"Explore the Eifel" continues on Spangdahlem

Published April 11, 2014
By Iris Reiff
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 10th Annual Explore the Eifel Adventure kicked off at 9 a.m., April 24 in Club Eifel at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

Below is a listing of some of the events available for signups:

Saturday, April 26
Spangdahlem- Saarburg (Saarburg Sightseeing and leisure fun time)
1:00 p.m. - Departure from Spangdahlem (base theater)
2:00 p.m. - Arrival in Saarburg (Heckingplatz parking area)
2 - 3 p.m. - Saarburg city walking tour, expect to see the old city part of Saarburg, the city center, waterfalls, the Saarburg castle, the Saint Laurentius church, a view over the Saar river from Saarburg -Beurig
3 - 4:30 p.m. - Take the chairlift (or bus) to the vacation resort Warsberg (10 min) where you can enjoy a ride on the "Sommerrodelbahn" summer slide.
Optional: Enjoy a visit to the Saarburg Greifvogelpark or Eagles Park stop at the Mannebach brewery for refreshments.
5:00 p.m. - Dinner at the Saarburg Wirtshaus zum Pferdemarkt (uriger Keller) stop in the Bonsai und Wein Vinothek wine cellar.
6:00 p.m. - Bus departs Saarburg to the base (Food, beverages and entry fees at own expense)

Friday, May 2
Spangdahlem-Irrel (Devil's Canyon tour)
1:30 p.m. - Departure via bus from Spangdahlem Air Base.
2:30 p.m. - Arrival Devils' Canyon near Irrel Hike from Pruemzurlay to Holsthum past the Hop Fields (guided tour with Mayor Moritz Petry) Optional: short stop at the Hosthum Roman Villa
3:30 p.m. - Beer Probe and Food Imbiss offered.
5:30 p.m. - Bus departs for Spangdahlem
(This is a free event, and base members and families signing up to this event can drive their own vehicles. Directions will be provided)

Friday, May 2
Forest walk from Spangdahlem to Himmerod
9.00 a.m. - Depart as a group from Spangdahlem Visitors Center
9 - 12:00 p.m. - Forest Walk with small refreshment stop
12.00 p.m. - Explore Himmerod Abbey
12.45 p.m. - Depart Himmerod for Spangdahlem
(participants can drive themselves)

Friday, May 2
Wolfsfeld castle tour and barbecue
13.00 - Drive yourself excursion in Wolfsfeld, near Bitburg/Irrel
13.30 - Arrival in Wolfsfeld and sightseeing tour of castle
14.30 - Free barbecue
(Invitation from the Bitburg-Land area and sponsored by HNC)

Saturday, May 3
Spangdahlem - Traben-Trarbach Adventure Tour
10:00 a.m. - Departure from Spangdahlem Base Theater
11:00 a.m. - Arrival at Traben-Trarbach Adventure Forest for an hour of exploring and climbing the Adventure Forest (jeans/sports leisure shoes are recommended)
12:30 p.m. - Enjoy an "Explore the Eifel" special for gliding flight over the Mosel and/or Trier area from the Traben-Trarbach airfield (POC: Dr. Roger Dunn)
2 - 3 p.m. - Short Traben-Trarbach visit with wine tasting (dinner optional).

Sunday, May 4
Spangdahlem-Manderscheid - Eifel's Volcanic craters - or the Gillenfeld Farm or Himmerod Abbey
10:00 a.m. - Departure from the Spangdahlem Base Theater
10:45 a.m. - Arrival Manderscheid with view of scenic castles-photo stop
11 - 11:30 a.m. - Guided Tour of Volcanic Museum
11:30 a.m. - Depart Manderscheid to see several volcanic crater lakes near Daun (Holzmaar-Pulvermaar, Gillenfeld Maar) learn about the Eifel's volcanic activity.
12:00 p.m. - Stop at Pulvermaar, a large and popular greater lake (rowing boat cruises and walking along the lake are possible)
1:00 p.m. - Depart Pulvermaar for Himmerod
1:30 p.m. - Arrival in Himmerod
1:40 hrs. - Meet Father Stefan, a Himmerod monk, for a short highlight tour of Himmerod (including behind-the-scenes spots)
2:00 p.m. - Stop at the Himmerod Abbey Restaurant for a Monk's lunch or enjoy coffee and cake, refreshments (at own expense)
2:45 p.m. - Return to Spangdahlem.

