Winter – Expat Mom Journal

Fondue with Sledging on Monte Tamaro on New Year’s Day

15th January 202628th August 2026Posted in Family AdventuresTagged Cable Car Adventures, Monte Tamaro, Mountain Adventures, Outdoor Family Time, Switzerland, Ticino, WinterLeave a comment

First Day of 2026

New Years Day in our house started super slow, which is unusual with three little kids. This morning they enjoyed a longer snooze than usual. Being up early, a small voice in my head got louder and louder. It was encouraging me to look for a unique experience to welcome the new year, 2026.

A couple of days ago, I saw that the cable cars of Monte Tamaro were in operation. Looking up their website, I noticed that they offer a Fondue lunch / cable car package on New Years Day. After a quick call we had a plan: wake up kids, get ready, find the sledges and his the road to get there on time.

Arrival

Sign posts guided us from the main road to the car park. It is shared visitors of with the Splash & Spa. Plenty of spaces to park, near the cable car station. At reception we picked up our return tickets, and went through the gate to take the next cable car.

The cabin was bright with windows on all sides. It had 8 seats and large space between the chair rows, hence our sledges fit in with us easily. The ride took us about 10 minutes with a slowing down phase in the middle station, but no stopping.

Alpe Foppa

Lunch was great, the Alpe Foppa restaurant was a large hut and it could accommodate large crowds. Lunch was easy and filling, the service was quick. Our cable car pass included the lunch, we only paid for drinks. Kids menu was available for 15 fr per hear, which included a huge plate of their choice and drinks.

What to See & Do

Next we headed outdoor with the plan to discover the winter trail, which is a 3.2 km long circular path. It was a nice plan, we didn’t get that far. The kids just wanted to enjoy the snow. So we made it up to the top of the closest slope and used that to sledge for a while.

Once they were ready to leave to the slopes and the playground, we headed to explore the Fortress. This unique architecture was designed by Mario Botta (who also design the famous building, Fiore di Pietra on Monte Generoso). The church sits on the edge of the slope with a magnificent view.

From the restaurant a narrow corridor with tiny windows leads the way to the chapel entrance. On the white ceiling and interesting painting represents two cypress trees reaching to each other. Entering the church my son spotted a stand with candles lit. I remember when I was little, I used to love lighting a candle in places we visited. Around the walls wooden benches positioned like ribs in the human body. A little window, at the end of each row, is letting in day light showing off the image above.

On both sides of the chapel, stairs are leading up to the look out to admire the dramatic view from the outer most spot of Monte Tamaro.

Why We Loved It

From the first phone call to the very last employee we saw on the way down, everyone were particularly kids and courteous. I write this as it should be any hospitality settings – but I found it essential to highlight, because since we left England, I don’t often find employees of hospitality settings / attractions having their ‘game face’ on. I felt heard and not rushed with my enquiry.

Other aspects:

spacious panoramic cable car
large restaurant with great choice of drinks and meals
playground right in front of the restaurant

Would We Return?

Absolutely yes! We are planning to try the summer activities:

plenty of trails to explore with many circular options
Adventure Park at the middle station
Coaster Bob at the top
Zip Line – not sure if I will be brave enough to try 🙂

Their brunch to go package includes the return ticket with the cable car and packed lunch that you can take on your hike for a few CHF extra.

My Resources

Monte Tamaro website provides the latest and most up-to-date information available for your visit.

https://www.montetamaro.ch/en

Wind and Sun kissed cheeks: Ascona in the Winter

2nd March 202528th August 2026Posted in Family AdventuresTagged Ascona, Lake Maggiore, Outdoor Family Time, Switzerland, Ticino, Toddler-Friendly, Winter1 Comment

Choppy waters on Lake Maggiore and an icy February wind welcomed us to Ascona. One might expect this in winter.

Yet, the brightness and warmth of the sun tricked us into believing that spring had arrived. The golden light that embraced Ascona in the early afternoon should have made the chill more bearable. But the wind, sharp and relentless, stripped away all comfort.

