A selection of Germany's best theme and leisure parks Published Sept. 5, 2008 By Iris Reiff 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- At Germany's theme parks, you can have the time of your life. Ride the best roller coaster in the world, a flying carousel with a spectacular view or experience breathtaking stunt shows. Or enjoy a walk through a park, experiencing Germany's beautiful landscapes, culture and history. Tips and general information for visiting a park in Germany: When planning a family outing to a park with about five people, count on at least 150 Euros for travel, admission, food and drinks. Admission ranges from $10 to $20 a person at most parks; the admission typically covers all rides. Small children get in for less. Always ask about family packages. Bring your own picnic (sandwiches and beverages, especially water,) if possible. Smaller parks are, of course, less hectic, but the rides for older children may be limited. Weekends are usually more crowded than weekdays. Parks will become crowded during the summer. Expect waiting lines and never try to visit a park for less than four hours. All Eifel parks are located within one hour driving time from Spangdahlem Air Base. Most of the other parks listed are located either in the Pfalz, Saarland or Kaiserslautern areas and can be reached within two to three hours driving time from both bases. The below list is not complete; additional parks can be found throughout the country. Listing of parks: Legoland Deutschland (in Gunzburg, between Stuttgart and Munich :) A world devoted to Lego exhibits and activities. www.lego.com Warner Bros. Movie World (in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, northwest of Hannover, off A31:) Superman Ride of Steel or Batman - Knight in Superheroes World, see Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird and Sylvester at the Cartoon World. Also visit Hollywood Boulevard and the Old West Territory. www.sixflagseurope.com Phantasialand (in Bruehl located, between Cologne and Bonn:) Covers more than 280,000 square meters of adventure fun: outstanding rides, giant roller coasters, a cable railway, funny tubes, monorails, adventure movie theaters, boats and much more, also has a China Town, numerous shows, etc. www.phantasialand.de Europa Park, Rust (near Freiburg, south of Karlsruhe, exit 57b, off A5 between Frankfurt and Basel:) Water activities are available at this amusement park, enjoy the Altantica Supersplash or the Devil's Barrels, barrel-shaped boats that fall down water chutes; the park offers a slow canal ride passed medieval scenes on the Anno Tobak, Germany's biggest theme park, offering breathtaking shows and rides. www.europa-park.de Tolli-Park (in Mayen, Eifel area:) A 30,000 square meter entertainment area, things to do for small and older children: rides, playgrounds, petting zoo, games, attractions. The address is Nikolaus-Otto-Str., 56727 Mayen. www.tolli-park.de Aquadrom Waterpark (in Hockenheim, near Heidelberg and Mannheim:) Features a saltwater adventure pool, wave pool, a terrace paddling pool, relaxation areas, a log cabin sauna with a cool water pool and a separate garden sauna area. www.hockehnheim.de/aquadrom Alpamare Waterpark (in Bad Toelz, near Garmisch:) Surfing year-round indoor, knee and stand boarding possible at the combined hotel and water resort near Garmisch. www.alpamare.com Frankfurt/Main Zoo, An oasis of nature, right in the center of the city, one of the oldest zoos in the world features night monkeys and an ape husbandry, freshwater crocodiles, rhinoceroses and Amur leopards, a variety of typical zoo animals and fish, a children's petting zoo, 4,800 animals with 565 species on a 32.5-acre surface, 8 Euros for adults, 4 Euros for children ages 6-17 and 4 Euros for children 5 and under. Group discount rates available. Address is Alfred-Brehm-Platz, 60316 Frankfurt/Main. Click zoos at www.frankfurt.de "Jardin des Papillions" tropical butterfly gardens (in Grevenmacher, Luxembourg:) Specializes in free-flying exotic tropical butterflies. Open through October 15, from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., address is Route de Treves, Grevenmacher, L-6793 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Eifel-Zoo Park (in Luenebach-Pronsfeld, the Eifel area:) a 75 acre-zoo park with 400 animals and 60 species, playgrounds, walking-paths, children's zoo, open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the summer, admission is 6 Euros for adults, 5 Euros for children, age 3-13; group discount rates are available.; take the A-60 towards Pruem and drive into direction Luenebach; info at www.eifel-zoo.de. Eagles and Wolves Park Kasselburg (in Pelm, near Gerolstein, the Eifel area:) a 75-acre park with 150 animals and 10 species, opened in 1970, mainly a bird-of-prey center, includes free-flying bird shows at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., wolves feeding at 3:45 p.m., open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer, admission fee is 4,50 Euros for adults, 3,50 Euros for children, age 4-15, discounts for groups and students; the