Animals, Outdoor Acitivities, Fresh Air

Vacation on the Farm

Familienferien

Farm holidays are fun! Learning about animals; outdoor activities; loads of fresh air; playing with other children: spending time on a farm is perfect for families. Long a tradition in SouthWest Germany, farm holidays have moved with the times: think apartments and rustic cabins, yurts and tree houses, toys and child-friendly equipment. 

Biohof Gessler in Markdorf
These days farms often offer tree houses, shepherd's wagons, tiny houses and other unique types of accommodation. | © TMBW, Foto: Stefan Kuhn
Eine Familie vor einem Schäferwagen auf einem Campingplatz. Im Hintergrund befinden sich ein weiterer Schäferwagen und Obstbäume.
These days farms often offer tree houses, shepherd's wagons, tiny houses and other unique types of accommodation. | © Erlebnispark Tripsdrill
Farm Vacation

A Rural Break

Farm Vacation

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?

Familienferien
Kids love to feed carrots to the rabbits | © TMBW, Foto: Christoph Düpper
Reiterferien
Pony riding is a great experience for children during their farm vacations | © TMBW, Foto: Christoph Düpper

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.

Familienferien
The farms around Lake Constance are known for their large apple orchards. | © TMBW, Foto: Christoph Düpper
Eine Familie steht vor einem Haus. Aus der offenen Stalltür tritt eine Ziege heraus. Im Hintergrund sind Bäume.
The farm animals are an attraction for the whole family. | © TMBW, Foto: Oliver Raatz

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.

A Weekend or a Day on a Farm

Short Getaways

A Weekend or a Day on a Farm

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.

Eine Mutter steht mit ihren zwei kleinen Kindern in einem Schweinestall. Der Junge füttert die Schweine.
On the farms in SouthWest Germany, children can get very close to their favorite animals. | © TMBW, Foto: Oliver Raatz
Ein Mann und ein kleiner Junge schauen in einen Hühnerstall.
On the farms in SouthWest Germany, children can get very close to their favorite animals. | © TMBW, Foto: Oliver Raatz
Eine Frau trägt ein Huhn, das von einem Mädchen gestreichelt wird.
On the farms in SouthWest Germany, children can get very close to their favorite animals. | © TMBW, Foto: Christoph Düpper
Farms and Zoos in SouthWest Germany

Overviews

Farms and Zoos in SouthWest Germany

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