A spa experience for the whole family in Baden-Württemberg

People often associate thermal spas with peace and relaxation. However, they have now become a place where many families can enjoy some time together. While the youngest children have their first experiences in the water, older children explore the slides and play areas or take part in swimming lessons. Many thermal spas in Baden-Württemberg have tailored their offerings to this, making it possible to combine the different interests of different generations.

First encounters with water

The joy of being in and around water often begins in the first few months of life. In Bad Boll, for example, babies can gain their first impressions and get to know water in a playful way during baby swimming sessions with their parents. Over time, interests change. Then shallow pools, play areas, and slides become appealing. At the Bodensee-Therme Überlingen, there’s a toddler area as well as two water slides for children ages six and up: Carl’s Wellenflitzer and Übi’s Silberblitz. Ideal for that first thrill in the water.

The Leuze in Stuttgart also caters to its youngest visitors with its “Kinderland.” Spanning about 600 square meters, it offers swimming facilities for children up to about seven years old, including a wading pool and a non-swimmer pool for slightly older children. An interactive aquarium, a quiet corner, diaper-changing stations, and other family-friendly amenities are also available.

Family days and short breaks

Many spas supplement their offerings with special activities for families. The Keidel Therme in Freiburg, for example, offers a children’s sauna that gently and playfully introduces kids to the sauna experience. There’s also an outdoor playground where kids can run around to their hearts’ content after swimming or using the sauna.

Regular family days also provide welcome opportunities for spending time together. At Solemar in Bad Dürrheim, a family day is held every second Saturday of the month. The program includes water play equipment, a variety of child-friendly activities, and special sauna infusions. Accordingly, families with children are, of course, warmly welcome in the sauna area on these days.

A similar concept lies behind Family Saturday at the Balinea Therme in Bad Bellingen. Here, parents and children can spend time together in the thermal waters. The experience is complemented by the Family Dead Sea Salt Cave. Children ages four and up can play in the soothing Dead Sea salt there while a storyteller reads stories aloud.

Learn to swim and try new things

For many children, the first few meters they swim on their own are among their most special and formative experiences. These moments create memories that last a lifetime. That’s why programs that support learning to swim or provide a space to practice are so important.

At the Solymar Sports and Family Pool in Bad Mergentheim, there is a 55-square-meter parent-child area, a lap pool, and two slides for children and teens ages six and up. This provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the water. Children’s swimming lessons are also offered at the Solebad Bad Wimpfen. In addition, Saturdays are Family Days there; admission is free for your own children up to age 16.

Special program days add further highlights. These include the “Splash-Splash-Splash Day” at the ThermalBad Überkingen, which takes place twice a year. The program features, among other things, aqua bingo, a kids’ sauna, adventures on a small slide, and various water games.

© Uwe Ditz – Photography // Kurverwaltung Bad Wimpfen GmbH & Co. KG

Water fun meets well-being

From baby swimming classes to special children’s areas, family days, and swimming lessons: Baden-Württemberg’s thermal spas show just how varied family time in the water can be. They create opportunities to enjoy time together, discover new things, and leave everyday life behind for a few hours.

Their particular strength lies in their diversity: While children can experience the water in their own unique, age-appropriate ways, adults can enjoy moments of relaxation. This makes thermal spas places where adventure and relaxation, fun and well-being come together.

Sources:

https://rehaklinik-bad-boll.de/therapie-erholung/mineraltherme/schwimmen-fuer-babys/

https://www.keideltherme.de/angebote/kindersauna/

http://www.balinea.de

https://www.thermalbad-ueberkingen.de/index.php?id=24

https://www.solebad-badwimpfen.de/preise-oeffnungszeiten/preise

https://www.solebad-badwimpfen.de/unser-solebad/kurse-weitere-angebote

http://www.solemar.de

https://www.solymar-therme.de/sport-familienbad.html

https://www.stuttgarterbaeder.de/leuze/kinderland

https://www.bodensee-therme.de/familien

Bad Säckingen – Highlights for families and children

The trumpet town of Bad Säckingen has a lot to offer families and children. Whether it's puzzle fun, town history, or real adventures for little explorers. Find out here what exciting highlights there are to discover in Bad Säckingen and what else you can experience besides puzzle fun, swimming, and climbing:

Highlights for young and old alike

In Bad Säckingen, explorers of all ages will find something to suit their tastes. With exciting rallies through the old town, Schönau Castle, and around the mountain lake:

Children's city rally with Hiddigeigei the cat:
Join the famous cat Hiddigeigei on this exciting treasure hunt through the old town. Solve puzzles and find clues among the old alleys and historic buildings. A small reward awaits all successful sleuths at the end!

Note: The rally documents are available at the tourist information office or in the information telephone booths in front of the tourist information office and on Spitalplatz.