Vintners tours, wine excursions and wine probes
Local Mosel vintners from Mehring and Osann-Monzel will offer walks through vinyards, educational tours of vintners' wine cellars, and wine tastings. At the fair, people can find out how the Mosel grapes are harvested and how wine is made.

Anniversary celebration and free cake for the visitors
An official Explore the Eifel 10th anniversary ceremony takes place at 09:45 a.m. at the fair. Wine queens and knights will hand out free cake for the visitors

Hunting and fishing in the Eifel
Outdoor Recreation staff will be on hand to provide information on hunting in the Eifel area and how to obtain a hunting or fishing license under German law. There will be displays and stuffed, wild animals for demonstration.

Bow Archery shooting competitions
Try archery outside Club Eifel. Areas for both children and adults will be set up.

Enjoy Golfing in the Eifel
Two local Golf clubs will talk about the sport at the fair and invite to golfing matches at their clubs.

1.FC Zemmer soccer games
Local soccer club representatives from the community of Zemmer will answer questions on local soccer clubs and opportunities in their community, especially also for young players. The club members will also invite to a summer festival.

Mouse Trap museum
More than a dozen different mouse traps can be seen at the Mouse Trap museum booth. Museum officials will provide explanations on the history of the traps, of which some of them track all the way back to a history in the United States. Officials will invite fair visitors to the museum.

Infocenter-Windows to Rheinland-Pfalz
Information to attractions in the larger Ramstein areas will be provided by Infocenter-Window to Rheinland-Pfalz Ramstein fair participants.

Wittlich city highlights with fashion show entertainment
The city of Wittlich will offer games and information on its' 2014 seasonal festivals, on the Wittlich Open Air Movie theater and other attractions. WIttlich will also present a model fashion show by a local designer, involving base members. Free Explore the Eifel sewing tips will be offered at the fair.

Zumba dancing and fitness displays
A Wittlich fitness park will provide Zumba fitness dancing performances , entertaining small and tall at the fair. Bootcamp fitness information will also be provided by base fitness instructors.

Tai Chi performance
Enjoy a Tai Chi stage performance at club Eifel early afternoon. (Find out the exact performance time at the fair information booth)
People can learn about modern faming at the Kaschenbach Ranch. Arno Billen will be at the fair to offer tours.

Wine mountain slope hike
The Mosel community of Ediger-Eller will offer a hike of the Calmont wine mountain and steepest slope in the Mosel region. Find out more about this hike at the fair.

European champion model builders will show off several A-10 and F-16 model aircraft, which they built. Other models on display will include boats and vehicles. A total of 20 models can be seen. Techniques will be taught and workshops or club visits offered.

Vacation Resort
A local vacation resort in Eisenschmitt will provide information on the larger Eisenschmitt area and on how to enjoy a stay in the Eifel, also providing entertainment games.

Souvenir photos with Mosel and Saarburg area wine queens and princesses
Throughout the fair, several wine queens , representing the larger Mosel, Saar valley areas, dressed in their original outfits and wearing crowns will pose for souvenir photos with the fair visitors. Photographers are not provided and visitors take their own photos.

Pruem tourist attractions
Pruem tourist office representatives will present the larger Pruem area, explaining where people can hike, ski and snowboard in the area. Officials will also provide information on the Pruem abbey and city highlight festivals.

Bitburg Karate School
Visitors can ask questions on how to learn the Karate sport. Local Karate teachers will be there and show original outfits.

Wild Animal Park
The wild animal park of Klotten will have a booth at the Explore the Eifel fair, inviting people to the park and showing what is available.

