Daydreaming by the water’s edge. A perfect summer’s day in Geneva with blogger Emilie Servettaz and her family.
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Intro
A busy international centre, Geneva is also a place packed full of adventure and surprises for all ages. Nobody knows this better than Geneva native Emilie Servettaz: in her blog, entitled “Les petits genevois”, she offers countless ideas for outings for the whole family. We spent a whole summer’s day in Geneva with Emilie and her family.
Geneva
Geneva is a cosmopolitan city. Idyllically nestled between Alpine peaks and vineyards, it is situated on the largest lake in southern Europe. With the magnificent historic old town at your back, you can enjoy views of the famous Jet d’Eau in the lake basin and the Mont Blanc massif on the horizon. As the European headquarters of the UN. Geneva is known as the “capital of peace” and is also home to the luxury watch industry.
Hint
There’s no question that Geneva is Switzerland’s most cosmopolitan city: this is where you’ll find the UN headquarters, while the International Red Cross also coordinates its humanitarian efforts from here. But there is also something less well known: Geneva is also the perfect playground for great adventures with the whole family.
First-hand family tips. Blogger Emilie Servettaz with her family.
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Les petits Genevois
When Geneva native Emilie Servettaz gave birth to little Louise, she decided to start her blog Les petits Genevois. Emilie is now the proud mother of two daughters and her blog has featured a great many wonderful tips for the whole family in the meantime. Emilie has also published a book listing 200 particularly family-friendly places in Geneva. We asked Emilie to show us some of her favourite ideas for a perfect summer day in Geneva.
Since the birth of my daughters, I have discovered a new side to Geneva, the city of my childhood.
Tip 1: Lost in the mist. Morning on the jetty by the Jet d’Eau.
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As the Servettaz family stands on the Jetée des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, the wind blows a fine mist of water onto their faces while they stare skywards. The Jet d’Eau shoots an impressive 140 metres into the air at 200 kilometres per hour. That makes 500 litres of water per second, the equivalent of a good three bathtubs, flying into the air with a great deal of noise before landing on the lake’s surface again or getting blown away by the wind.
Tip 2: On course for conquest. Set sail by pedalo.
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Pirates take to the seas in tall ships, ready to attack other vessels and steal their treasure. However, the Servettaz pirate family bravely steers their pedalo into the vastness of Lake Geneva. These peaceful pirates are only interested in conquering the waves. Though sometimes they do find some kind of treasure in the depths when they dive from the slide into the lake.
Tip 3: Sand-filled dreams. Beach fun at Eaux-Vives.
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Build sandcastles, rub your hands in the sand until they glitter, and watch as your feet slowly sink into the sand, wave-after-wave. The beach at Eaux-Vives has that genuine seaside atmosphere.
Tip 4: When your stomach starts to rumble. Lunch in a lakeside restaurant.
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A day by the water is a hungry and thirsty affair, but fortunately the Restaurant de la Plage is not far away. One of the jetties on the lake has been taken over by the restaurant crew. Whether you decide to sit inside or outside on the terrace – the regional dishes are all prepared locally and taste great. And if even the short walk to the restaurant is too much, Vélos de la Plage are right on the beach and are ready to deliver fresh drinks and snacks to you.
Tip 5: That Caribbean feeling. An afternoon on Geneva’s beach.
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The raffia parasols and clear water are reminiscent of the Caribbean. There is a spacious park just behind Geneva’s beach, where the many trees provide plenty of shade for the whole family, even if the parasols are all taken.
Tip 6: Heading for the horizon. Sunset boat trip.
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Evening approaches and the lake steamer Savoie sets sail. The paddle steamer built by the Sulzer brothers in Winterthur in 1914 is the jewel in the crown of the Belle Époque fleet on Lake Geneva. Time for the next adventure!
Geneva is a city packed with surprises and hidden treasures.