Play Like a Kid: Fun Activities for Big and Small in the Basel area

These activities are for big and small, for those with kids and without. Just because there are kids doing it doesn't that adults can't have a little fun too. It's time to reconnect with your inner child and play!

Spin it to win it

Ping pong

Volta Pong

Voltastrasse 30, 4056 Basel

Volta Pong is Basel's first and only self serve ping pong club. Welcome to the future where you book your table online and serve your own drinks. No human contact required, how civilized. If you do like humans though, and want to meet more of them they have an open play night every second Monday where all the tables are free. There are also special tables for serious players. Don't worry, for the rest of us, who are just there for the food, there are some casual play tables as well. Kids are also allowed but must be accompanied by an adult. Did I mention there was food? You can order tasty delights from the adjoining Volta Brau restaurant and pick it up. Their motto is "Bat in the right hand, a pulled pork burger in your left." Sounds good to me.

Life's a slope, enjoy the ride

Rodelbahn (Mountain Luge)

Photo: Deinkick Solarbob

Solarbob

Hauptstrasse 1, 4438 Langenbruck

This may look like it is for kids but wait until you see that they have a speedometer. Sure you can take a leisurely ride down the mountain at the Solarbob Rodelbahn at Langenbruck or you can do like my family does and get hyper competitive to see who can go the fastest (obviously with common sense and safety instructions in mind.) Just wait until you feel the rush of leaning into the turns and the watering of your eyes as you speed down the mountain. Suddenly a five run card doesn'y seem like enough.

Too cool to spare

Bowling

Arena Cinemas Bowling

Hochbergerstrasse 70, 4057 Basel

When is the last time you went bowling? If people were still writing their scores on paper and smoking indoors, then it's been too long. Why not get a crew together and book a lane? Remember this is one of those sports where your skill only improves after a second beer. Basel has a fabulous bowling alley at Stücki. Arena Cinemas Bowling has fourteen bowling lanes for classic and hyper bowling, plus a fun park with a snack bar, four pool tables, darts, air hockey, arcade and pinball machines. There is a max of 6 people per lane and you can make reservations here. They also allow kids 12 and over to go by themselves so get those teenagers out of the house and enjoy some quiet.

Let the good times roll

Mountain Scooters

Wasserfallen

Oberbiel 62, 4418 Reigoldswil

I bet you didn't know that you could go flying down a mountain on a scooter, but believe me you can and it's exactly as fun as you think it is. After an easy drive (or bus ride) to Reigoldswil you can ride a cable car or or hike up to the Wasserfallen station and rent out a Trotinette, also known as a mountain scooter. After you slap a helmet on and get a short demonstration of how to use the breaks you are on your way down a mountain path for an unforgettable experience. After the first run you will be hooked so make sure the rest of the day is blocked off. Children over 10 can have their own scooter and children under 10 can share with an adult. There are also a ton of hiking trails at Wasserfallen as well as a ropes park, but if you do nothing else, make sure to stop at Restaurant Heidi-Stübli for what could only be described as the world's best chicken nuggets. Try them with a beer and prove me wrong.

Jump Around

Trampoline Park

Jump Factory

Tramstrasse 66, 4142 Münchenstein

Trampoline parks aren't just for children, they are, in fact, a blast for everyone (who doesn't have knee problems) and Basel has a fantastic one at Jump Factory in Munchenstein. Understandably you may not want to try it with a bunch of little kids who can literally do cartwheels around you, but not to worry, they have an over 15 evening the last Thursday of the month where you can get your jump on without those pesky kids. For god sakes stretch beforehand though, as there is probably nothing worse (or less embarrassing) than a trampoline injury.

I hope this inspires you to incorporate some more play in your life, after all it's what keeps us young!

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Meaghan Renner Ofori

Meaghan in the Founder and Creative Director of You Belong in Basel. She has lived in Basel since 2018 with her husband and two children. After going through the process of moving and settling as a trailing spouse, she had to find a new purpose, which became YBI Basel. She loves this city and all that it has to offer and wants to help others find their home here as well.  A former fundraiser, event planner, amateur graphic designer, and current dressmaker, Meaghan has a passion for sewing and dancing and enjoys cooking, hiking and yoga.