Historical Mustard Mill museum
Historische Senfmuehle museum representatives will invite fair visitors on an excursion through the mustard history, show and talk about things surrounding "mustard". Visitors may be surprised.

Nativity scenes work shop and displays
The Mosel community of Kluesserath will offer a workshop for nativity scenes as well as a nativity scene display.

Luxembourg National Museum of Military History tours and displays
The Diekirch National Museum of Military History will be present at the fair to talk about the museum and welcome base members on guided tours.

Street- and break dance performances
The Wittlich Street Dance School and Trier Battle Style Youngsters will perform dances on stage. Find out exact times for these dancing performances at the fair information booth.

German-American Women's Club
Ladies from the German American Women's Club will introduce the association and answer questions and activities the club offers to its' members year-round.

Luxembourg Perle World War II guided museum tours
The 385th Bomb Group Museum of Perle, Luxembourg invites to museum tours and showcases museum displays.

Bernkastel city attractions
The city of Bernkastel will set up displays, showcasing the city's main attractions, providing information on the Bernkastel Burg Landshut castle tours and other city highlights: Tourist officials will explain the Mosel wine culture and Roman traditions. Visitors can get their photo taken with the Bernkastel city wine queen.

Schweich city attractions
Schweich tourist information officials will offer information on tourist attractions in the larger Schweich Mosel area.

Burg Eltz castle excursions
Burg Eltz castle staff will be on hand to provide visual castle tours and invite visitors on excursions

Life band entertainment
A base rock and pop band will set everyone in the right mood for Explore the Eifel, performing at 11:30 a.m., following the official anniversary celebration.

Other band performances are scheduled throughout the day and include the Bitburg Music County school's own band and the Erich Kill brass band ensemble. Find out exact times for band performances at the fair information booth.

Himmerod Forest Hike
The German Host Nation Council invites base members on a scenic hike through the forest from Spangdahlem to Himmerod. In Himmerod, participants can see the Cistercian monastery built in the 11th century. The walk through the beautiful forested area takes about 1.5 hours. Free refreshments will be offered. Visitors can sign up for this free excursion at the fair.

Unicyle acts and performances
Outside the club, people can see Trier city acrobats on unicycles and get their photo taken with a charming clown.

Games and Eifel quiz questions
Tall and small fair visitors can win a price for winning games and knowing answers to local Eifel area questions.

Childrens' Eifel art show
School childrens' paintings, featuring their views on the Eifel will be on display at Club Eifel for the duration of the fair.

Balloon rides
A local balloon pilot will provide information on balloon rides. People can climb into a hot air balloon basket and ask questions on this adventurous sport.

Saarburg city tours and leisure park attractions
The Saarburg city tourist office will present city highlights, festivals and life animals to include a falcon and owl. The city will also offer a bus tour to Saarburg with free attractions and a city tour guide. There may be a fee for bus transportation only.

Bitburg city and area attractions
Representatives from the Bitburg city, Bitburg area and Eifel Direkt tourist offices will provide information and entertainment activities for tourist attractions, highlights and festivals in their areas.Along with Bitburg city tourist information representatives, the Bitburg Brewery will provide information on brewery tours.

Local river boat cruises
Information on local river boat cruises will be presented by a local boat cruising tour representative

Sky diving, tandem and parachute displays
Local pilots and instructors will present information and show equipment and photos on sky diving, tandem and parachute displays.

Nature Center Teufelsschlucht
Staff members from the Nature Park Center Teufelsschlucht, or Devil's Gorge, near Irrel will offer a guided tour through the Luxembourg Swiss area past gorges and through valles, through hop fields, and to the Wolfsfeld castle. The mayor of Irrel invites to a canyon sightseeing tour, including a barbecue. Base members can sign up for the tour at the fair.

Luxembourg city tours
Luxembourg city and Echternach city tourist information office staff will be on hand to provide information on the countries highlight sites and festivals, inviting students and their parents as well as school teachers on an educational trip of Luxembourg. The tour is free to students and their parents. People can sign up for the excursion at the fair.

