Tag: mainauinsland

Happy New Year

Posted in Journey Journal, Toddler TripTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Mainau Island

Christmas Garden at Insel Mainau was a super experience overall. We started off the new year with a morning walk around our village. Then in the evening we booked tickets to see the Christmas Garden at Mainau island. I feel like this could easily become a New Year’s Day tradition for our family.

Christmas Garden sign at the entrance
Glowing crown compilation
Lit up flower statue at the entrance to the island.

The show starts at 5 pm and runs between late November until the first week of January. The trail leads you through the park with numerous lit up hedges and statues. Expect ups and downs and if you are with a buggy, there are some alternative routes to avoid stairs. Our eldest is not keen on any activity in the dark, but we know that about him. So a head and hand-held torch is a must in our backpack. Being 38 weeks pregnant has definitely put a stamp on the experience, however there were plenty of benches to take a rest. Half way through, at the castle we found little huts serving mulled wine and kinder punch. The mugs are beautifully designed and for 2 euro, you are more than welcome to take them home with you.

Duck hedge statues lit up with Christmas lights.
Winnie the Pooh
Photo prop shaped like a heart with two hands and lit up with Christmas lights.

Today is the last day of event. See you next year Christmas Garden at Insel Mainau.

Rocking horse lit up next to a Christmas tree.
Snowman statue next to Christmas Tree.
Wish tree with many messages hanging from the branches lit up in blue.

Home

Living in the countryside provides tremendous amount of space to roam around fields and grounds. Having two completely different kiddies, makes play time interesting. One is happy to follow instructions, while the other will have a ‘drop-on-the-ground-meltdown’ when she hears her name. I always wonder if she thinks she is told off by her reaction.

New Years Eve carrot cake designed as a blue clock approaching midnight.
Gardening toddler with a pot of soil and tiny shovel
Free play time on the playground

Kreuzlingen Seeburgpark

One of our favourite spot it the Seeburgpark playground at Kreuzlingen. Parking is reasonable, but on the hind side it is busy most of the time. The playground is only a short walk away pass the restaurant and the harbour. There are many different constructions for the kids and grow ups: swings, slides, paddling pool, sandpit, pirate ship and train climbing frame, seesaws and spring animals. Opposite the playground there is a minigolf park with reasonable catering available on site. There is an open field frisbee park between the minigolf and the lookout point.

We like to take the kids bikes and scooters as the terrain is made up of both gravel and concrete.

Big yellow slide on the playground.
Boy on the seesaw.
Kids are roaming on the playground.

Great way to extend the hours spent outdoors is to visit the Tierpark, which is right by the side of the playground. In exchange for a small donation (honesty box), animal nibbles can be picked up to feed the zoo animals. Should you wish to go further, the Seeburg castle and the lake trail has plenty to offer.

Week ahead

Next week Kindergarten is back for 3 weeks before it breaks up again for winter sport week. It is also a week when we finally meet the newest member of our family. We couldn’t be more excited about our growing family. I have a planned C section on Tuesday, which will probably knock me off my feet for a couple of weeks. However I am so lucky to have a great supportive family, so I know our kiddies will be in good hands, while their Mummy is being taken care of in the hospital.