Wort's essential summer checklist for families

By Rute Vendeirinho

If you're staying in Luxembourg this summer, we've some great ideas to make family time more meaningful this holiday season. Make a checklist with your kids and you can tick things off all summer long.

Have a picnic in the park

Sometimes simple is best, and having a picnic at the park is one of those examples. From Parc de Merl to Parc Bambesch, the capital of the Grand Duchy has plenty to choose from. Check out some ideas I've written about already. Don't forget the waterproof picnic blanket, some of your favourite healthy snacks, lots of water and toys.

Do you need some ideas of fun activities to complement your picnic? Well, kids and adults will have a great time making soap bubbles, especially the giant ones, skimming rocks in a river, painting sidewalks with chalk or making paper boats and racing them in streams. On warmer days, a water balloon fight is a must. And for the little Indiana Jones adventurers, a bug scavenger hunt in the woods will be a success for sure.

Play in the pool

Kids love playing with water, there's no doubt about it. So, as for the quest for the best outdoor family pool, there are two that come out on top: Vianden and Remich swimming pools.

Vianden's outdoor swimming pool complex is literally a postcard scenario, with the Vianden castle as a background. An Olympic sized pool, a non-swimmers pool with toboggan and a cute baby pool, all surrounded by grass and trees, perfect for a picnic. The complex also has a little playground, a cafeteria and toilets. Until beginning of September, it is open from 10am to 7pm. Address: rue du Sanatorium, L-9425 Vianden.

The Remich pool is a must to all ages. For the little ones, there is a small pool full of big toys and water games. On the other hand, the adults have an olympic size pool and a football field. The complex also offers a restaurant and cafeteria.  Address: route du Vin, L-5549.

If the weather is not warm, you can also choose one of the three kiddie favourites: Les Thermes in Strassen, Syrdall Schwemm in Niederanven or Réidener Schwemm in Redange.

At Syrdall Schwemm in Niederanventhere are three pools for all ages, but the little ones love the baby pool with a water volcano and a small river canal to play with toys. The complex has family changing facilities and a cafeteria. It is opened all year round, but you should always check the website for its opening hours in advance.Address: 3, Routscheed | L-6939 Niederanven. 

About 30km from the capital, in Redange, you can find Réidener Schwemm with an impressive set of water games for little kids. In this sports complex you can find indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a cafeteria. During school holidays, the place is open everyday from 10am to 10pm, but you should always check its website first. Address: 28, rue de la Piscine, B.P. 71 | L-8502 Redange/Attert.

For more outdoor swimming spots, visit check out wort's article.

Go camping

Kids love camping. There is something very special about sleeping in a tent or watching the stars all night long. So, even if you are not a fan of camping, why not surprise your little ones with a different weekend? Or, if you really don't want to go to a campsite but you have a backyard, why not simply camp outside at home?

There are many camp sites in Luxembourg. The National Tourist Board provides you some suggestions.

Camping Birkelt  is a campsite very well suited to families thanks to its modern facilities and other small details. You can either use a tent or rent a mobile home, there are a great variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages and the spectacular cupola swimming pool offers you an all-weather water games facility. Address: 1, Um Birkelt, L-7633 Larochette.

If that doesn't tickely our fancy, about an hour away from Luxembourg city, in the Saarland countryside, fans of the Center Parc leisure complexes can find the recently opened "Park Bostalsee".

Need some additional ideas to make that camping weekend even more special and fun? If so, why not go fishing? Or make s'mores (biscuit sandwiches)? Or count and name the stars? Or play "who's making that noise?" by listening to the sounds of animals at night?

Be active and have fun

"Kinnekswiss 2014"  running until September 7 offers free sporting activities in the centre of Luxembourg city designed for all ages (Parc Municipal, between Glacis and Avenue de la Porte Nueve), from hip-hop to circus skills.

At Parc de Merl, the Trampolines promise tons of fun for kids and adults. Until September 7, from 12am to 8pm, except on rainy days, everyone can jump right next to the playground.

Friskis and Svettis also offers free gymn and dance classes for families and kids.

Learn about the world through animals

Without a doubt Parc Merveilleux is the most well known animal park in the Grand Duchy. With a wide variety of animals from all over the world, it is located in a fantastic green spot. The park has two restaurants and a cafeteria, but you can also bring your picnic basket. Just a quick tip: you can buy a small bag of animal food at the shop and feed certain animals - great fun for the little ones! The park is open until October 11, 2015, from 9.30am to 6pm. Address: route de Mondorf, L-3260 Bettembourg.

Clervaux offers a truly rural experience with its Robbesscheier theme park where kids and adults can experience several activities, from cooking to pony or donkey rides. During the summer, the park is open from 10am to 6pm. Address: 1, Frummeschgaass, L-9766 Munshausen.

In Esch-sur-Alzette, the Galgenberg park gives you the opportunity to hike or simply take a pleasant stroll while visiting wild and farm animals, at no cost. Halfway between the city and the park entrance on your right-hand-side, you can also find a big playground. Address: Gaalgebierg, L-4142 Esch-sur-Alzette.

At Grevenmacher there is a beautiful butterfly garden, Päiperleksgaart, with a huge variety of exotic species. Children can learn about the life cycles of butterflies and, who knows, observe one tiny butterfly settling on their own shoulder. The garden is open until October 31, from 9.30am to 5pm. Address: route de Trèves, L-6793 Grevenmacher.

The Wasserbillig aquarium is home to thousands of species from all over the world. It has several pools with a total of 40,000 litres of water. Address: rue des Pépinères / Promenade de la Sûre, L-6645 Wasserbillig.

If these ideas aren't for you, why not simply have a different family night at home? Do a giant floor jigsaw puzzle, make a family video, do a favourite movies marathon, decorate cupcakes or cookies or just have a pyjama party and a pillow fight! Create memories, have fun and most of all, enjoy!