As others said, the alps are big. We spent this summer in Austria, part of which was near the alps. We stayed near a lake and did sightseeing, hiking, and lots of lake swimming which was the highlight. With kids 5 and 7 you’d be looking at activities that kids their age would enjoy, so don’t go too high into the alps. Find a place that would have lake for swimming, nearby attractions like alpine summer sled, castles, and playground. If there is possibility to rent bikes to go around the lake, that would be an added bonus.

Definitely Dolomites for kids that age. There's a whole sector of hotels in that area (https://www.familienhotels.com/) that cater to families with kids clubs, kid-specific activities. And yes, the playgrounds on the trails in the mountains are epic.

We did Dolomites with a 7 year old. Some hikes were challenging but the Playgrounds up in the mountains are epic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alps of what? You do realize that alps means mountains

Lol- the Alps is a mountain range in Europe that stretches across several countries. I’d go to the Dolomites and also include Venice. My kids were that age and loved it!

We were thinking a few days in the the Dolomites and a few days in the BO region of Switzerland. Are they too similar to do both?

Anonymous wrote:Alps of what? You do realize that alps means mountains

Lol- the Alps is a mountain range in Europe that stretches across several countries. I’d go to the Dolomites and also include Venice. My kids were that age and loved it!

Anonymous wrote:In summer? We loved Wengen. There’s a town swimming pool. Up the tram, is an amazing playground. Down below in Lauterbrunnen is a popular long path that is a very flat walk. Though you do need to watch your kids with jerks on e-bikes.

OP here- yes, sorry Summer. This is so helpful- how long would you say you should stay in Wengen?

Alps of what? You do realize that alps means mountains

We took ours to the Alpenzoo in Innsbruck and had a great time. We also enjoyed Oberammergau. We found a hotel with an indoor pool which we enjoyed, had lots of fun german ice cream treats and took a carriage ride with a horse -- which one of the kids napped through, but the rest enjoyed.

The French Alps are amazing. Look at Annecy.

Wengen or Murren would be great. Murren is a bit smaller than Wengen but both are car free towns. Murren has a kids garden walk and a nice flat walk with great views.

We loved Wengen too. If you have a Family Pass, it’s free for kid to accompany adult up Jungfraujoch (highest glacier in Europe). We swam and hired paddle boats at lake below, did walk and saw waterfall from Lauterbrunnen, did hikes. We also went up Schilthorn with great views, a rotating restaurant, Bond World and the thrill walk.

We talking summer or winter?

Also loved Wengen!

In summer? We loved Wengen. There’s a town swimming pool. Up the tram, is an amazing playground. Down below in Lauterbrunnen is a popular long path that is a very flat walk. Though you do need to watch your kids with jerks on e-bikes.

Has anyone been to the alps from DC with a family with young kids? Is there a specific region you recommend or any advice on this area with kids that young?