Our woolly hats, meant to keep us warm, barely fulfilled their purpose. Still, I can’t imagine how we would have coped without them.

Music and Art

This small town is home to the renowned Jazz Ascona Festival, which takes place every year from late June to early July. With over 15 concerts per day, the festival draws visitors from around the world. Uniquely, it is the only festival outside the U.S. officially linked to New Orleans jazz.

Walking through Ascona, you can feel its artistic soul. The streets and colourful houses bear the imprint of the many artists who have performed here over the years.

Blend of Italian charm and Swiss precision

One of my favorite things about Ascona is its car-free lakeside promenade, the LungoLago. It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, where cafés and restaurants line the waterfront. Even the icy wind couldn’t keep visitors from admiring Lake Maggiore’s shimmering expanse.

In this video, we take you along Ascona’s cobblestone alleys, down to the lake, where we walk with the colorful facades of cafés and houses on one side and the deep blue waters of Lake Maggiore on the other. Our journey leads to the playground before circling back to explore the port and the town’s charming, narrow streets.

Why We Love Ascona

Ascona is Switzerland’s lowest town, sitting just 196 meters above sea level. Thanks to this unique location, it enjoys a mild climate year-round.

Each visit feels like a new experience—a place of sunshine and tranquility in winter, and of heat and lively crowds in summer. The traffic-free waterfront makes it an ideal destination for families, offering a safe space for little ones to roam freely.

With ice cream on every corner and countless spots to relax, Ascona has something for everyone. Whether you’re indulging in local delicacies or simply soaking up the sun, this lakeside gem offers the perfect escape—any time of the year.

Goodbye January: Welcome Back Sunshine

1st February 20251st February 2025Posted in Journey JournalTagged 1000 Hours Outside, Winter4 Comments

cloud above snowy mountain lit by hiding sun

January is a month filled with short days. Our January – if I would need to chose a theme – would be noise. Yes, NOISE. Now, put your hands up if you are not great with noise. That’s me. My soul rests when there is no noise around. Does it happen often? Nope. My poor chimming heart gets heavy and sweaty trying to race with the loudness. My breaths get shorter and rapider. When I bare no more, I remove myself from this atmosphere and spend some time cooling down.

Bandi Gianee

New experience alert. This month we got to know the story behind Bandi Gianee. A custom typical to the Italian part of Switzerland. In particular to Locarno and its close vicinity.

What do you need? Some empty cans on a long string that can be tragged around town, making as much noise as possible.

Winter is still in full swing in the mountains, however in the warmest part of Switzerland, the locals are already calling for the spring and summer. Here, in Centovalli, the sun arrives to the valley towards the end of January. So it makes sense to make as much noise as possible to scare the winter away for another year.

my kids are making noise with a stick on the playground drums — **First Day of January**

kids with instruments scaring the winter away — **First Day of January**

It is yet another great opportunity to spend time outdoors with the community. The celebration often ends with a ‘merenda’. All participants contribute with some drinks and snacks. We got to spend it with a group of amazing, dedicated parents and caretakers. With the tummies filled, the guitarist took his instruments and the sound of the music gathered all the singers around. Time flies when you are having fun.

1000 Hours Outside Challenge

With a fresh start, I am logging the time spent outdoors (roughly). In January, with the winter flu blooming, we spent 35 hours and 15 minutes outdoors. This is a tiny bit more than one hour per day on average. I expect, it is the toughest to show results in the first month of the year. My tiny peeps are not a big fan of cold and dark. So the window of opportunity is pretty narrow. Based on that I am happy with the results and I am looking forward to seeing some longer days to come.

