Vacation on the Farm

Imagine waking up on a farm. After breakfast, the children go to the barn to see which animals are awake. They can play with the kittens or feed the rabbits with dandelions and cabbage leaves. Next on the agenda is a tour of the farm - and who wouldn't want to collect eggs from the chicken coop for breakfast the next day?

In the Black Forest and on the shores of Lake Constance, there are farms that have been specially certified for family vacations. Some raise animals, others have orchards, and all provide a wide range of equipment, from cots and high chairs to toys and books. They also offer special facilities such as playgrounds, child-friendly toy vehicles, barbecue areas and, of course, all kinds of animals to pet.

On Lake Constance, family-friendly fruit farms are surrounded by orchards, but often have animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, or rabbits. In the Black Forest, farms focus on cows and chickens, but often have ponies for riding. Some even specialize in horseback riding vacations.

Farming continues to be a way of life in Southwest Germany. Many farms sell their produce in a farm shop. Some even have their own distillery, continuing a centuries-old tradition of making schnapps and fruit brandies.

In the off-season, some farms still offer overnight stays and short breaks. This is a great way to get a taste of life on the farm. In the Black Forest, the Ferienhof Hirschfeld Farm near Freundenstadt or the Mooshof, an organic farm in Schramberg have special offers for longer and shorter family vacations.

Even spending just one day on a farm is special for children. Deep in the Black Forest, the Erlebnisbauernhof Schmid Farm in Waldmössingen has horses, cows and pigs. Admission is free, and families can see the animals and learn about life on a farm. During the summer months, the café (Vesperstube) serves meals made from the farm's own produce.

Down at Lake Constance, a great day out for kids is a visit to the Reutemühle petting zoo in Überlingen. There are over 200 different species and breeds on the farm, from llamas, emus and goats to raccoons, meerkats and tame chipmunks that children can hand-feed.