Adventure/Animal Parks

A pair of coal-black ravens dive bombs visitors as they enter an aviary at the Wiesbaden Fasanerie. After a couple of passes and seeming to decide their low-level flights and raucous caws are not enough to drive the visitors out of their enclosure, the birds land on a nearby bench and begin playfully tussling over a piece of wood.

These encounters and more await visitors to this animal park in the forest northwest of Wiesbaden. Located on Willfried-Ried Strasse, just off B54 (Aarstrasse), the animal sanctuary is situated on the side of a hill stretching up into the forest. Visitors are invited to wander under giant sequoia trees, along paths past various large animal enclosures featuring everything from wild boars to wolves, and to stroll into several open and enclosed aviaries showcasing storks, herons, pheasants and other wild birds.

Besides views of a variety of animals, younger visitors will also appreciate a large playground area.

Built in the mid-1950s by the city of Wiesbaden at the site of an older hunting lodge (which today serves as a restaurant) to provide a large, natural habitat for about 50 different types of animals, the Fasanerie is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the winter months and until 6 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31. There is no cost to enter the Fasanerie.

To drive to the Wiesbaden Fasanerie follow Gustav-Stresemann Ring past the Hauptbahnhof (turn left when leaving the Hainerberg Shopping Center) as it turns into Kaiser-Friedrich Ring, Bismarckring and then veers left into Seerobenstrasse before eventually becoming Aarstrasse. A left turn off of Aarstrasse onto Willfried-Ried Strasse in the woods leads one to a parking area across from the Fasanerie. Visitors can also hop on Bus 33 to get to the park.

Visit www.wiesbaden.de/fasanerie for more information.

English tours are available upon request. Contact: (0611) 409077-0 or email fasanerie@wiesbaden.de.

Freizeitpark (Leisure Park) Lochmühle

Open daily from March 27 to October 24. Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Last admission at 5 p.m., the amusement rides run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission into the park until 4:30 p.m. each day. The rides operate from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Special attraction: 15 ponies; pony rides possible for an extra fee. Day passes (prices per person): visitors below 90 cm are free! Visitors 120 cm and taller: €11.50, visitors between 90 and 120 cm: €10. Address: 61273 Wehrheim (Taunus hills), tel. (06175) 79 00 60, website: www.lochmuehle.de

Directions: (1) A5 Darmstadt - Kassel, exit Nr. 16 Friedberg/Friedrichsdorf, direction Friedrichsdorf, direction Usingen/Wehrheim. (2) A3 Köln/Frankfurt, exit Bad Camberg, direction Usingen, in Usingen take B456 direction Bad Homburg. (3) A661 Frankfurt-Bad Homburg, exit Oberursel Nord, B456 direction Usingen. Strip map available at www.lochmuehle.de (click ‘Anreise’).

Erlebnispark (Adventure Park) Steinau

Open daily from March 27 to Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission at 5 p.m., the amusement rides run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Day passes: visitors below 100 cm are free! Visitors 130 cm and taller: €11, visitors between 100 and 130 cm: €10. Directions: A66 Frankfurt-Hanau-Fulda, exit „Steinau-West“, in Steinau direction Marjoß-Jossa, then follow „Erlebnispark“signs. Strip map available at www.erlebnispark-steinau.de (click ‘Anreise’).

Freizeit-Land (‘Leisure Land’) Geiselwind is located just off A3 Würzburg direction Nürnberg. The park features more than 50 attractions, including kids’ rides, super loops, theater shows, a petting zoo and the look-out ‘Top of the World’ with the biggest transportable platform worldwide (holding 132 people). Open April 2 to Oct. 17, starting at 9 a.m., in September and October sometimes only open on weekends. Day pass: free for visitors shorter than 1.10 m; €19.50 for those taller than 1.10 m; € 22,50 for those taller than 1.40 m.

More info at civ (09556) 92110 or www.freizeit-land.de (one English page available).

Playmobil Fun Park in Zirndorf (Central Franconia) featuring a knights’ castle, pirate boat, Red Indians’ village, gold mine, farm; climbing park; Playmobil game city with the favorite theme parks ‘Vikings’, ‘knights’ & ‘dream castle.’ Info at (0911) 966 67 00 or www.playmobil-funpark.de (only German pages).

Erlebnispark (Adventure Park) Tripsdrill

Open March 27 to Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day pass: €22.50, children from 4 to 11: €18.50, children under 4 are free. The park is in 74389 Cleebronn, more info at tel. (0 71 35) 99 99 or www.tripsdrill.de (English pages available).

Holiday Park

Open from March 27 to Nov. 7. Day pass for visitors taller than 1.45: €27.90; children from 1m t0 1.44m: €22.90; children shorter than 1 meter are free. Address: 67454 Hassloch (near Speyer), more info at tel. (0 63 24) 5 99 30 or www.holidaypark.de (English pages available).