Bike Time
Puddle Fun
Puddle Biking
Noise Fun
Winter Forest
Winter Walks
Forest Stream
Sunshine spotting
Swimming Lessons
Indoor Sand Play
More Winter Walks
Frosty Grounds
Frosty Forest
Winter scene
Happy Birthday
Family Pic
River Maggia
Family Pic
Indoor Play
Duplo Fun
Christmas Deco
Winter in Poland
Winter Seaside Fam
First Day of January

Winter Sunbathing: Exploring Brissago and other family low/highlights

27th January 202528th August 2026Posted in Family AdventuresTagged 1000 Hours Outside, Lake Maggiore, Outdoor Family Time, Switzerland, Ticino, Winter2 Comments

Swimming Lessons, Back to Work, Winter Flu, Exploring Brissago, Family Pool Fun

Brissago

Driving straight into the winter sun, which is sitting low on the horizon. Lake on the left and mountain on the right. The road hosts two way traffic but with the width of two old minis, very narrow. It is full of twists and turns. Just around one corner a garage door amongst the rocks of the mountain. Park the car and take the lift to get to your residence.

There are many such garage doors along the road south from Ascona just like that. Each one has a concrete lift shaft above. I can only imagine how people live / commute from places like this. I wonder what happens when the lift breaks down.

We kicked off the trip at the southern part of the town. Parking near the lido of Brissago, we planned to check out the slide leading to Lake Maggiore. However it is closed in the winter and it is not accessible with a buggy / trailer due to the stairs.

Chiesa di S. Maria di Ponte

A few meters further to the south on foot, we found a church. Large wide stairs leading down to what it looks like to the lake. To the right the cemetery to the left the most well maintained church yard, I have ever seen. The church is open for visitors from April until November. However the surrounding garden is open all year around. The lawn is manicured with precision, the trees are pruned for the next season. It is a great spot to fill up on vitamin D on a nice sunny day.

Looking around we can see the nearby lido and long slide just behind the church. On the lake the island of Brissago is visible. It’s botanical garden offers a couple of hours excursion for the visitors. On the other side of the lake, the mountains go from green bottom to brown middle to white caps.

From here we carried on towards north of the town. Along the way, many of the Mediterranean features can be spotted. The houses have warm colours, the palm trees keep their unique shades all year around. Stone dominates many of the walls, bridges and due to the steep hill Brissago is built on, there are many not-so-hidden stairs along the town.

Lungolago of Brissago

Lungolago is filled with benches to rest on. Unique statues and fountains break up the path. Lemon and orange trees show off their fruit even this time of the year. The winter sun makes long shadows creating a dramatic effect on the photos we took along the journey.

Below the promenade the large stones form theater seats like structure. Great spot to admire the the ‘vista’ in front.

The houses are colourful with large balconies maximising on space to admire the view of the lake and mountains. Tranquility dominates the lake side in January. I imagine that it is the perfect calm before the high season storm begins.

However the winter sun has now disappeared behind the mountains. We pulled up the zips of our winter jackets, to keep the cold out and headed back towards the main road. Behind the fire station, a lively sport field breaks the serene site.

Along the main road, the town is busy with locals chatting in the bars, rushing from one place to another. Busy traffic rushing in front of the hill covered with terraced houses facing the lake.

It was our first time visiting Brissago, however, we would love to visit in the high season, to be able compare the atmosphere between the seasons.

Brissago in summary

It was a great 2-3 hours trip (including playground pit stop, which is unavoidable with little kids). The playground is secured with a fence and has a few different features. There are many parking spots available around the town with various facilities. The trip can be stretched out to a whole day experience by visiting the Botanical Garden on the island of Brissago.

Visiting with a buggy / trailer was easy. The only challenge was to drag the trailer back up the wide stairs from the church to the main road. The stairs are really small and deep, so the passengers did not complain.

Swimming lessons

While waiting for the lesson to kick off, M had a few rounds on the water slide. She is gaining confidence in the pool. During the lesson we walk in big circles with the little ones (1 & 2 year old) across the whole lane. Each round we do a different activity. This is the quietest time in the pool. I can hear the lifeguards’ chatter faintly while focusing on blowing bubbles underwater for M’s entertainment. She is mesmerised with all the toys and busy keeping them in her hands while being pulled around in the water.

I hope next week O can join as well. He is home with flu, he needs a rest.