address is Kasselburg, 54570 Pelm; take the A1 exit Darscheid, then B257 to Daun, B410 to Gerolstein and Pelm, the park is signposted; info at www.adler-wolfspark.de. Eifel-park Gondorf (in Gondorf,, near Dudeldorf/Bitburg ,in the Eifel area:) a 187,5 acre surface-animal and leisure park, predominantly for children up to age 14 and their parents, mainly a theme park with wild life animals, bears, rides, shows, special events throughout the year, playgrounds, food and barbecue areas, admission is 11 Euro for adults, 7,50 Euros for children, age 4-14 and discounts for seniors, groups and families; also a great place just to take a nice walk through beautiful nature; open until October from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. with admission until 6 p.m. in the summer; take the A60/B50 to Bitburg, stay on B50 into the direction of Wittlich, the park is signposted; info at www.eifelpark.de. Wild Animal Park Hellenthal, (in Hellenthal, in the Eifel area:) a 162,5 acre park with 650 animals and 75 species, opened in 1967, children's zoo, playground area, free-flying bird shows, for families with smaller children, offering wild horses, bears, eagles, board, many others, open through October from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is 7 Euros for adults, 5,50 Euros for children, age 4-16 and discounts for families and groups; take the A1 exit Wisskirchen into direction Kommern, Gemuend, B265 to Hellenthal, the park is signposted, has a large parking lot; info at www.wildgehege-hellenthal.de. Gartenschau Garden Show and park (in Kaiserslautern:) a beautiful garden with a variety of sporting and leisure events, Europe's largest model dinosaur park, adventure playground, admission is 6 Euros per person, open through Oct., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, holidays and until 7 p.m. during German school brake; the address is Turnerstrasse, 67659 Kaiserslautern; info at www.gartenschau.kl.de. Holiday Park (in Hassloch, in the Pfalz area:) has sensational rides, giant roller coasters and shows at 400,000 square meter theme park, best rollercoaster in the world "Expedition GeForce," "Lighthouse Tower," Europe's only water-ski stunt show-top sporting event, family friendly "Thunder River" and "Devil's Barrels" rides, Holly's Kinderland, park great for the entire family, several restaurants offers action and adventure for small and tall for 35 years now, open until 2 Nov. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is possible until 4 p.m., open times vary, admission is 25 Euros per person; the address is Holiday Park, 67454 Hassloch; info at www.holidaypark.de. Kurpfalz-Park (in Wachenheim, Pfalz area:) offers breathtaking adventures in a 700,000 square meter park, wildlife, lynx tracks, watch wild Moufflon sheep, relax by trout pond, see falcons and eagles during flight shows, fund and action, freefall slide and summer toboggan run, chairlift and bumper boats, swan pedalos and Kurpfalz Express, family attractions, open until Oct. from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the animal park and until 10 a.m. in the summer for rides, admission is 13 Euros per person, the address is Kurpfalz-Park, 67157 Wachenheim; info at www.kurpfalz.de. Reptilium - Terrarien and Wuestenzoo (in Landau, Pfalz:) Germany's largest reptile zoo with 2,500 square meters, 1,000 exotic reptiles and amphibians from all over the world, feeding demos are a highlight, admission is 13,50 Euros per person; the address is 76829 Landau; info at www.reptilium.de. Japanese Gardens (in Kaiserslautern:) Europe's largest Japanese garden covers around 13,500 square meters, place of meditation and contemplation, exotic paradise, original Japanese teahouse, Zen garden and large landscaped pond with several waterfalls, open until Sept. from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and starting in Oct. from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., admission is 3,50 Euros per person, info at www.japanischergarten.de. Auto & Technik Museum (in Sinsheim:) more than 3,000 exhibits covering all areas of technological history: Air France Concorde and „Russian Concorde" Tu-144, IMAX 3D movie theater, coffee shop & bistro, restaurants, event service and a hotel nearby, open 365 days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tel.: 0761/9299-0, www.technik-museum.de. Technic Museum (in Speyer:) featuring airplanes, helicopters, vintage cars, U-9 (former submarine of the German navy weighing 466 tons,) locomotives, fire engines, playground area, coffee shop, restaurant, hotel with caravanning site, IMAX Dome movie theater, event serviced, open 365 days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; info at tel.: 06232/6708-0 or www.technik-museum.de. Haus der Nachhaltigkeit or "Sustainability House"(in Trippstadt:), demonstrates all aspects of sustainable living and housekeeping, featuring a biosphere information center, including a sample house, built from eco-friendly materials and regenerative power sources, a fascinating tour through nature through a 500 square meter exhibition