Family Holidays
A holiday for everyone. It's not easy to satisfy everyone's wishes when it comes to holidays. But then you reach the North Sea and suddenly it all comes together. It's easy to forget your everyday cares here. There's just something so special about the great view and the wind here. Not to mention the sky that appears so near. Or all the colours of nature, as vivid as those in a paint box. Children will feel the magic immediately. "What are those white dots on the green lines?” they'll ask. It's sheep on the dike! Lots of them! Standing one after the other, these woolly ambassadors of Schleswig-Holstein resemble a pearl necklace. A veritable welcome committee. That'll bring a smile to your face. Here on the North Sea coast, there's time for childlike wonder once again.
It's not just kids' eyes that'll be wide when they see the seemingly endless beaches in the region. Sand as far as the eye can see. Soft, white sand that you’ll feel between your toes. No, this isn't the Caribbean. It's St. Peter-Ording, Amrum and Föhr – in other words, its Schleswig-Holstein. The beaches are so big; there really is enough space for everyone. Room for everybody to do what they want without impeding on others. Space for sand castles, wild rides on your kiteboard, fast kite flying, playing with your dog or just some peace and quiet.
Nature is your feet and all of a sudden you can appreciate it again. The mudflats squeak between your toes and suddenly the sea is gone. Ebb and flow – it's not just a meaningless phrase, it's a real thing. The allure of the Wadden Sea is something that has to be experienced to be believed. Even though the water has receded, there's still so much life there. Learning can be fun and here, people learn all about their environment without even realising it. Here, the great outdoors is a classroom that goes by the name of the Wadden Sea National Park, Schleswig-Holstein. Precious, volatile and worth protecting – that's why the area was declared a UNESCO natural world heritage site. The equipment you'll need to find fun and adventure here is simple: a bucket, a dip net and a pair of binoculars. The Wadden Sea is like a lucky bag and everyone here becomes a nature researcher of sorts – even the adults. National park rangers are there to help you learn more about this unique landscape.
And, right in the middle, something else unique: the "Halligen". These thinly-populated islands are like green hills in the middle of the sea. Life on these undiked islands is something really unique. Come and learn how the people here have defied the forces of nature for centuries. Here, life is not lived by the clock but by the tides. It is here and in lots of other locations that you get a sense of the roots of the people of Schleswig-Holstein: Native Frisians, Dutch, Vikings, pirate, seafarers and whalers are just some of the groups that have left their mark here. Their time is long gone but they have left traces of their presence behind, traces that can be found and felt all around you. Here, history is a living thing.
In the region's coastal communities, both big and small, there is a vibrant "other" life. Here, you can take leisurely strolls, go shopping, soak up the culture of the region, indulge yourself or treat yourself to any of the events on offer for both young and old. Even bad weather sounds good here: "schietwetter" is what the locals say, which doesn’t put people in a bad mood. Visit indoor wave pools, spas for body and mind and museums that are a fountain of knowledge or listen to old buccaneer stories. Here, artists were inspired by both the landscape and its inhabitants. Emil Nolde, Thomas Mann, Theodor Storm and many others like them have left behind a legacy of art and literature, which can still captivate today.
So what's the best way to discover Schleswig-Holstein? By bike, you can go almost everywhere. Even hidden corners of the state. In a planned fashion with lots of themed tours or on your own journey of discovery. The canoe is another special mode of transport well suited to exploring the magic of the region's river landscapes. Here, you can have peace and quiet and adventure in equal measure and all paths are open to walkers – if you wish, with the accompaniment of a mudflats guide or a ranger. A boat tour, where you can experience coastal life from the other side, comes highly recommended.
The diversity is there in front of you. Here, having the time to do what you want is the greatest joy. Time for families, time for children, time for parents and, sometimes, a little time for oneself. Reading a book while lying in your beach chair, the wind in your hair, a great view, the seemingly unending horizon. Breathe out, breathe in. It doesn't really matter where exactly you are; the main thing is you're close to the North Sea. Here, the word "holiday" lives up to its reputation.
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