Tag:

A day out

Odense Zoo in Denmark (review)

by Claire april 29, 2024

written by Claire

On April 9 this year, we decided to visit Odense Zoo in Denmark. Wondering if we recommend the zoo in this beautiful fairytale town? I share it with you in this blog article.

Odense Zoo in Denmark

If you are staying at First Camp Bøsøre Strand camping in Denmark, then of course a visit to Odense should not be missed. After all, this beautiful city is the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen. And as Karlijn shared with us; absolutely an unforgettable destination to visit with children! There are lots of fun things to do.

We chose to visit the Odense Zoo during our day trip to Odense. This is a small city zoo that opened in 1930 but has been completely modernized in the meantime.

Beautiful art

For example, as soon as you arrive you can admire a beautiful work of art in the form of a stunning mural. These can be found throughout the park and for that reason alone, as far as I am concerned, reason enough to visit this magical place. After all, you can see and feel the love for the animals right away!

Animals

Odense Zoo is home to around 147 different species of animals. From amphibians, insects and reptiles to fish, birds and mammals. What we personally like about Odense Zoo is that you can really see that the animals are treated with love and respect. For example, all the enclosures are super clean, filled with the tastiest food (which is sometimes also offered as a game) and the animals also look happy and relaxed.

In addition, you can watch the animals being fed throughout the day. In fact, on the website there is a daily program so you can see exactly where and when which animals will be fed. Super educational for the kids as well!

A very nice atmosphere

And that nice relaxed atmosphere is felt throughout the park. We were there in early April and you notice that Denmark slowly takes off its hygge coat and wakes up. Therefore it was super quiet, but the people who were there also, all greeted each other.
It is a place where you can let your children run around carefree, explore and meet the most wonderful and beautiful animals together.

For example, we ourselves were greatly impressed by the beautiful lake / aquarium where the Caribbean manatees could be seen. And also the other worlds were beautiful and skillfully made.

Playgrounds

In addition, what is enormously fun in Odense Zoo are the wonderful playgrounds. Especially the big one with the lion. Our kids played there for many hours. Because next to the big playground there is also a smaller playground suitable for smaller kids. So there really is a lot to do for young and old!

Restaurants

In terms of food and drink there is a lot available! You can also bring your own food and drinks. We were just unlucky that in April almost the entire park has to wake up from hibernation. As a result, almost everything was closed and only Café Chunga (think French fries and snacks) and the Safari Café (for coffee, tea and cakes) were open.
But oh well, it gives us a good reason to go back again. After all, Roy is eager to try the specialties available at the food truck.

Price

Fair is fair; a day trip to Odense Zoo is not cheap. For an adult you pay 230 DKK (30,85 euros), for children between 3 and 11 years 130 DKK (17,42 euros) and children under 3 are free. Still, we found it well worth the money.

Final conclusion

Going to Denmark soon with kids? Then definitely put Odense at the top of your ’to visit list’. We totally fell in love with this beautiful city and its relaxed atmosphere. A visit to Odense Zoo is also a must! We think it is a wonderful place for carefree walking, making new friends and going on adventures with the whole family!

Are you going to Denmark soon? And is a visit to Odense Zoo also on your wish list? Or have you already been there? I’m super curious! Feel free to share in a comment below this blog article.

april 29, 2024 1 comment

Denmark

Odense in Denmark : an unforgettable fairytale city break with kids!

by Karlijn Gabriels april 29, 2024

written by Karlijn Gabriels

With four children, you can find us mostly in nature during our travels. We ignore most cities. But if there is one city that we would really recommend visiting with kids, it is definitely Odense in Denmark! Wondering why? I share it with you in this blog article!

Fairy tale city Odense

Odense is one of Denmark’s largest cities and is located on the island of Funen. It is the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen and this can be seen throughout the city. The city is easy to visit by bicycle or public transportation. There is so much to do with children that after visiting Odense twice for a week, we still haven’t seen and done everything!

Den Fynske Landsby

On the outskirts of town, not very far outside the center, is this open-air museum. The museum is like a village in the countryside in the 19th century. There are beautiful half-timbered houses, farms, a little school, a little church, a blacksmith, a mill and many other houses and crafts that were present in a village at that time. Live animals are present, crops are grown, and all of the village’s “residents” present walk in costume.

