Like the Olympics, Zermatt must have its mascot, and so we have Wolli, the upright lamb of the Wallis (Valais canton), a super-sheep who wears a Matterhorn emblem on his chest, with red-and-white suspenders sporting the stars of the canton's flag. This Tourismusbüro picture is shot in front of the Leisee ("the Miami Beach of Zermatt"), a kid-friendly lake with sand beach just a short tram-ride or woodland hike from town.
But there are kid-friendly sights all over. For instance, we found Wolli watching over the playground in the center of town .
And the town Arzt, or doctor, has a green band-aid decor on his bright orange Fiat wagon -- one of the few gas-driven vehicles in town.
Even the famous Swiss "green cross" on the sign near his office door is composed of crossed green band-aids.
As in any-self-respecting tourist town, food is a principal attraction, and this restaurant sign tells us that even the Matterhorn itself gets hungry -- in Kanji!
Stuffed critters are a popular buy for kids and adults alike: the smaller versions of St. Bernards and the local field rodents called marmottes are seen hanging from backpacks all over town.
Again, it's not only for kids, because the ubiquitous ice cream stands serve young and old alike.
And the symbol of the local bakery is not the gingerbread man, but the life-size Swiss doughboy with a pretzel ear.
I suppose there's a little kid in all of us.
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