Back To Work

Holidays are over and M is back to his work routine. It was so nice to be together for a couple of weeks. But as anything, this is now over, which means I need to get my sh!t together again.

Winter Flu

Baby is moaning, temperature soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. Last night I called the hospital for advice. I was reassured that I can safely increase the amount of meds given to keep the fever in check. Next day, we were due for O’s one-year-old routine check up. Our paediatrician prepared me to keep fighting the fever potentially for a whole week. ‘It is flu season!’ Important to keep up the dosage every 4 hours. However, during the night I let him sleep through one 4 hour window. At 3 am I woke up for an inconsolable crying for help. His temperature was nearing 41 degrees Celsius. From that point onward I skipped zero 4 hour windows. The following night was even worst and I had to give him another med, which is like a horse kick. It takes ages to make a difference, but once it works it lasts for 24 hours. Eventually we got out of this madness by the second part of the week.

Family Pool Fun

Sunday FunDay. The pool was the busiest yet plenty of space to splash about. Four grown ups for 3 kids is a great balance in a busy pool. Huge inflatable across two lanes keep the bigger kids busy and the parents anxious. Blue elephant slide keeps M focus sharp. She is growing into a little adrenaline monkey. Sliding down, immersing under water, climbing out of the pool and starting all over again for another twenty rounds. Before she disappears behind the stairs again, but instead of appearing on the top of the slide, she is off to the baby pool. Luckily Granmy with little O are already there splashing on the tiny water fountains.

Family Adventures: Snowy Roads and Swiss Waterfalls

18th January 202528th August 2026Posted in Journey JournalTagged Family Road Trips, Mountain Adventures, Scenic Drives, Switzerland, Winter1 Comment

This week we set out to visit two beautiful waterfalls in Ticino. Do you think we made it? … Read on to find out.

Back to Ticino, and Back to Kindergarten, Catching up with Friends, Visiting Maggia, and Valle Verzasca, and a Birthday Celebration.

Back to Ticino

Week two of 2025 started off with a road trip back from Poland to Ticino. As we got to the Alps, we drove through the most beautiful snowfall. Crossing the border from Austria to Switzerland there was no sign of snow. We could see the mountains far away glowing with their white snowcaps. An hour later when we started the ascent to St Bernardino along the crooked road, the snow started to settle on the asphalt. Traffic was light so we had minimal distraction until we got to the other side of the tunnel.

On the southern side of the tunnel snow covered everything. At this point there was no snowplough in sight. Throughout the serpentine, the descent took a long time. Winter tyres did an excellent job for us. However a few cars in front of us an Italian car had to stop to wait for rescue services (summer tyres – I guess).

We don’t have too much experience driving in the snow, especially in the mountains. Luckily everyone was going sensibly throughout our journey. At home we were greeted with hot dinner made by my parents. Little treat to the soul, when you don’t have to think about feeding the fam after two long days of travelling.

The following days were filled with various tasks around the house to get it into shape before our friends arrived. I think one day I did six loads of laundry just to give you an idea of the mess we had post holiday.

Back to Kindergarten

Kindergarten started midweek with half a day session. Easing back into the classroom routine was smoother this time than after autumn break. B can communicate much better now in Italian thanks to the lessons and the friendships he made in the last four months. Our nervous boy turned into a confident cheeky italianish-speaking boy.

Birthday Celebration

O turned one this week. Celebration was planned for the weekend. However, winter flu caught up on our little boy by the end of the week. With a temperature over 40 degrees celsius, he wasn’t enjoying much of his first birthday celebration.

Catching up with Friends

Hosting has become the highlights of my year. Since I am a full time stay at home Mom, I appreciate all the connections I get even more than before. Days fly by so quick with three little ones in tow.

I love the anticipation (cleaning / tidying). I love the meal planning and preparation process. Choosing things to do and places to explore. While adjusting the rhythm to suit 4-6 grownups and 4 kids (1-2-3-6) and the coolest dog and cat. Life is never dull.