You can see how the different crafts do their work, but there are also many places where you can try something yourself such as candle making or wood planing. At the little school, children can dress up and play with old toys. You can ride around in a horse and carriage and, depending on the season, help with work on the land.

We were there in the fall, right when the potatoes were being harvested with a horse and plow. You can take the harvested potatoes home afterwards! So very interactive and nice being outdoors. There is enough to do for a whole afternoon of fun!

The Jernbane Museum

This was a big hit with our kids, we spent hours there. It is a large railroad museum where you are taken back in time to the development of railroads. In the large hall, many century-old locomotives are displayed as if on the platform, with wagons in different classes and from royal wagons to mail wagons. There is a side track on shipping and a very informative section on the development of the rail network in Denmark and Europe. There is another separate hall about interrailing with a train where you can sleep, that you can walk all the way through.

On the second floor there is room to take a break. There is an extensive playground with a duplo train track, especially fun for the younger children. Outside, children can ride along in a miniature train or play in the adventure playground. Truly a nicely set up museum!

The Brandts museum

Right in the center is this art museum. Most of it is not so interesting for children, but there is one floor that is incredibly cool! This because they have a permanent sensory exhibition. The exact content of it changes every year but basically it remains the same. They are colorful and artfully decorated rooms with different themes. Everything is incredibly interactive and focused on an intense experience of your senses. The exhibition is not huge but we spent hours there, there is so much to play and experience!

During the Danish vacations it can be very crowded. It is suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 10 but honestly, we loved it as adults too!

The Hans Christian Andersen museum

We didn’t get around to it, but this museum is so highly recommended that I want to mention it anyway. In the old city center of Odense, right next to the street where Hans Christian Andersen’s birthplace is located, is this beautiful museum. And as the name suggests, the whole museum is dedicated to Andersen’s fairy tales. You can walk through the museum with headphones on, with explanations in every language.

You will learn about the life of Hans Christian Andersen and then walk through some of his fairy tales. There is also an area where children can dress up. It’s definitely still on our list to visit!

Hans Christian Andersen statues city walk

To stay in the theme of fairy tales… Scattered throughout the city are statues depicting an imagination from the various fairy tales, sixteen in total. You can combine a city walk with the challenge of tracking down all the statues! And if, like ours, your children love a little challenge and play, you can make it a game not to look at the sign right away, but try to guess first which fairy tale the statue in question comes from!

The troll walk

Scattered throughout Denmark are the trolls of Thomas Dambo, an artist who builds beautiful wooden trolls in the middle of nature, often combined with a nice walk. It’s a tip to seek these out with kids! Just outside Odense you can find one of these trolls, Hans Hule Hand, and a short walk along a plank path takes you to this beautiful troll with playhouse. Very nice to play for a while!

In conclusion…

Besides these tips, there are many more things to do in Odense. There are several beautiful parks scattered throughout the city with large playgrounds. There is a small zoo, Odense Zoo and there are a few other smaller museums. From Odense you can get to the sea in no time and on Funen itself there are lots of other cool things to do with kids. And what we love about visiting Denmark with children is that everyone is so sweet and patient with children.

There are good changing and feeding places everywhere, you can always have your own food and drinks and everything is child-friendly. Because of the many indoor activities, you can definitely do a city trip in spring or fall as well. We have been there in the autumn vacations and in the summer, both were very nice. As far as we are concerned, Odense is highly recommended with children!

Have you ever been to Odense? And are you as much of a fan as we are? Feel free to share in a comment below this blog article. Also if you have more tips 😀 !

april 29, 2024 0 comment

The Netherlands

A day out on the Dutch island of Texel with kids (12 tips!)

by Claire april 4, 2024

written by Claire

In need of peace, space, beautiful nature and lots of quality time? Then of course Texel is a fantastic place to be! And if you are wondering if there is something to do on Texel with kids, I have good news. Because in this blog article I have collected 12 tips for you for an unforgettable day out on Texel with kids!

The ferry to Texel

And let’s start right at the beginning; the ferry service is already a feast when you go to Texel with kids! And super easy too! You can easily buy your ferry ticket online on the TESO website. You can then scan the QR code at the barrier and before you know it, you’re in your car on the ferry. Or on your bike, camper, or on foot, of course.

What is good to know; you can go upstairs and enjoy the view or buy a small souvenir in the store. But the trip is very short (15 minutes or so).