area, open Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October, admission is 2,00 Euros per person, address is Johanniskreuz 1a, 67705 Trippstadt, info at www.hdn-pfalz.de. Dynamikum Science Center (in Pirmasens, Pfalz area:) an interactive museum focusing on movement, more than 150 hands-on experiments, many surprises, very interesting, admission is 8,50 Euros per person, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through December, address is Froehnstrasse 8, 66953 Pirmasens; info at www.dynamikum.de. Zoologischer Garten zoo garden (in Neunkirchen:) featuring 1,200 animals, about 180 species on a 12 hectare surface, including Asian elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, leopards, camels, donkeys and dear, falconry center and birds of prey, admission is 5 Euros per person, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October, admission until 5 p.m., the address is Zoostrasse 25, 66538 Neunkirchen; info at www.zoo-neunkirchen.de. Archäologiepark Belginum (in Morbach-Wederath) Celtic-Roman grounds, roman settlement of Belginum and early Roman camp, remarkable archaeological findings at museum and with exhibitions, admission is 4 Euros per person, open March through June and Sept. through Oct., Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., July through Aug., Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., admission is 4 Euros per person, address is Keltenstrasse 2, 54497 Morbach-Wederath, info at www.belginum.de. GaytalPark (in Koerperich, in the Eifel area:) explore, experience and learn about nature and the environment, has impressive multimedia exhibition on the environment and illustrates the methods for generating renewable energy, 20 hectares of outdoor space, admission is 2,50 Euros per person, open daily through October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., meeting point is the exhibition center, the address is Bitburger Strasse 1, 54675 Koerperich-Obersgegen; info at www.gaytalpark.de. Europaeischer Kulturpark culture park (in Gersheim-Reinheim:) existed 8,000 years ago, focal point are a tomb of the Celtic princess of Reinheim and the Roman settlement of Bliesbruck, learn about the life in a Gallo- Roman city of several thousand inhabitants, admission is 7 Euros per person, open daily through October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., address is Robert-Schumann-Str. 2, 66453 Gersheim-Reinheim, info at www.europaeischer-kulturpark.de. Wildlife Park Potzberg (in Foekelberg:), a falconry center with flying demos featuring royal eagles, enormous vultures, lightning-quick falcons, kites and buzzards and about 100 birds of prey, many wild and domestic animals from close distance in the 30 hectare park, great family trip, admission is 6 Euros per person, open daily until October from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., flying demos daily at 3 p.m., address is Am Potzberg 1, 66887 Foeckelberg, info at www.wildpark.potzberg.de. Jo-Jo Spiel- and Erlebnispark or play and adventure park (in Bad Kreuznach, Pfalz area:) covered play area for kids of all ages, soft building bricks in toddlers area, wannabe drivers on the ride-on course, trampolines, a box slide and air hockey, a ball shooting area and much more, admission is 6 Euros per person, open Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., address is Industriestr. 10, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, info at www.jo-jo-familienpark.de. Landesgartenschau or State Garden Show 2008 (in Bingen, on the Rhine river:) 185 days of vivid displays featuring flower shows which change throughout the event, joint garden projects, an English rose garden, concerts, picnics near the Mouse Tower, entertainment, admission is 14 Euros per person, open now through Oct. 19 daily from 9:30 a.m. until sunset, address is Hafenstrasse 2a, 55411 Bingen am Rhein; info at www.landesgartenbschau-bingen.de. Backstage tour at the Nuerburgring (Nuerburgring race track in the Eifel area:) see behind the scenes at the famous Nuerburgring race track during an exclusive backstage tour, enjoy area such as the HAZET paddock, VIP terrace and drivers' tunnel, hear facts and stories about motor racing, admission is 6 Euros per person, tours available daily, inquire about English speaking tours at 02691-302602, address is Otto-Flimm-Strasse, 53520 Nuerburgring; info at www.nuerburgring.de. Roman Villa Otrang (in Fliessem, in the Eifel area:) wonder through Roman culture, see a selection of excavations, ranging from glass ware to pottery and ancient weapons, 66 rooms, complete with a system of hot, warm and cold baths, featuring a space below the floor into which hot air was piped from a furnace, so-called hypocausts, a. multi-color mosaic is still completely intact, about 4 miles outside of Bitburg is a sign "Roemische Villa, near Fliessem. Stoeffel Adventure Park (in Enspel: offering world-renowned fossil beds and remarkable industrial architecture, preserved in the deposits of a crater lake are the remains of prehistoric life dating back 25 million years, while a basalt mine and exhibitions featuring a 100-year industrial history, lake and interactive attractions, admission is 2,50 Euros per person, the address is Stoeffelstrasse, 57647 Enspel, open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., info at www.stoeffelpark.de. Devonium Museum (in Waxweiler, in the Eifel area:) geological attractions in the Eifel region, modern, hands-on installations featuring entertainment with education, impressions from 400 million years ago and a view into the far future, admission is 2,50 Euros, open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, admission is 2,50 Euros, address is Hauptstr. 