An eventful outing to the Rhine Falls

Spectacular Boat Tour
Not far from Winterthur and Schaffhausen, and easily reachable by public transport (SBB train stop Neuhausen am Rheinfall), the Rhine Falls are fascinating visitors from far and near. Our day trip in honor of the waterfall starts at «Schlössli Wörth», a 12th-century fortress that was turned into a restaurant. From there we make our way to the pier where we can choose from four different lines: we take the yellow line, which brings us to the rock in the middle of the river.

We are absolutely in awe in front of this majestic waterfall. With a total width of 150m and a height of 23m it is the most powerful waterfall in Europe with an average flow of 600 cubic meters of water per second.

The boat trip starts cozily enough, we watch the swans and their babies and are having a good time. But then it gets louder and louder – the sound of the waterfall. The power, the energy is mesmerizing, we are so close to the water, we could nearly touch it.

But it gets better! The boat stops at the big rock in the middle of the river. Steep stairs bring us up to where we are able to enjoy the spectacle from within. We can feel the power of nature with every fiber, it’s simply amazing.

Since it’s worth to see the waterfalls from both sides, we change onto the red line, which brings us to the other side where we will have lunch in the castle.

From Schloss Laufen, visitors have access to different observation decks. And that’s where we want to go. We buy four tickets and follow the other visitors down to the first deck. To get back, we take the panorama lift – a last look at the absolutely fascinating spectacle of nature and reality has us back.

Mini Wonderland
Our adventure continues, we follow the long railroad bridge to Smilestones – Switzerland’s biggest miniature world. In 25’000 hours, 35 people created this unique world with miniature rail tracks, cars, figures and buildings. Wow! The scene is even more impressive by night – at Smilestones, the sun goes down every 9 minutes. When day turns into night, LED lights illuminate mini Switzerland and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

We enter, and immediately we are transported into another world. Next to the many details that can be explored, there is much to do. There are little buttons everywhere. Push it and the «Worlds» get into motion – kids love it, obviously. But, I too, am excited like a child. A hot-air balloon rises up in the air, people dance. Push another button and people are rafting down a river, the revolving door at the hotel starts turning.

Another highlight is clearly the chocolate factory. Push yet another button and the assembly line starts to move. Delicious Lindt truffles are produced in front of us and efficiently conveyed into the children’s mouths.

Thrills and Amazing Views
Our day is not yet over. Only a few steps from our starting point there is the Adventure Park Rheinfall, a rope park famous for its fabulous routes from where you have a great view of the Rhine Falls. For the youngest (4 to 7 years of age) the park offers two kid’s routes with continuous fallback system.

After the mandatory safety instructions, we put on our climbing harness and gloves – we are ready! We balance, swing on a rope and climb. On a skateboard, on wobbly pillars and swinging bridges, we go high up through the treetops. When we reach the Swing Parcours, we are really high above the ground. Now, we are supposed to swing down the trees like Tarzan. Goose bumps are guaranteed. The same goes for the Big Jump from lofty heights or the Powerfan Parcours, where we have to step into the void from 12 meters above ground.

This rope park is run with a lot of passion and is the perfect excursion destination for families with children. Being so close to nature, overcoming fears, climbing up and being physically active while enjoying an amazing view of the Rhine Falls is an unforgettable experience.

ConclusionSince I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by the Rhine Falls. Still to this day, this amazing force of nature hasn’t lost its appeal and is an absolute must-see. When combining the outing with a visit to Smilestones and the Adventure Park, it’s the ideal family trip for children big and small.
Tips

• Slip-resistant shoes.
• Good to know: From the Rhine basin, you can reach the other side of the river by taking the bridge. Walking distance: 20 minutes.
• There is a nice playground just below the restaurant with slides, monkey bars and more. There are also tables with benches for picnic.

Tips and links Kinderregion

Rhine Falls and its surroundings

Family Region Winterthur