Visiting the seals at Ecomare

On Lyam’s 2nd birthday, we visited Ecomare. This is a special center that is not only a seal sanctuary, but also houses a sea aquarium, a museum and a bird sanctuary. Here you can see the seals up close and learn all about the Wadden Sea and its inhabitants. And for budding little scientists, there are interactive exhibits that are both educational and fun! Highly recommended in our opinion when you’re in Texel with kids!

Ecomare - Texel with kids - The Netherlands - A day out

Rent a bike

Something that is offered in abundance on Texel are companies that rent bicycles. And not without reason! Texel is a cyclist’s paradise with wide cycle paths that are extremely well paved. Also, the island is not that big, so you can make nice trips with ease.

Explore the beaches of Texel

What is an island visit without a day at the beach on Texel with kids? Texel has miles of sandy beaches where you can fly kites, build sandcastles or just relax while the kids have fun. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot seals sunbathing on the sandbanks.

Texel with kids? Go climbing!

The nature in Texel is beautiful! And what better way to admire it than from a great height? There are several places where you can enjoy climbing. For example at Klimmen EnZo. This is a climbing park where you can swing through the trees at different levels.

Schipbreuk- en Juttersmuseum Flora

Does your family love history? Then visit the Schipbreuk- en Juttersmuseum Flora. Here you will find special objects that have washed up on the beaches of Texel. From ancient shipwrecks to surprising beachcomber finds, this museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the past (and present) of the island. And who knows, maybe it will inspire you to go on a beach quest of your own!

Go on safari in Texel

Super fun if you’re on Texel with kids; taking a Wadden Safari! There are several websites that offer great tours. And with a little luck you will see seals, different bird species and maybe even porpoises. It’s a great way to experience the natural beauty of the island and learn something new about the animals that live there.

Lamb cuddling in spring

We were super lucky! That’s because on Lyam’s birthday (March 27) there were a lot of lambs born on Texel. We visited Schapenboerderij Texel ourselves. Here you can cuddle the sheep and lambs. There are also guinea pigs and chicks that children (under supervision) can cuddle. And there are many more animals to admire (pigs, cows, chickens and goats) and outside there is an incredibly fun playground and children can ride small tractors and cars to their heart’s content. An unforgettable experience for young and old!

Flying in Texel

For the real daredevils (and slightly older kids and teens) there is the Paracentrum Texel where you can do tandem parachute jumping. Yes, you read it correctly, parachuting! An unforgettable experience to have together and enjoy the view over the island!

And if this is a little too intense, there are many more adventures to be had at Airport Texel. For example, you can go gliding or take a sightseeing flight over Texel with kids.

Swimming in Texel

Besides the sea being a wonderful place to swim, Texel also has swimming pools. You can swim for free at Zwembad De Krim (when you stay overnight at Villapark De Koog in Texel) when you are in Texel with kids.

And at the same park you will also find a fairly new indoor play paradise, fine restaurants and a fun outdoor playground.

Sommeltjespad walk

The Sommeltjespad is a children’s hiking trail in the forest near De Koog. Along the 1.5-kilometer trail, children can look for Sommeltjes, which are mythical figurines found along the route.

Fun fact: according to a Texel legend, Sommeltjes are a kind of earthmen who live in the Sommeltjesberg. At night they are living creatures and when the sun rises they are said to turn into stone.

On an adventure in the Texel woods

Besides the Sommeltjespad, there are many more adventures to be had in the Texel woods! For example, you can organize a scavenger hunt, look for gnomes or build the biggest pile of leaves you can. And also fun: at manage de Kikkert you can rent a pony with which you can take a walk in the woods with the kids.

Our little ones loved it. Although I must confess that I doubt whether the horses are treated well. On the way we came across a rider who was followed by a man on a bicycle who shouted loudly: “Give that horse a good whack! Which then happened HARDhanded…. Therefore, I am not sure we will do this again here.

In conclusion…

Texel is an island full of surprises, adventures and relaxation for the whole family. Whether you come for the nature, the animals, the sports activities or the rich history, Texel never disappoints. It is the perfect destination for a family vacation where everyone has a great time. So what are you waiting for? I wish you an unforgettable day out on Texel with kids!

Do you also love going to Texel with kids? And do you have more tips? Feel free to share them in a comment below this blog article! I’m curious 😀 !

april 4, 2024 2 comments