For a better look at Krakow, Poland, try a balloon ride for a peek from above. (iStock)
With spring school vacation week looming tantalizingly close for many of the community’s school-age youth and children, parents may find themselves on the lookout for destinations and day trips appealing enough to lure their offspring away from screen time and into the great outdoors. Here are a few ideas:
Balloon rides over Krakow: With its UNESCO-listed squares and buildings, Poland’s medieval gem is impressive enough at eye-level; for another view of its towers, turrets and tiled rooftops, consider a ride in a tethered balloon, an experience offered by Balon Widokowy throughout the year. When weather conditions allow for an ascent, the balloon, which can carry up to 30 passengers at a time, rises up to a height of nearly 500 feet, about as high as a roughly 40-story building. On optimal flying days, the balloon will reach even greater heights. The experience generally lasts from 10 to 14 minutes. Adult tickets purchased online go for 125 Polish Zloty (about $34); children pay 70 PLZ. Online: balonwidokowy.pl
Treetop rambling and a long slide in the Black Forest: A treetop walking path and nature trail offering hanging bridges, nets and other interactive stations make the Naturerlebnispark Waldkirch in Germany’s Black Forest region a fun destination for families with kids of all ages. The park has another claim to fame— it’s home to what’s billed as Europe’s longest high-speed tubular slide. The 620-foot-long slide is used to come back down to earth following the treetop ramble, and costs an additional 2 euros on top of the park’s regular entry fees: 8 euros adults, 6 euros children ages four-15 and free for children up to the age of three. Note all those wishing to ride the slide must be at least eight years of age. Online: baumkronenweg-waldkirch.de/en
Stand-up paddling through Ljubljana: Many of the top sights of Slovenia’s compact capital city are located alongside the river that flows straight through its heart, making exploration by water a great way to get to know it. Instead of booking a boat tour, active types can opt for the two-hour SUP experience offered by Bananaway. Following land-based instruction, a guide leads a small group onto their boards and into the flow, passing by willow trees and under landmarks including the Triple Bridge. Storytelling and game-playing round off the experience. Depending on the day in question, both morning and late afternoon trips are offered. The tour costs 59 euros for adults and 49 euros for youth ages ten-17. Online: bananaway.eu
Puffin spotting in Wales: Skomer Island lies just under a mile off the southwest coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Exposed headlands, towering offshore rocks, and sheltered inlets make this island a paradise for many forms of wildlife, particularly seals, rabbits, the sea birds known as shearwaters and, most famously, puffins. Along with neighboring Skokholm Island, the area forms southern Britain’s largest puffin breeding colony. The puffins begin their annual return to the island in April, and their numbers are usually greatest from mid-June through mid-July. A visit to the island in early spring offers the additional prospect of spotting a profusion of wildflowers.
Skomer, a National Nature Reserve, can be visited by booking trips through Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips, the exclusive operator for excusions that set foot on the island. Embarking from Martin’s Haven, visitors can opt for various types of adventures. The classic day trip, including a 15-minute boat ride each way and 4 1/2 hours of independent exploration, is offered from April 1 through Sept. 30, Mondays excepted. Prices range from 32 to 42 UK pounds for adults and 24 to 30 UK pounds for ages 2-11, depending on the season. Online: tinyurl.com/3xhm6ftw
Tiptoeing past daffodils in Germany’s Eifel Region: The Eifel region is a volcanic, low-lying mountain range found within the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Each year in spring, bright yellow seas of delicate flowers blanket the contours of its landscapes. Among the best places to spot these early bloomers are the Perlenbach and Fuhrtsbachtal valleys near Monschau and in Oleftal valley near Hellenthal. Hikers will delight in a day wandering along the Narzissenroute (Daffodil Route), a 10-mile trail that begins at the gate to the Eifel National Park in Monschau-Höfen. As parts of the trail can be muddy, sturdy hiking boots are recommended. Online: tinyurl.com/28hp685x
Exploring an ossuary in Naples: Among Naples, Italy’s many unsettling attractions is found the Cimitero delle Fontanelle, or Cemetery of Fountains. For more than 400 years, the remains of victims of epidemics and those who couldn’t afford a proper burial found their final place of rest in a quarry used for the mining of tuff, a stone formed from volcanic ash and debris.
The entrance to the site is found just to the right of the Church of Maria Santissima del Carmine. Once inside, three vast tunnels lead past skulls, tibiae and femurs, at least 40,000 remains. Some of these unknown souls have been “adopted,” their skulls placed in special wooden cases and given a name and story. In exchange for prayers to alleviate its suffering in purgatory, the soul may reveal winning lottery numbers or grant favors. The site is easily reached by means of a ten-minute walk from the Materdei metro stop. It is open most days, and entry is free. Online: tinyurl.com/427zyhpd
