One Dozen FAMILY & GROUP DAYTRIPS from Baumholder
- Put on your boots, grab your camera, pack a day-pack (don’t forget your raincoat and/or umbrella) – then head out and explore the lush green and the ancient farming villages of the Rheinland-Pfalz – Germany countryside!
- A GPS makes these places easy to find. Using an analog/paper map, follow the signs from village-to-village on your route. The main roads to the villages and bigger towns are well-signed and give the distance to the next town in km; don’t count on useful signage (in English) on any back-roads.
One Dozen FAMILY & GROUP DAYTRIPS from Baumholder
- NATURWILDPARK FREISEN, in Freisen, 15k from Baumholder
- WILDPARK POTZBERG, near Föckelberg, a one-hour drive
- ZWEIBRUCKEN WORLD-OF-FUN, in Zweibrucken, near Landsduhl
- TOPPLESHAUS, Topple Upside-down House
- “GO! INDOOR-KART” GO-KARTS CENTER in Kaiserslautern
- BLUMEN” CUT-YOUR-OWN FLOWERS in Kusel and Hoppstadt-Weiersbach
- BOSTAL SEE, nearby large lake and dam walk – lots to do!
- BURG LICHTENBERG, nearby castle ruins
- GARTENSCHAU DINOLAND PARK, garden, educational exhibits in Kaiserslautern
- BAD SOBERNHEIM BAREFOOT PATH (barfupfad) & GEOLOGICAL TRAIL
- WEISELBERGBAD FREISEN-OBERKIRCHEN, Indoor swimming pool in Freisen, 15k from Baumholder
- Hopp. Lake Walk – next week’s blog topic
See below for details, address and contact information, below. Please comment if you visit any of these activities!
1. NATURWILDPARK FREISEN, in Freisen, 15k from Baumholder
Activities: Outdoor animal exhibits – 30+ species, adventure playground, snacks, Eagle demonstrations
Ages: All!
Website: www.naturwildpark-freisen.de
Hours: 1 MAR-14 NOV: 1000 – 1800; 15 NOV – 28 FEB: 1000-1600; Raptor shows. Wed. at 1530
Phone: 0 685 599 6463
Address: Hermbachhof 1, Freisen 66629
2. WILDPARK POTZBERG, near Föckelberg, a one-hour drive
Activities: Wildpark, petting zoo & playground, nature reserve specializing in birds of prey, highly-rated falconry shows
Ages: All!
Prices: 8€ for adults and 5,50€ for children over age 4
Website: wildpark@potzberg.de
Hours: 1000-1800, Birds of Prey demonstration at 1500 (weather permitting)
Phone: 0 6385 6249
Address: Am Potzberg 1, 66887 Föckelberg
3. ZWEIBRUCKEN WORLD-OF-FUN, in Zweibrucken, near Landsduhl
Activities: Family entertainment complex with a kids’ play zone, ice rink, bowling alley, mini golf & dining
Ages: Toddler to adult
Prices: Free entrance, pay by activity (see website for detailed price list)
Website: http://www.wof-zw.de/
Hours: 1400-0100 (hours vary depending on season and day of week, see website for detail list of hours)
Phone: 06332 4817970
Address: Europa Allee 11, 66482 Zweibrücken
4. TOPPLESHAUS, Topple Upside-down House
Activities: Fun-to-explore upside-down fully-furnished house and a car in the garage…
Ages: All!
Prices: Entrance fee – 4,50€
Website: www.toppelshaus.de
Hours: Open daily 9am to 7pm
Address: Almosenberg 6, 97877 Wertheim
5. “GO! INDOOR-KART” GO-KARTS CENTER in Kaiserslautern
Activities: Go-Kart rides, snacks, video games, birthday parties
Ages: 7 and up. 7-10 years in Kid Karts; 11-13 years in Fun-Karts; 16+ years in Double-Seater
Prices: Kid-Kart & Fun-Kart: 10m/12€, 30m/32€; double-seater: 10m/14€m 30m/38€
Website: www.go-indoorkart.de
Hours: M-Th 1600-2300; F 1500-0100; Sa 1300-2400; Su/German holidays 1100-1300
Phone: 0 630 130 0250
Address: Carl-Denk-Strasse 2, Kaiserslautern-Erfenbach 67659
6. “BLUMEN” CUT-YOUR-OWN FLOWERS in Kusel and Hoppstadt-Weiersbach
Activities: Fields of blooming flowers, cut yourself and pay for what you cut
Ages: All!
