Where to Take Your Kids in Southwest Germany

Southwest Germany is an ideal destination for a family expedition of any configuration, whether your crew includes teens, pre-teens or university students. Here are some great ideas for planning your trip, courtesy of Tourism Board Baden-Wuerttemberg:

© Victoria Larson

Check out the Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden in Stuttgart, where the lovely Moorish architecture plays backdrop to what began as ornate private gardens for King Wilhelm I. Plan your visit for a specific time of day, and your kids can participate in a supervised feeding of Barbary sheep, sea lions, Bonobos, gorillas, crocodiles or penguins. Spend an afternoon at Sensapolis. This indoor adventure park located close to Stuttgart has a host of attractions sure to keep everyone engaged and happy.

Among them are a High Ropes Course, Fairytale Castle, Adventure Trail, Climbing Wall and the Tobis Kletterhöhle — an enormous mass of brightly colored crocheted rope that can be crawled in, over and through.

© Simon Tress – TMBW

Hike the gnome path at Feldberg Mountain in the Upper Black Forest, or visit during the winter to enjoy a selection of snowy skiing activities. Not a skier? Tour the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen, where the world’s largest collection focusing on the wonder of airships has been assembled.

Head to Castle Waldburg, where tours of the compound’s historic structures can be augmented with activities like horseshoe throwing, Gummy Bear slingshot practice and crossbow shooting. Bonus: kids can even don costumes to add to the experience.

Got older kids with you? Be sure to include a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, where nine separate levels showcase 160 vehicles and more than 1,500 exhibits.