Legoland Deutschland

Open daily from March 27 through Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Day pass (adults): €36. Day pass for children from 3 to 11: €32; lower rates apply for online booking. Children under 3 years are free. Address: 89312 Günzburg, more info at (0 8221) 70 07 00 or www.legoland.de; English page available.

Phantasialand

Opened April 1 through Nov. 1 daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check website for additional hours in the winter months. Day pass: €34.50, children between 1 m and 1.45 m: €29,50. Children under 1 m are free. Address: 50321 Brühl (near Cologne), info at (022 32) 3 62 00 or www.phantasialand.de (English pages available).

Edersee Toboggan Run

Unter dem Hagen 1, 34513 Waldeck. Longest toboggan far and wide with lots of fun – turns, bridges, jumps. Open April thru October. Price per ride for children over 13 and adults is €2.30 and €1.60 for children under 13. Separate prices for additional attractions. More at http://www.sommerrodelbahn-edersee.de/index2.php, phone Tel.: 05634 – 6646

Taunus Wunderland, Schlangenbad

Open March 27 through Oct. 24 daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. New attractions: a giant slide and a pirate ship. Day pass (adults): €15.50, children (1 m – 1.30 m): €14. Children under 1 m are free.

Address: 65388 Schlangenbad. More info available at tel. (06124) 4081 or www.taunuswunderland.de (English page available).

Europapark, Rust

Open March 27 thru Nov. 7 daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Europapark is Germany’s biggest leisure park; it features, among other things, a European theme park reflecting the different European countries and their unique characteristics. Day pass: €35, children 4-11 years: €31. Address: 77977 Rust (near Freiburg, Black Forest area in Southern Germany), more info at tel. (01805) 77 66 88 or www.europapark.de (English pages available).

Warner Brothers Movie World in Bottrop

You can find more information in English on this link. http://www.starparks.com/moviepark/press/index_en.cfm (English pages available).

Falconry at Ronneburg Castle

The stars of the bird shows are eagle owl “Nelly”, vulture “Hansi” and white-tailed eagle “Ragna” as well as other eagles, desert buzzards and falcons. Shows are held from March to November (weather permitting) as follows:

Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday and German holidays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. as well as upon special request.

On Monday the falconry is closed.

Admission: €4.50 for adults; €3.50 for kids.

Group discounts available for 20 and more people.

Address: Falknerei Burg Ronneburg at 63549 Ronneburg.

Tel.: (06048) 953 858, email: mail@falknerei-ronneburg.de

Website : www.falknerei-ronneburg.de

Bird Park Biebesheim (greater Groß-Gerau area)

The bird park, which covers an area of 20,000 square meters, features a variety of bird species from all continents as well as the endangered white storks and a cage with Capuchin monkeys. There is also a huge, publicly accessible aviary. The park is open daily from 11 a.m., free admission. Address: Vogelspark Biebesheim, Anglerweg, 64584 Biebesheim.

Tel.: (06258) 81865, website: www.vogelpark-biebesheim.de (only German pages).

Opel Zoo, Kronberg

Königsteiner Straße 35, 61476 Kronberg, Phone: 06173 79749, www.opel-zoo.de. Tickets: Adults: €10.50, children: €6.50.

Opening hours:

Daily all year round

Wintertime: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Summertime: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. / June/ July/ August: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Zoo Frankfurt

Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16
60316 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: 069 - 212 337-35
www.zoo-frankfurt.de

Opening hours: Daily 9:00 am –7:00pm

Two restaurants provide for your culinary welfare in the Zoo: the Snack Bar/ Cafeteria Happy Bär and the Mexican Restaurant Sombrero im Zoo. In the summer months enjoy our Zoo terrace with its wonderful view.

Best leisure parks Germany-wide

The two largest leisure parks in Germany, Phantasialand in Brühl and Europa-Park in Rust by Freiburg, are rated the most popular by visitors, according to a study by the Internet portal Parcscout.de. Hansa Park is third. The best novelty is the Blue Fire roller coaster at Europa Park which accelerates to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds.

Hansa Park is said to offer the best value for the money, and Spieleland in Ravensburg is rated as the most children-friendly park.

There are countless zoos in Germany. The Hannover Experience Zoo ranked top.

On swimming pools, the Galaxy Experience Pool in Erding ranks as the most exciting.

Europa-Park www.europapark.de
Hansa-Park www.hansapark.de
Ravensburger Spieleland www.spieleland.de/spielelandL
Movie Park Germany www.movieparkgermany.de
Phantasialand www.phantasialand.de
Erlebnispark Tripsdrill www.tripsdrill.de
Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover www.zoo-hannover.de
Galaxy Erding/Therme Erding www.therme-erding.de
Center Parcs Bispinger Heide www.centerparcs.de

See http://reisen.t-online.de/-parkscout-publikums-award-die-besten-freizeitparks/id_41550646/index

Click “Foto-Serie Die besten Freizeitparks” for photos of the best leisure parks

Click “Foto-Serie Die besten Hallenspielplätze” for photos of the best indoor playgrounds.