If you combine snow & sun, you get a lot of fun. And if you combine activities with the right accommodation you get a great family vacation. This was the summary of our stay at Sunstar Hotel Arosa, the distinctive family hotel in Arosa Switzerland. We could not have chosen more ideal timing to do our visit to Arosa Switzerland. We arrived literally couple hours after the snow storm. So everything was covered with a thick white blanket that added a brilliant touch to the town and surrounding valleys. The weather became mostly bright during our stay and we enjoyed long stretches of sunshine. It was even feeling “warm” sometimes (it’s a matter of perspective, as it meant, 0-1 C degrees max 🙂 )
Stunning views of Arosa Switzerland
The hotel had all what it takes and more to spend a nice winter vacation. First & outmost the view is breathtaking and it’s from multiple angles. One side overlooks the town and Untersee lake and the other the mountains of Arosa Switzerland. The location is very convenient so in few steps you get to the main central street and in few minutes you can be at the train station. Actually the hotel shuttle buses were key enabler, as we were moving like busy bees, but we were always on time!
A family hotel with all the needed facilities
I know that the view is usually what attracts us the most, but the other facilities of this family hotel were also highlights. The indoor Funpark is an extensive facility for a family to spend playtime. It has multiple entertainments that suit almost every age. From the mini tri-cycles for toddlers to the slides for children, to a Ninja warrior course for the teenagers. It had also a baby foot, a small football field and a hockey gate (for the grown ups too!). There is also a separate Game Center with bowling and flippers! Not to mention the kids playroom that is on the same floor with the restaurant. Very handy for the parents to have their little ones occupied during dinner 🙂 
The pool was another fun area for the family. After a long day outside, it buzzes with children and their parents capturing fun and active moments in the water. The SPA zone has multiple saunas and steam rooms that can be really a relaxing spot after an active day. It has also a calm space where it’s suitable to unwind nicely. The restaurant offers generous and hearty meals. Mostly meat based, accompanied with potatoes (fries, mashed, gratin) but also they offer the same dish with a lighter alternative of salads or veggies. There is also couple of fish & vegetarian options for those who are not carnivores. The restaurant is very spacy, overlooking a small forest that gives a wonderful ambiance under the snow. There is also a big salon and a cigar lounge next to it.
A family hotel with diverse outdoor activities
Arosa Ski? But what do you do if your ski skills are getting rusty and you still want to hit the slopes? Go sledding! It’s as simple and as fun as it can be! There are many remarkable sledding (some call it Toboganning) pistes in Switzerland. But in Arosa it is more distinctive as several sledding slopes pass through the forest (e.g from Untersee to Litzirüti) and it’s such a fun experience to sled around the corners of forested slopes! We borrowed some sledges from the hotel, and they have many that fit different needs, even children. 
Taking the cable car to Hörnli and Aroser Weisshorn was another highlight! On top of Hörnli at 2500m there is a cosy hut and restaurant (Hörnlihütte Arosa). There we could sip a coffee, enjoy the view of the slopes and peak from the windows to monitor how the skiers & snowboarders disappear fast from the sharp peak of Hörnli and reappear on the longer stretch of the slope. This was a nice visual slice of Arosa ski. From Hörnli you can take the cable car to Lenzerheide which is the sister region to Arosa Switzerland, also known for its ski slopes and hiking trails. On the other side of the town, Aroser Weisshorn was even higher at 2650, and even more impressive. There you can meet the famous Bear, which became a symbol of Arosa, and have a drink or a ski lunch break at the distinctive 360° Panoramarestaurant Weisshorngipfel. Its name clearly indicates the view you can get from all around, and its breathtaking!
Beyond Arosa ski, stunning adventures in Arosa Switzerland
The enchanting part of our outdoor activities, was the horse carriage ride through a forest and mountain path circling Arosa. It’s really a fairytale & magical experience as you pass in-between the snowy branches of the trees. It becomes even more enchanting when the view opens up over Arosa hills. At certain parts of the path, the carriage intersects partially with that of the skiers, and we were wondering who has the first priority 🙂 . 
A walk down from Sunstar hotel you can get to Untersee, the other lake of Arosa town. At this time of the year the lake was frozen so it was a distinctive view. But what was more stunning was “Eisbadi” – a small natural swimming pool, cracked in the icy water, where we witnessed people swimming! Our hearts froze just by looking at that sight! What made these activities possible, is that our host, Sunstar Hotel Arosa, included these activities in the stay, such as the ski pass, and children ski school, making our vacation, a true fun family time!
