What to do in Gland with children? Our ideas for all year round

With its free municipal beach, its educational farm and its climbing hall, Gland is one of those La Côte towns where families find plenty to do all year round, without driving for miles.

Halfway between Nyon and Rolle, served by the train, the town hides more outing ideas than you might imagine. Here is our overview, season by season.

Summer by Lake Geneva

• The La Falaise beach: municipal, free and away from the traffic. Children swim, picnic and play one game of table tennis after another. The summer outing par excellence.
• The La Dullive beach, between Gland and Rolle: more intimate, with grass, rocks and two small sandy areas. Swimming is not supervised, worth bearing in mind with little ones.

Getting active and playing

• Totem Escalade: a friendly hall for introducing children to climbing whatever the weather, with suitable areas.
• The skatepark at the En Bord sports centre: free to use for skateboards, scooters and roller skates once the fine weather arrives.
• The En Bord playground and the La Dôle public garden: two free play areas for climbing, sliding and running, while you catch your breath in the shade.

Animals and culture

• Domaine Le Baribois: Gland’s educational farm, where you can discover farm life and even hold a birthday party in the open air.
• The municipal library: storytelling, readings for the youngest and events that give children a taste for reading. Free and welcoming, all year round.

In any weather

• The Perrerets indoor pool: run by volunteers, with a movable-floor pool that is ideal for children and very gentle prices.
• Bowlingland: lanes with bumpers and ramps for the youngest, in a friendly atmosphere. The safe bet for rainy Sundays.

In winter

• The Grand-Champ ice rink: every winter, a covered mobile ice rink is set up at the sports complex, with free access and low-cost skate hire. The family meeting point of the cold season on La Côte.

And nearby

Gland is an ideal base for exploring La Côte: the beaches and museums of Nyon, the Château de Rolle, or the La Garenne wildlife park a few minutes away by car.

Do have a look at all the activities for children in Gland and in the canton of Vaud.

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