Camping holidays, a way of life

„The nice thing about camping is the independence, the relaxed atmosphere and the new acquaintances.“ Patricia has been coming to Lake Maggiore with her two children Finn and Elin by camper van for around four years and for her it is the ideal holiday. Pack everything you need and stow it in the camper van, attach your bikes and set off. Thanks to the excellently equipped campsites on Lake Maggiore and in the surrounding valleys, no comfort has to be sacrificed despite the simplicity of camping.

They became passionate about camping when their children were about 3 and 5 years old
And since then they have all been enthusiastic about this uncomplicated way of spending their holidays. Since there is always something going on at the campsite, it never gets boring and every day is a new adventure. „We always enjoy coming to Ascona-Locarno because there are lots of possibilities for excursions in both good and bad weather.
Since we have the Ticino Ticket, we can leave the camping van and discover the different regions of Ticino by public transport. With the new Ceneri Base Tunnel, Ticino has become a small city - great for excursions.”

Patricia is particularly fond of the Verzasca Valley. Take the PostBus from Tenero and get off at any point to walk along the emerald-green Verzasca River. There are many nice picnic spots along the way. Even if there are a lot of people, you can always find a quiet place to spend lunch alone, she says. They also find BoBosco, the marble run made of chestnut wood, a cool activity when they are in the Verzasca Valley. Patricia and her two kids also enjoy spending time at the campsite. “For us, the Lake Maggiore region is the ideal camping destination because we have so many possibilities to do different things. Whether it's going to the valleys to see the spectacular waterfalls or staying at the campsite where there's the pump track, which the kids love. There is also a swimming pool and the lake. If the weather isn't so nice, we can go to the museum or take a boat trip."

And what do the kids think is the coolest thing about camping? Of course, sleeping in a camper van and having a huge playground right in front, where you can find friends to play with around the clock. Finn is the older of the two siblings. He likes to go swimming and whizz around the pump track on his bike. Some of his jumps already look very professional and the enthusiasm is written all over his face. Elin may be younger, but she already emulates her big brother on the pump track. Her favourite activities besides cycling are stand-up paddling and the nearby rope park. But let's be honest, the biggest highlight is the gelato they get to choose from time to time in the gelateria - it's just part of the holiday.

For the family from the canton of the Grisons, the journey is also an important point
Ticino is quickly accessible, which makes travelling with children pleasant. The palm trees immediately give you the feeling of being on holiday, the southern charm, the Mediterranean atmosphere and the mild climate make Ticino a special destination.
”A tip from me for all camping fans is that you can go to Ticino from spring to late autumn, even outside the main tourist seasons, and you will still usually have warmer and nicer weather than in the rest of Switzerland.”

There are 13 campsites in the Ascona-Locarno region, six of which are 5* and four 4*. So, they leave nothing to be desired when it comes to quality. Which campsite you choose is entirely up to your personal needs. Do you like to be near the lake or even directly on the lake, do you prefer the river, do you like animation programmes or do you like it more a bit quiet, are you looking for infrastructures like a swimming pool, tennis or a pump track or should it be without big frills. Find the campsite that suits you and set off on an adventure. Discover the region and its diversity on foot, by bike or by public transport and enjoy relaxing days in the sunny region of Switzerland. Refresh yourself with a cool dip in the lake or the emerald shimmering rivers and recharge your batteries.