Family Winter Sports Adventures in the Black Forest

In Southwest Germany, close to the Swiss and French borders, the Black Forest region is best known to travelers for its beautiful, half-timbered villages. But for savvy European families, the Black Forest Highlands is known for its winter sports and money-saving Red Inclusive Card.

It’s a perfect choice for families, with slopes for every skill level from beginners to experts. Several ski resorts offer ski and snowboard terrain and schools, plus trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding.

Black Forest Highlands

Sports

Feldberg Mountain boasts a total of 38 lifts and 40 miles of ski trails and slopes for all skill levels, from gentle family runs to the white-knuckle FIS World Cup circuit. On the Feldberg itself are 14 lifts and 20 miles of skiing, and ski schools and rentals serve all the base areas of the interconnected lift network. A good family value, ski schools and centers offer lessons and packages for an entire week’s vacation.

Cross-country skiers will find there are 435 miles of trails in the Black Forest Highlands, ranging from short circular trails to challenging mountain trails. Most cross-country trails are groomed for parallel, some for skating.

Skiing isn’t the only winter sport here. Snowshoeing, which doesn’t require special boots or equipment, is popular around Feldberg, where there are two signposted snowshoe trails. Throughout the highlands region are 13 more signposted trails where you can enjoy the peace of the winter woods; most have benches at the best viewpoints. You can take guided group snowshoe hikes with different themes, from animal tracks to a sunrise snowshoe tour that begins with headlamps and culminates at an overlook to watch the sun’s first rays highlight the surrounding snow-covered peaks.

Most mountains also have groomed sledding trails with conveyor belt lifts, and there are more than 300 miles of groomed winter hiking trails with beautiful views.

Winter sports with the family. Photo: Black Forest Highlands

When the ski slopes close for the day, après ski is a family affair. The three-story Fundorena trampoline park’s large indoor high ropes course and a boulder arena were both designed specifically for children. For whole family wellness and spa experiences, there’s the Badeparadies Black Forest, designed for various ages.

Red Inclusive Card

One of the region’s most appealing qualities for families is the Red Inclusive Card. Included with two nights lodging at more than 450 hotels, inns and resorts in the region are a day’s free lift pass and the card entitling tourists to deep discounts on dining, entertainment and après-ski places for the children, including water and trampoline parks. The Red Inclusive Card for families is valid for two adults and three children up to age 17.

For a family, the Red Inclusive Card can represent savings of as much as €400 ($450) on activities, ski equipment and tickets. With many family accommodations at $100 or less per room, including breakfast, the potential for savings are tremendous. But the experience of a family ski vacation in Europe is priceless.