Favorite places and highlights on the Swabian Alb with children
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The Swabian Alb is a prime example that it does not have to go far away for an exciting and at the same time relaxing holiday with children. For some time now, we have been toying with a family weekend on the Alb, because the unique nature of the region is full of secrets from the past.
Old castles, palaces, stalactite caves, quarries with fossils, gorges and forests. All topics that fascinate children of kindergarten and primary school age. For this, the Swabian Alb has a lot to offer and with the AlbCard, admission to over 160 of these attractions is even free. The AlbCard is presented to every overnight guest on the Alb by his host.
For the right portion of relaxation and enjoyment the picturesque landscape, a beautiful gem to stay overnight and all the great manufactories on the Alb that are just escaping from all possible corners.
Join the kids in search of the natural secrets of the Alb. Adventures and history magically find each other in this region.
Here are our personally tested tips for your time on the Alb. Of course, with numerous possibilities where you can use the AlbCard and thus save money.
Switching off in nature – Your power place on the Alb
Switching off and sending everyday stress to the afterlife succeeds particularly well on the Swabian Alb. On the Hofgut Hopfenburg in the middle of a nature reserve, the relaxing succeeds even from the first second. Hopfenburg, that’s the name of the farm with unusual accommodations, where nature and lightness are in the foreground.
Embedded in the beautiful rich landscape, charming circus wagons, shepherd wagons or Indian tipis stand as a place to sleep in the middle of the orchard around the farm. In the morning you are awakened by the chirping of the birds. From 8 a.m. a regional breakfast feast awaits you on the Hopfenburg, which will be prepared by the inclusion company with dedication.
Life on the farm is determined for the kids by a carefree freedom. On their own, they can plunge into a nature adventure, discover the farm with its animals and make new acquaintances.
In the farm shop you can supply yourself with organic food and, for example, buy grilled sausages for the evening. A campfire is lit and the sausages sizzle in a relaxed atmosphere together with the other guests.
When the sun slowly disappears behind the Alb and the starry sky rises, the moment has come that has remained in our memory: Watching the sky together. Satellites, planets, stars and constellations shine particularly brightly here on cloudless nights.
The Hofgut Hopfenburg is a beautiful gem for families in the middle of the Alb. At the same time, the farm is an excellent estarting point for cool excursions in the region.
Escursions on the Swabian Alb with children
A large varity of excursion destinations is waiting for you on the Alb. You can dive into the earth and marvel at a real natural wonder, search for traces of the past, let yourself be entertained in the theme park or go hiking with animes through the forests of the Alb.
The excursion offer with the AlbCard will be even better. Every overnight guest gets it from the toparticipating hosts. This makes admission to many attractions and travel by public transport free.
We have a few suggestions for you, the parents and kids. In addition, we have tips for regional restaurants and delicious cafés right near the excursion destinations.
Urweltsteinbruch Holzmaden on the Swabian Alb with children
Equipped with hammer and chisel, it goes to the quarry, where a tropical underwater world could be found several million years ago. Of course, it has left its mark. With a little luck, you will still find remains of the life of that time in the form of fossils. The search for the hidden fossils is more exciting than any treasure hunt. And once the first treasure is found, there is risk of infection for the desire for more. Further information about the Urweltsteinbruch can be found here.
Bear cave on the Swabian Alb with children
Bear cave is the name of a small stalactite cave that was discovered a good 70 years ago. At that time, several bear skeletons were found in it and so the cave got its name. Here, too, it goes several million years into the past with the only difference that the drops are still growing. About a millimeter in ten years. Yes, you can even listen to them. For this, it first goes down a few meters into the ground. From there extends a gigantic landscape of stalactites and stalagmites in all conceivable shapes and sizes. They are illuminated with colorful lights, which makes them look even more impressive. More information about the bear cave can be found here.
Leitime park Traumland
The amusement park Traumland is located directly above the bear cave and if you dare to go nearby with children, you can’t avoid a visit. With the AlbCard, admission is also free here and you save at least 80 euros with a family of four.
Amusement parks basically don’t have it easy with us. As parents, we usually find such a visit to the park exhausting. However, the dream country really positively surprised us in this respect. Not too big and not too small, but just the right size to explore the whole park in a few hours, try it out and also take a break in between. In addition to cool rides, such as a gigantic crane or a whitewater track, there are also adventure playgrounds on topics that are perennial favorites for kids of kindergarten and primary school age. In between, there are always areas that create space to come down and take a deep breath. If you want to know more, then read here.
Hiking on the Swabian Alb with children
The nature on the Alb is magical. What better way to discover this than on a joint hike. For this, we can recommend two tours in particular.
Donkey hike
Let yourself be accompanied on the hike on the Alb by grey, smart and sympathetic four-legged friends. More specifically, from the donkeys Sina and Casimir, whose charm every child immediately decays. The two donkeys already have many years of experience with human friends and are nurtured and cared for by their two owners with a lot of love. The children are allowed to help with the grooming, lead the donkeys and get a donkey driver’s license at the end of the tour. A real animal adventure for everyone. More information for the donkey tour can be found here.
Lautertal
The Lautertal is, so to speak, the highlight of Münsingen. Less than 10 minutes away by car, you are already standing in the green natural oasis between small villages and the Lauter, which meanders through the valley. On the 3.9-kilometer-long Hike “hochgehbürzelt” you walk through enchanted deciduous forests and can catch a glimpse of the castles of Nieder- and Hohengundelfingen. Then it goes to the strengthening in the Bootshaus, where the children can play directly on the river and in the best case even get a canoe to try out. There are typical regional dishes to eat and delicious spaetzle for the children.
Enjoyment on the Swabian Alb
In addition to the boathouse on the Lauter, we can recommend two other places of enjoyment on the Swabian Alb.
Albgut Altes Lager
In the Albgut in Münsingen you can visit local manufactories and even watch how soaps, oils and Co are produced locally. In the warehouse Rösterei there are coffee and chocolate creations from our own production. You can try it in the associated café. There is also ice cream from the Lautertal and homemade cakes. A place to have a really good time . For the kids, a beautiful playground is offered.
Forellenhof Rössle
Fresh fish from your own breeding with view of Lichtenstein Castle can be found at the Forellenhof Rössle very close to the bear cave. The Forellenhof Rössle is the perfect place to stop after visiting the stalactite cave and the amusement park. For the kids there is breaded fish and once it has disappeared in the stomach, it goes directly to the playground next door.
If someone now asks us if we could recommend the destination for the whole family, then we answer “Yes!” from the bottom of our hearts. Why? Because the Swabian Alb is made for a guaranteed great family time. The region is original and authentic, hides numerous natural wonders from magical to historical that are just waiting to be discovered. In addition, a lot is happening on the Alb in the direction of sustainability. For example, you can already find e-charging stations at several locations and in Münsingen there are e-bikes for rent in the Mobility Center at the train station (also for kids). The AlbCard is then the icing on top on top.
To be honest, we can’t wait to get to know more about the region. We definitely need more time on the next visit. For example, for a visit to the pretty city of Tübingen with its half-timbered houses and a few wineries are also on our list. We will be back!
