsterdam and Prague, but we didn’t want to tempt fate, so we got to the airport early for the last leg of our vacation: London. It was Nina and Alex’s 12th birthday. To make a long story short, after six hours at the airport, our flight was cancelled. We could not find another flight (or a train or a car rental), so we ended up Stuck in Zurich with Kids.
Where we stayed
After about three weeks of traveling in warm and cold climates and for a wedding, we had five large bags plus carry ons, so we weren’t very mobile. We ditched the free shuttle transfers provided by the airline and took a taxi to the Holiday Inn Zürich Messe (we got vouchers from British Air to stay there). This hotel is surprisingly nice! The neighborhood is iffy, but the breakfast buffet is delicious and the rooms are clean.
We lamented our bad luck…sad to miss our Harry Potter studio tour, Les Mis on the West End and the make-your-own fascinator class…but we did our best to make lemonade out of the lemons we had.
Stuck in Zurich with kids Day 1
Market Oerlikon
I always enjoy farmers markets and this one was no exception. The cheeses and baked goods made my mouth water…and the tie-dyed eggs were pretty cool too!
We purchased scratch off lottery tickets at a kiosk to entertain the kids and headed to the local train station. Renato bought us each a day pass, which allows you to use any public transportation all day (including trams, trains, busses and boats).
Lindt home of chocolate
I can’t believe we have never been to this place before. Here, you will find self guided audio tours that teach all about the cultivation, history and production of chocolate.
Your ticket entitles you to eat AS MUCH CHOCOLATE AS YOU CAN EAT!!! (They had me at hello 😀). Throughout the experience, you will find various interactive machines that spit out candy…heaven!!!
Before exiting the museum, you can stop at the biggest Lindt shop in the world for edible souvenirs.
If you’re not stuffed from chocolate tasting, you can stop for a snack at the cafe. Even I was a little sick after this chocolate brunch.
To switch things up, we took a boat back to the center of town. The water in Lake Zurich is so clear and beautiful!
Burkliplatz Flohmarkt
Right off the boat, we stumbled upon this cool antique market. Later I learned that it is the second largest market in Zurich and operates weekly.
Storchen
Hotel Storchen is one of the oldest hotels in Zurich. They have a lovely outside dining space and delicious food. It was the perfect place for lunch on our first day of being stuck in Zurich with kids.
Pier 7 Bootsvermietung
After lunch, we rented a small (and pretty slow) motor boat. It was so much fun!
Walliser Kanne
We decided on one of our favorites for dinner tonight. Renato has needed to adjust to us Americans and force himself to eat melty cheese in the summer (as no self respecting Swiss ever would!)
Movenpick
Really, Movenpick is probably the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Its so creamy and delicious. My favorite is Swiss Chocolate. Don’t miss tasting Movenpick when you’re in Zurich
Stuck in Zurich with kids Day 2
Rhine Fall
Renato though an excursion would be fun for today. Armed with snacks, we took the train through this beautiful country to Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe.
This picturesque site is on the German border. During WWII, people crossed the Rhine to safety near the falls.
Rheinfall Boat
There are several boats to take to get up close and personal with the waterfall. We chose a 30 minute trip. It’s nice and relaxing, but there’s not much to see other than the main attraction. I recommend the 15 minute boat instead.
PiPaPo
You have several restaurants to choose from on the grounds near the Rhinefall. We liked PiPaPo’s view and food.
Sadly, we had to get back to the city. Here are some of the photos I took from the train:
DuPont brasserie and Bar
Back in town, we found Dupont. The extensive outdoor seating area was perfect for us and the menu looked okay, so we gave it a try. I’m glad we went, despite the pretentious servers and the odd food choices. If you decide to eat there, make sure you go inside and walk the stairs down to the bathroom area. You will find a small disco room (!) when you do…so weird!!!
Time to go home
We finally had a flight to London with just an overnight stay before the long haul back to NY. In the end, it wasn’t so bad to be stuck in Zurich with kids. Thanks for reading!