In Crassier, a village in the Vaudois countryside situated right on the French border, there’s a particularly wonderful playground so well-furnished with equipment and structures it could almost qualify as a mini adventure park for kids.
Tucked behind a pink-toned church on the intersection of Route de Genève and Rue de la Tour, it’s an inviting, spacious area with plenty of features that will incite kids to climb, play, explore, run around and generally exhaust themselves while grown-ups enjoy its green tranquility.
For my two nephews, ages 7 and 10, the playground’s number 1 attraction is the zip line, where they revel, over and over, in a few seconds of thrilling free-fall sensations. When they’re finally ready to move onto other adventures, there’s plenty else to keep them busy: a climbing structure complete with rope ladder, slide, plank bridge and wobble bridge; a sand area with a digger, tower, pulley and bucket; a walking barrel; a climber-roundabout; not to mention a swing set and climbing rope.
There’s fun to be had for the younger ones too, with the sand area, a cute elephant-shaped slide, bucket swings, and the always popular spring rockers.
A wooden table and tree-shaded benches provide a pleasant place for mums and dads (or aunties like me) to relax and watch the kids as they romp and play in this fantastic space. Bring along some snacks or a picnic lunch and settle in for a few hours — a perfect way enjoy the last of the warm autumn days.
Laura Vidale
