Motivating children to go walking is not always easy – unless there is plenty for them to discover and experience along the way! Sabine tells us all about her top five adventure trails for kids in South Tyrol!
Setting out with the eyes of a child
As you know I really love being outdoors, whether it is hiking, skiing or swimming – it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to be out and about in the natural world! And I also like going out with my niece and nephew now and again. I have to admit that walking with kids is a rather different experience... But it is particularly rewarding to explore new paths from a child’s perspective! :) And I really appreciate the various options in South Tyrol for a great day out with our children – stress-free.
Too lazy to go walking? No way!
Adventure trails and themed walks, with exciting stops and new discoveries to be made – these are accessible in springtime, but are also attractive in summer and autumn and make a great alternative to “normal” walks for children who often lack motivation. No chance of that on these walks! :)
Here are my personal top five themed walks and adventure trails:
You can get directly onto the Squirrel Path from the car park by the Waldschenke inn, above the Marling Waalweg Path. Just the name should motivate your kids! :) And they will be rewarded with a total of 26 stations offering entertainment and information for explorers large and small! The individual stations are close together and offer activities such as climbing, swinging, balancing and sliding, along with panels giving interesting facts about the forest and its inhabitants. As an alternative to the full circuit (and depending on how long you spend at the individual stations) which takes around one hour, there is a shorter, pushchair-friendly variant. And if on the other hand the Squirrel Way is not enough, you can continue your stroll along the Marling Waalweg Path! :)
- Ritten Forest and Wild Animal Trail
Fiona the Fox, Karl the Owl and Ivo the Hedgehog are just some of the eight charming forest characters who will get kids moving on this recently opened trail! It offers large-scale and, in my view, beautifully painted animal figures of solid wood that tell us all about themselves on the display panels, which in turn suggest activities for children that match the animal. And you can always stretch your legs between the stations... For very small visitors to the forest, the Forest and Wild Animal Trail in Oberbozen is also easy to negotiate with a pushchair and takes about one hour to complete. :)
There are also great adventures to be had – with the kids of course – at Agums, north of Prad am Stilfserjoch! The trails starts from the church and is particularly stimulating for older children: the thirteen stations get them to play the detective, with fascinating puzzles to solve! A fun way to learn all sorts of interesting facts about the forest animals. :) This circular route takes approximately two hours if you stop at all the stations.
- Hexenquellen Barefoot Park
Take the cable car up from Seis to the top station at Compatsch, then take a 15-minute ride on bus no. 11 to Saltria. This is the starting point for a 2.5-kilometre long circuit where the name of the game is: get your shoes off! :) There is the little witch, Curadina, to guide you as you explore nature barefoot, with a variety of features to navigate such as stone, wood, grass, roots and so on.;) There are sculptures, adventures and quiet spots too, not to mention sulphur springs to top off this exciting experience for the senses! And that is just what a barefoot path is because, hand on heart, when was the last time you went walking with no shoes on? ;)
- The Spielesee Lake at Watles
Perhaps not strictly an adventure trail, but this unique lake can be combined with a leisurely walk in the Upper Vinschgau Valley and, because it is a very special place with lots of play activities, I have included it on my list – as a “special point”! ;) This 1500 m² watery biotope is open from early June and offers junior adventurers wooden rafts, suspension bridges, a spring, two waterfalls and a small stream. At the lake children can try panning for gold or looking for precious stones, have fun on the slide and enjoy the shallow water, all while their parents appreciate the panoramic views from the comfort of wooden sun loungers! The lake is located right next to the top station of the chairlift.
These adventure trails are sure to mean that kids stop their complaints that “walking is boring!” And these adventures can even do adults good – as the world seen through children’s eyes always looks that little bit lovelier. :)
I wish you a wonderful time walking with your little ones!
With
heartfelt greetings,
Sabine!