Gliding aircraft on display
Explore the Eifel fair visitors can see a large gliding aircraft from the Traben-Trarbach sports and gliding airport there. People can sign up for an excursion to Traben-Trarbach at the fair. A visit to the gliding airfield and free climbing at the Forest Adventure park are offered. There will be a low-cost fee for transportation only.

Eifel outdoor activities, quad-vehicle and electric bike excursions
A local outdoor tours agency will provide information on adventurous outdoor activities and quad-vehicle and electric bike excursions

Niederkail community tours and Eifel mountain bike rides
The Niederkail community mayor and a member of the Niederkail mountain bike club member will offer tours and rides through the Kailbachtal valley. Sign-ups are possible at the fair.

Falconer school
A local, Bitburg falconer will show off a falcon and provide information on his job as a falconer. A short falcon performance is planned. Find out the time for the performance at the fair information booth.

Magician tricks and balloon modeling school
A local magician shows tricks and provides balloon modeling lessons from noon to 3 p.m. to children at the fair.

Bee school
With display boards and traditional outfit and equipment, a beekeeper from the Manderscheid area will show and explain to visitors how honey is made and what it entails to maintain bees. There will This is especially interesting and educational for children and students.

The Bitburg city tourist office will offer attractions from the newly opened Eifelpark Gondorf leisure park, including latest information, games and children's entertainment. Children can get their photo taken near the Gondorf Eifelpark mascot bear. Information on the Bitburg area will be available. Small children can enjoy free rides on miniature caroussels.
Luxembourg segway rides.

For those people wondering what it feels like to explore the area on a segway, the city of Luxembourg will offer free training rides outside Club Eifel.

Visitors wanting to take a break at the fair can enjoy a free message at the Club Eifel fair, offered by a Wittlich therapist. Find out exact times for segway rides at the fair information booth.

Face painting and make-up lessons
Throughout the fair, free face paintings for children and free make-up and cosmetic lessons for adults are offered by a local visagist from Binsfeld at the Explore the Eifel fair. The community of Binsfeld will also offer free community tours upon request.

Himmerod Abbey excursions
Monks and representatives from the Himmerod Abbey will showcase the monastery and invite to sightseeing tours

Kyllburg and Manderscheid area tours
Community representatives from the Kyllburg and Manderscheid areas will provide information on tours and hikes in the larger Kyllburg and Manderscheid areas as well as on local attractions

Speicher area attractions and organ players
Community representatives from the city of Speicher will brief visitors on Roman findings and culture in the area, on the Speicher city museums and on festivals for the 2014 season. The Speicher City Musicians ensemble will perform on historical instruments throughout the fair.

Speicher EtLaedchen flower power art school
A local Speicher artist will present art with flowers and teach visitors how to become creative with nature

Vianden castle excursions
The city of Vianden in Luxembourg will show off local attractions and present the Vianden castle with displays and performances.

Hunsrueck am Erbeskopf nature and environment school
A booth focusing on nature and environment offers school students and children the opportunity to get in close contact with nature. The young ones can reach into boxes and guess what they sense and feel. This booth is very educational. The Hunsrueck area representatives will also provide some information on highlights in the larger Eifel-Hunsrueck area.

Idar Oberstein gems museum and city highlights
Tourist city officials from the city of Idar-Oberstein will show off gems. The city is known for gems and jewelry that is made with gems and that are produced in this area. There is a gems museum in Idar-Oberstein which the tourist office will also highlight.

Luxembourg Adventure Park
The Regional Tourism Association will provide information on the Eifel-Ardennes area, which is a popular tourist area. One highlight is the Luxembourg Adventure park near Vianden.

Beer probes and concerts
The Machern Abbey has its' own beer brewery, a concert room and a few small museums, besides restaurants and a beer garden. Kloster Machern representatives will showcase the ancient abbey.

Nature Park North Eifel
Tourist office representatives from the Nature Park North Eifel will highlight tourist attractions, hikes and outdoor adventures of the area.

Those interested in signing up for a tour or adventure may do so at the fair April 24 at Club Eifel.