Hours: Always open, seasonal availability
Address: Two nearby locations: The nearest to Baumholder is on the highway between Heimback and Hoppstadten-Weiersbach (on the highway that goes to the Bostalsee); the other nearby ‘Blumen’ is along the route to Autobahn 62 from Baumholder to the Kusel autobahn entrance. After making the right turn in Kusel, watch on the right for the flowers; it is about 2k before the Autobahn entrance ramp.
7. BOSTAL SEE, nearby large lake and dam walk – lots to do!
Activities: Paved trail around the lake, playgrounds, bike rental (self-powered go-carts for teens!), boat rental, lake swimming area, restaurants/beirgarten, camping, music pavilion, mini-golf
Ages: All!
Website: www.bostalsee.de
Hours: trail around lake always open; times vary for services (see website)
Phone: 0 68 529 000
Address: Am Seehafen 1, 66625 Nohfelden-Bosen. Follow L-135 toward Nohfelden, or set GPS for Neunkirchen, then follow the signs to ‘Bostalsee.” About a 30-minute curvy-but-flat drive from Baumholder
8. BURG LICHTENBERG, nearby castle ruins
Activities: Castle ruins to explore, reconstructed tower to climb, well-rated restaurant, nice playground
Ages: All!
Prices: Free to explore ruins, no charge to climb tower, moderately-priced restaurant
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichtenberg_Castle_(Palatinate)
Hours: Castle ruins open during daylight hours
Address: Set the GPS for Tallichtenberg, then follow signs to Burg Lichtenberg, ample free parking, about 30 minutes from Baumholder
9. GARTENSCHAU DINOLAND PARK, garden, educational exhibits in Kaiserslautern
Activities: Life-size dinosaur figures, Lego play area, waterplay area, gardens, restaurant
Ages: All!
Prices: Under age 5 – free; over age 5 – 5€
Website: www.gartenschau-kl.de
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 0900-1900
Phone: 0 631 71007-00
Address: Gartenschau/ Turnerstraße 2/ 67659 Kaiserslautern
10. BAD SOBERNHEIM BAREFOOT PATH (barfupfad) & GEOLOGICAL TRAIL
Activities: “The Barefoot Path in Bad Sobernheim is the first trail of its kind in Germany offering 3500m of unforgettable adventure for explores both young and young-at-heart.” Features include a clay pool, an agility course, various surfaces for barefoot sensations, a 40m suspension bridge, geology exhibits and a creek crossing on a small boat.
Website: www.bad-sobernheim.de
Hours: Open from 1 May to 3 October, daily from 0900 to 2000
Phone: 0 160 95 46 55 05
Address: Bahnhofstraße 4, Bad Sobernheim
11. WEISELBERGBAD FREISEN-OBERKIRCHEN, Indoor swimming pool in Freisen, 15k from Baumholder
Activities: Indoor swimming pool with adult, kid, and toddler areas
Ages: All!
Prices: 4.50€ Adult, 2.50€ Kinder (children), Under 6 years free; Annual membership: 240.00€ adult 160.00€
Website: http://www.freisen.de/weiselbergbad/
Hours: Go to website, click on ‘Öffnungszeiten’ (open hours) to see the complicated hours. ‘Familienbad’ means ‘mixed bathing’ – free swim
Phone: 068 556 880
Address: Zum Schwimmbad 7, 66629 Freisen-Oberkirchen
12. Hopp. Lake Walk – next week’s blog topic. See you at acrosstherollinghills.net!
*Thank you to the spouses & soldiers of the Baumholder Military Community who shared their discoveries & helped compile this list. Don’t miss your chance to explore the beautiful countryside, towns, villages, farms & natural areas around Baumholder! Deepen your experience – and memories – of your time in Germany! ~DrMike