Paradise for Families: Lenzerheide
Lenzerheide is an excellent choice for families for so many reasons. We asked our Lenzerheide Resort Manager, Gareth to give us a round up of why this stunning resort has so much in store for families.
With the recent addition of the Urdenbahn double-cable car, Lenzerheide is now nicely linked up to the Arosa ski area, giving an impressive 225km of perfectly groomed pistes with enough variety to suit all skiers, from beginners to the most advanced, expert carvers, and four snow parks for those who like to fly! With three purpose-built children’s areas, Lenzerheide is a great place for young aspiring skiers to learn their trade. The children’s areas are a winter paradise for kids, with Pinocchio lifts, covered ‘magic carpet’ ski lifts and small huts that serve snacks and drinks, making them ideal places for parents to watch and cheer them on. One thing is for sure, there is ample skiing to keep the whole family enthralled.
Our children’s programmes ensure that every child, no matter age or ability, enjoys the perfect environment in which they can flourish, whilst having loads of fun with new friends, thanks to the fact that each group benefits from an expert instructor as well as a caring Powder Byrne member of staff, who is always on hand to make sure that every child gets just what they need to thrive.
The Powder Byrne Ski Guides are always on hand to make sure that adults ski the finest runs the resort has to offer and stop off at the very best places for lunch.
Those who place importance on the gastronomic side of a ski holiday won’t be disappointed by Lenzerheide’s foodie scene. For over 140 years, Alp Fops has been a charming mountain refuge and it’s still a perfect place to stop off for a delicious lunch of locally sourced meats and cheeses, the speciality Fopserbrettli (Fops plate) and traditional barley soup made according to ‘granny’s recipe’. The hot chocolate here is also delicious!
A little higher up the slopes, in fact at the very top at 2323m, is Piz Scalottas, which serves excellent local and international cuisine with a view that is out of this world: a full 360-degree view and on a clear day it is possible to count more than 1000 peaks… or so they claim. I have no idea who managed to count them!
Another restaurant with breathtaking views is Motta Restaurant, but somehow the food manages to surpass the vistas. They put a modern twist on traditional Swiss cuisine and the star of the show is the mouth-watering ribs. One portion is big enough for two to share… well, that depends how much skiing you plan to do! The restaurant is perfectly located to benefit from sunshine from 11 am onwards and the deck is an ideal spot to soak it up on a sunny day.
In addition to all the possibilities for skiing, eating and drinking, Lenzerheide also has many Après activities for the family to enjoy. Throughout the month of February, guests can enjoy the nocturnal mountain scenery whilst watching a film at the open air cinema up on the mountain, with the restaurant, Avant Clavo providing warm drinks and snacks. It’s the perfect Alpine evening activity.
Every Friday from New Year’s Eve to mid-march, those keen to squeeze in as much skiing as possible can enjoy a bit of night skiing from the Alp Stätz. After enjoying a fondue, raclette or the legendary fondue Chinoise à discrétion from the Bergrestaurant Alp Stätz, you’ll be the first to cruise down the 3.5km long freshly prepared and well illuminated run back to the village.
Another opportunity for night skiing from January to March is to enjoy a delicious three course dinner and stunning views at the panoramic Rothorngipfel Restaurant before skiing down to Lenzerheide village using only the light of the full moon to illuminate the pistes.
It’s not only skiing that happens at night in Lenzerheide. Why not go night sledging? Every Wednesday from January onwards you can race down the 3.8km-long illuminated toboggan run down to the Rothorn Valley Station. The Scharmoin Mountain Restaurant serves warming Ovo (a Swiss milk drink), mulled wine and, of course, cheese fondue at the top. On selected nights of the season, you can enjoy a one-hour long snow show put on by the local ski school, with synchronised skiing and jumps, before sledging down into the village.
There is so much to love about Lenzerheide. To find out more about organising a ski trip for your family to this wonderful resort, call 020 8146 5300 or click here.