Maggia

This time we visited a little village of Maggia. With the goal to visit the Cascata del Salto first then to head down to the river for a stroll. Little we knew that the waterfall is not accessible with buggy. Indeed it is a hiking trail gem. With the help of the locals, our crew quickly changed direction and headed to the river, Maggia. Dads took the cars, and Moms took the kids and the dog. Down in the village behind Migros, the suspension bridge, called Pontine di Maggia, leads across the Maggia river. The shore on the other side is easily accessible even with tiny feet (not with buggy though).

Maggia, Switzerland

Overall, Maggia is a small village with about 2.5 k residents. It seems to be a good base for the many trials. There are many parking spots, convenience stores and restaurants. Looking at the mountains from the car park, I could see some chapels and waterfalls that I would have loved to explore but they were not accessible with a buggy. I am sure we will be back though.

Our tiny humans, and the doggy had plenty of space to roam. Hence, on the way home, they have all fallen asleep in the car. It’s impossible to plan a second stop when your passengers are snoozing. We called it a day and headed home.

Valle Verzasca

Set off as early as possible to catch the couple of hours of sunshine that reaches Valle Verzasca in January. First stop was Sonogno. The village is at the northern part of the valley. Parking was free of charge this time around. Although, the reminders for paying for parking in the high season were displayed everywhere. There is an option to buy a whole day parking ticket that covers the whole valley.

We were not prepared for the snow but it was very welcomed. We are yet to learn to plan properly, considering the elevation level. There was a crisp line showing the start of the snow on the trees and rocks. The divide was visible from far away.

While walking around in Sonogno we met a local gentleman, who was ever so chatty and helpful. He told us that this time of the year we can grab something to eat by the sport center. We quizzed him a little about the surroundings. He told us that when he was little snow was covering the area for most of the winter, however in the recent decade snow is less and less. We set out to look at the Cascata La Froda, however he told us that it is unlikely that we find any water running, but may be some ice. He also pointed out that the path is free from services during the winter but encouraged to see it for ourselves. So we did.

Turning right at the sport center, the road was clear until the next turn. Then it was clearly marked that no winter clearing services are in operation. First we tried to pull the buggy / trailer through the snow. Then we decided to ditch it and carry the kiddies. Following the map we got to the point where we should have crossed the river. However, there was no clear access to the other side. We decided to return to the car park, feed the empty bellies, and move onto the destination.

Verzasca Dam

Ever so famous dam appeared in the opening part of the James Bond movie ‘GoldenEye’. Mostly known as Verzasca dam is called Contra Dam or Locarno Dam. It is a popular spot amongst the adrenaline seekers. The dam is 220 m tall and has a well-known bungee jumping station. This year the dam has hosted the Red Bull dual ascent climbing event. Where ten teams of twenty climbers tackled 180 m route.

It is really hard to put into words how small one can feel standing on the dam, with huge opening in front of him / her when looking out to the Lake Maggiore. On the other side, Lake Vogolno holds a terrifying power of distraction should the anything happen to the structure of the surroundings. Running out of daylight, we have returned to home and warmed up with some homemade soup.

There are many places we wished we could further explore. However, due to our young crew, we need to limit our stops to two, maximum three. We aim to extend the time spent outdoors and the number places visited as the kids grow.

Two more family friends are visiting in the next few weeks. I am very much looking forward to these. Look out for more updates on our adventures with our tiny humans.

Switzerland – Poland – Switzerland Trip, New Year Celebration, Visiting Friends and Family

6th January 202528th August 2026Posted in Family AdventuresTagged Baltic Sea, Family Road Trips, Family Travel, Switzerland, Winter1 Comment

To Poland

Three kids, two grown ups, and many stuff squeezed in an estate set off to Poland Monday morning.

We romanticised to leave around 8 am, although we felt it might be too ambitious. By the time we packed up it was almost 10 am.

We had to make some last minute shopping on the way and fuel the car. We left Ticino in 12 degrees Celsius, just to arrive in -4 degrees Celsius at 9 pm. We called it a day around Leipzig and booked a room on the way.