Castle rally with Margareta and Hiddigeigei the cat:
The castle rally at Schönau Castle is just the thing for curious explorers. The rally takes you through five floors full of history with archaeological finds and trumpets up to 400 years old. As you search through Schönau Castle, Kater Hiddigeigei and Princess Margaretha help you solve tricky questions. If you answer everything correctly, you can even open the treasure chest at the end!

Note: Suitable for children aged 8 and above. Children up to the age of 16 are admitted free of charge. The offer is included in the admission price and can be used independently.

The WOODEN RALLY at the mountain lake:
A special highlight is the WOODEN RALLY. A lovingly designed series of five wooden ball tracks that stretch from the idyllic mountain lake down to the wildlife enclosure. This is a playful and nature-oriented way to explore the surroundings. Definitely an experience for young and old alike!

But that's not all: a trip to the Holzrallye is worthwhile for several reasons: at the mountain lake, there is a pedal boat rental and a climbing park, and in the adjacent wildlife enclosure, you can observe and even feed deer, roe deer, and wild boars. Directly below, a barefoot path invites you to feel, marvel, and slow down.

Note: The appropriate wooden balls are available from the vending machine at the Bergsee car park or from the Bad Säckingen Tourist Information Office (Waldshuter Straße 20).

© Tourismus- und Kulturamt Bad Säckingen

Other exciting activities:

Bad Säckingen Wildlife Park:
Animal lovers can observe and feed native wildlife such as wild boars, red deer, sika deer, and fallow deer near the idyllic mountain lake. The feed, dried corn, can be purchased from vending machines.

Adventure Golf:
Another activity is Adventure Golf. This originated in the US and is a further development of traditional mini golf. Real mini golf adventures await you on 18 extraordinary courses.

Disc Golf: Disc Golf can be played at Badmattenpark: a Frisbee sport in which the objective is to throw the disc into the target baskets with as few throws as possible. Use is free of charge and available around the clock. Frisbees can be brought along or purchased for €8.50 at the Tourist Information Office.

Playgrounds:
Those who prefer classic playtime fun can visit one of the beautiful playgrounds in Bad Säckingen. These include, for example, the playground in Badmatten Park or in Bremhag.

Climbing forest by the mountain lake:
Those who want to reach new heights will find what they are looking for in the climbing forest by the mountain lake. There is plenty of fun and adventure at lofty heights for the whole family here.

Pedal boat rental:
Another highlight is the pedal boat rental at the mountain lake. There, you can float on the water and enjoy the idyllic atmosphere.

Boat tour on the Rhine:
Aboard the “Trompeter von Säckingen,” you can explore the beautiful natural landscape around Bad Säckingen on a boat tour.

Conclusion

Whether it's an exciting rally, a trip into nature, or mini golf, Bad Säckingen offers ideal experiences for the whole family. It's well worth a visit and invites you to go on a discovery tour together!

References

www.badsaeckingen.de/familienerlebnisse

Moor phenomenon: wobbly forest in Bad Buchau

A special moor phenomenon on the outskirts of Bad Buchau is the so-called Wackelwald. It is a special excursion destination for the whole family and is open to all interested visitors.

Where does the name Wackelwald come from?

Quite simply, the trees in the forest stand on boggy ground that was created by the silting up of the post-glacial Federsee lake. A stable surface layer has formed between the roots of the trees and plants, under which is spongy soft peat soil. The soil gives way with every step and is therefore springy. This makes it very popular not only with visitors, but also with locals for jogging, for example.

History of the forest:

There used to be an ice pond in the forest, which was used by a brewery to cool the beer cellar. After reforestation, a spruce forest later developed here. Today, the forest is no longer used for forestry and continues to develop into a near-natural moorland forest.

Plants and animals of the forest:

The forest is not only a popular excursion destination, it is also a habitat for a variety of trees, plants and animals that call the moorland forest their home:

Plants and trees:

Bog birch
Pine tree
Spruce tree
Mountain ash
Different types of pasture

Animals

Squirrel
Woodpecker
Songbird
Deer

Discover the forest on the wobbly forest trail:

The Wobbly Forest Trail is an approx. 600-metre-long NABU nature experience trail that leads from the Federsee parking lot through the Wobbly Forest via 8 stations. At the interactive stations and viewing points, nature lovers of all ages can learn about the formation of the Federseemoor and the inhabitants of the forest.

Participation stations:

Forest biocoenosis
Why is the forest wobbling?
Buttons instead of sight
Scattered meadow viewing platform
Observation tower for mammals on the Federsee moor
Hear, see, be silent
Tree phone
Amphibian pond

A little tip: If you want to have even more forest experience, you can rent a ready-packed nature exploration backpack from the NABU Nature Conservation Center for a small fee.