28, 54649 Waxweiler, info at www.devonium.de. Garten der Schmetterlinge butterfly gardens (in Sayn, near Koblenz:) a tropical garden with beautiful butterflies fluttering among banana trees, palms and waterfalls, exotic parade, turtles and other animals, admission is 7,50 Euros per person, open daily through October from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., address is Im Fuerstlichen Schlosspark 1, 56170 Sayn, info at www.sayn.de, www.schmetterling.net. Hoehenhof holiday farm (in Holzbach:) a path suitable for barefoot walking runs 1.3 kilometers through diverse scenery near the Reims cathedral, admission is 5 Euros, open daily through October from 12:30 to 5 p.m., address is Barfusspfad Hoehenhof, 55469 Holzbach, info at www.hoehenhof.de. Sea Life Center (in Speyer, Pfalz area:) enjoy the life beneath the sea, featuring 30 aquariums mimicking natural habitats, see over 100 species from anemones to zebra sharks, top attraction is the glass tunnel through the ocean pool with its tropical shark lagoon, open daily from 10 a.m. on, address is Im Hafenbecken 5, 67346 Speyer, info at www.sealifeeurope.de. Gemstone "el dorado"(in Freisen:) covers approx. 25,000 square meters of minerals and precious stones, see equipment and tools for cutting the stones, admission is 5 Euros, open daily upon request, during school break from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission until 5 p.m., the address is 66629 Freisen, info at www.edelsteindorado.de. Biosphere center and treetop walk (in Saarbruecken:) a treetop walk 18 meters above the ground winding through the branches to a 35-meter high platform; info at www.saarbruecken.de. Saarbruecken Zoo, a beautiful setting on Eschberg hill, featuring 1,000 animals from all over the world, living in families, groups or together with other species, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is 4,50 Euros, address is Graf-Staufenberg-Strasse, 66121 Saarbruecken, info at www.zoo.saarbruecken.de. Garten der Sinne (in Merzig, Saarland: a season garden, a water garden and a rose garden, appealing to all senses, for young garden lovers, children's play garden with special toys, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Mondays, admission is 3,70 Euros per person, address is Ellerweg, 66663 Merzig, info at www.gaerten-ohne-grenzen.de. Tiergarten Zoo (in Worms:) home to 350 animals from more than 80 species, highlights include the Palatinate farmhouse with its rare domestic breeds and the brand-new wolf enclosure, large recreational green with historical merry-go-round and children's railway, admission is 3,50 Euros per person, address is Hammelsdamm 101, 67547 Worms, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., info at www.tiergarten-worms.de. Neuwied Zoo, has a number of highlights, largest herd of grey kangaroos outside Australia, underwater antics of seals and marvel at cheetahs catching their food at 50km/h with the prey simulator, a state of the art monkey house, admission is 8 Euros, open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., address is Waldstrasse 160, 56566 Neuwied, info at www.zooneuwied.de. PuppentheaterKultur (in Bad Kreuznach, Pfalz area:), art of puppetry, Rother state collection, more than 2,500 exhibits incl. well-known German characters and intricate Chinese shadow puppets, a working puppet theater and workshop, admission is 3,50 Euros per person, address is Hueffelsheimer Strasse 5, 55545 Bad Kreuznach, info at www.stadt-bad-kreuznach.de. Orchidarium gardens (in Daleiden, in the Eifel area:) offering 25,000 different orchids, largest plant family in the world, the different plants grow during different seasons. The orchidarium is closed during January for planting and renovations work, unbelievable orchid variations; Daleiden is located between Neuerburg and Dasburg. From Bitburg drive toward Vianden, Luxembourg, at Sinspelt follow signs to Neuerburg. Go through Neuerburg and take a left at the VW dealer toward Daleiden. Distance: about ¾ hours from Spangdahlem, open Monday through Fri from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 to 3 p.m., Sundays and holidays from 1 to 5 p.m.; info at tel.: 06550-1438 or 1657 or www.orchideen-schronen. Tripdrill Park (at Claybronn/Tripsdrill, located between Stuttgart and Heilbronn:) Germany's oldest amusement park, but going with modern time, offers many attractive rides, a wine museum and a petting zoo, also offers large grounds with lawn and gardens and shady areas to relax. For information go to www.tripsdrill.de.