Map showing road trip plan from Golino to Leipzig. It is anticipated that the drive will take 8 hours and 31 minutes with some construction zones on the way. — Day 1 Golino – Leipzig

The kids had better sleep in the clean and fluffy bedding then they have at home. It was hard to wake them up. Second day we set off at 9 am. We had breakfast in the car as we brought plenty of left overs with us.

Day two road plan from Leipzig to Elblag anticipated 7 hours and 31 minutes with few hazards on the way. — Day 2 Leipzig – Elblag

We stopped along the way for lunch in a McDonald. The usual small kids play area was designed into a kids gym. It had two spinning bikes, a basketball loop with many balls and an maze with obstacle course incorporated in it. It felt like we were in an indoor playground.

1650 km in two days. But we made it to Elblag by 4 pm New Year’s Eve.

New Years Eve

After driving most of the day, we couldn’t wait to get our bodies moving. The old town is lit up with various light compositions at this time of the year. We knew as we visited it two years ago when it was just the three of us.

Led sign of Elblag with lit up letters and a heart composition perfect for keepsake photoshoot as a background. — New Year’s Eve at Elblag

After a brief walk the little ones were ready to be tucked in. Our eldest stayed up with us to welcome the new year. 2025 arrived with a spectacular firework display which we could watch from the dinning room. I could barely keep my eyes open but it was worth every second of it.

Baltic Sea

After two years we have finally returned to the seaside in the winter snow. It is such a surreal sight when sea meets ice, ice meets sand, and sand meets snow.

It was a brief visit as the first large wave knocked M off her feet and she got soaked in ice cold water. We picked her up and managed to dry her quickly at our friends nearby apartment. Seemingly it did not shook her up too much. It all happened so quickly, that I am not sure how much she noticed at all. On the way home we visited more family members. Unfortunately, all three kids fell asleep at the danger nap zone time. So when they woke up, the two elder were crying (like babies) while the baby enjoyed all the attention he could get. M and I tried to console the kiddies but waking up from the late nap is hard on their bodies. They were too disorientated to be bothered about any manners they usually have when we are visiting family and friends. By the time they calmed down we had to move on and get back to M’s parents for dinner. Of course all is good when they have food. 🙂

Friends & Family

Four full days were just right to meet all the friendly relatives and friends. There is a lot to catch up when you meet once a year. But honestly with three tiny kids it gets a bit ‘hit and miss’. We can only move with their rhythms and it’s often unpredictable how much catching up we can actually have 🙂

Overall, they make every reunion much sweeter. Their curiosity and niceness is welcomed by everyone.

To Switzerland

We decided to leave half a day early, after lunch on Sunday. The idea was to make the same journey as on the way to Poland. But nature had a different idea.

About 3 hours into our road trip we found ourselves in a snowstorm on the motorway. The traffic slowed from 140 km/h to 80 km/h. The motorway was covered in snow and the temperature was dropping sub zero.

We quickly made new plans and booked a room near the German border.

Day one road trip plan from Elblag to German border. It is anticipated that the trip will take 5 hours and 16 minutes. — Day 1 Elblag – Boczów

Day two of the road trip mapped out almost 12 hours drive to Golino.

We had an early start Monday morning with the aim to get ourselves home by bedtime.

There was sun, snow, and rain along the way. The snowstorm after St. Bernardino was beautiful. I cannot remember traveling in such a snowfall before. It was exciting to descend from the mountain. Most of the cars were driving super slow with a few random daredevils flying past us. M drove the whole time and got us home safe.

Mom cooked us dinner and brought a Panettone. It was lovely not to think about feeding the family straight after arrival and to be able to relax after a two days journey.

Happy New Year

7th January 202428th August 2026Posted in Family Adventures, Journey JournalTagged 1000 Hours Outside, Island Mainau, Kreuzlingen, Outdoor Family Time, Playgrounds, WinterLeave 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.