Living in GK? Buy a bike.

Regardless of the gloomy weather, the GK area is the bicycle-friendliest places I’ve ever lived.  So, if you’re thinking of coming over here, bring your bicycle, and if you are here and don’t have one, start looking through the Sunday paper for some good deals (Real is a decent place to start looking).  Biking here is amazing.

I was told that you can bike all of Germany almost entirely on farm roads and really, after living there, I can believe it.  In the Netherlands, it’s so bike friendly, it’s almost dangerous to walk.  Really, watch your step or you’ll hear about it.  I’ve never heard Dutch spoken angrier than when stepping into a bike lane.

So, get your bike and head out.  The Teverner Heide is lovely, the farm roads are fantastic, and there’s so much beyond. 

To help plan your local outing, check out this site:  http://www.radroutenplaner.nrw.de/RRP_karte_02_en.html

Throw your bike in the back of the car and check these out!

1. Kinderdijk – go there with or without your bicycle, but you’ll see more with.  2 hours from GK.  http://livingingk.blogspot.com/2008/07/kinderdijk-nl-19-windmills.html
2. Salzburg like Frau Maria?  http://livingingk.blogspot.com/2009/05/bike-tours-salzburg.html
3. Tour 4 major cities by bike:  http://livingingk.blogspot.com/2009/05/bike-tours.html
4. Happy Mosel – a must do while you’re stationed in the Tri-Border.  http://livingingk.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-mosel-bicycling-mosel-river.html

Sandeman FREE Walking Tours

Reader Contribution…

Check out the following website for specific cities:  http://www.neweuropetours.eu/

Sandeman offers free, English-speaking walking tours in major cities around Europe.  My father and I took their tour of Amsterdam, and it was incredibly informative and entertaining!  Our guide was very
engaging and was a wealth of information on the history and culture of Amsterdam.  The three-hour tour flew by, and it really was FREE!  Sandeman guides are friendly, insightful and fun!  The guides work for
tips only, so they ensure that their guests have a great time.  We had people of all ages on our tour, and the guide ensured that the pace was appropriate for everyone.  The tours run every day of the year,
rain, snow, or shine.  Of course, you get the obligatory pitch at the end of the tour for some of Sandeman’s specialized paid excursions, but the guides were not pushy about these.  These tours are a great alternative to walking around a city with your nose stuck in a guide book or listening to a recording on a bus as the landmarks whiz by. 

Tri-Border Sailing Club

Reader Contribution…

Looking for some inexpensive family fun this summer? Want to spend time together learning a new skill? The Tri-Border Sailing Club is looking for new membership for the 2009 sailing season! We have a wide selection of boats designed for a single person all the way to family boats which can carry up to 5 adults. During the sailing season, our boats are kept at our sailing location in Roermond, Netherlands which is a short drive from the GK/JFC area. This is a safe and sheltered sailing lake with minimal powerboat activity.

If you have previous sailing experience, all that is needed is a checkout on the boats by a club official. If you have never sailed before or are not sure if sailing is for you, come join us for a day on the water. Training is available.

Our membership costs are very reasonable (around €100) you will get unlimited usage of the sailboats for the summer season! Parking is free at the harbor and the Outlet Shopping in Roermond is 5 minutes away (go sail while the spouse goes shopping!)

Please contact John Duffy @ 02451-633589 or at nebraskaduffys@hotmail.com for more information.

Bobsledding near Monschau

Reader Contribution…

Hey all, we did a day trip to Monschau, but before hitting the village of Monschau, we drove to Rohren and for just a few euros, rode the bob sled down the mountain side. It was great fun, and the girls loved it. Very inexpensive, and all kids can ride. If they are under 8, they cannot ride alone. That is an easy rule.
Location: Monschau-Rohren

Sommer- und Wintersportzentrum Monschau-Rohren
Rödchenstr. 37
52156 Monschau-Rohren
Phone: (024 72) 41 72
Fax: (024 72) 41 47

info@sommerbobbahn.de
www.sommerbobbahn.de

Opening hours: 10am till 6pm
Admission charge: see homepage

Carl Alexander Park – Ubach-Baeschwiler

Located between Ubach-Palenburg and Baesweiler, this newly opened park was created on and around an old coal refuse pile from the region’s mining days.

There’s a long green space with playground equipment including some really fun swings, a large rope climbing structure, and swivel chairs. Walking and biking trails weave themselves in and around to the top of the hill, and there’s an outside cafe serving ice cream and drinks. A large red building contains stairs that lead to a series of metal ramps and more stairs that will lead you all the way to the top of the hill. The walk up the ramps with small children took about 15 minutes. The leisurely walk down the trail took about 25 with stops to take photos and look at rocks.

At the top, you’ll find a nice viewing place and a amazing view of the area. The children will enjoy the piles of black rocks and may find a fossil or two among them. A great place for families, for picnics, for rollerblading and biking, or for a class to explore the rocks and flora in the area, you won’t regret the 10 minute drive from GK.

From GK, take the 221 south towards Ubach-Palenburg. Take the first exit to Ubach. At the round-a-bout, take the second exit and continue on that road past the McDonalds. At the stop light where the Plus and Fressnapf stores are, turn left. Continue on that road through the roundabout until you see a sign for the Carl Alexander park. The first parking lot is there. If you continue into Baesweiler, you’ll find another parking lot by turning left by the Aldi (I think it’s an Aldi – look for signs to the park).

Horse Riding Lessons

Horse riding lessons will not be hard to find here, but finding lessons in English could be difficult on the German side. Also be prepared that little children will most often not be allowed to take lessons. Many places begin at age 6.

Riding supply list: Proper riding attire is preferred by most places: riding helmet, boots, gloves, and riding pants. Young children often ride in their bicycle helmets, rubber rain boots, and jeans and this is ok at some places. Decathlon in Herleen sells riding attire at more reasonable prices than some small local places.

GERMANY

Laprell
Heinsberg just south of the city center
Tel: 02452-3556 (or 02452-13556)
Amira (instructor) – 0173-527-2362

Beautiful facility! Beautiful, healthy horses! English speaking and friendly. Amira is young and speaks English well, but slowly. Speak slowly when calling. The owners are also very friendly and easy to work with. We loved this place!

Reitstall Leonhard Bahners
Moved to a location near Birgen.
Tel: 02452-3556
Cell: 0177-745-1700

Wow. These lessons are excellent! Leo speaks mostly German, but teaches very well. His classes are amazing and his horses are absolutely beautiful, healthy, and well taken-care-of. There is a large room with windows where you can sit, relax, and observe the lessons indoors without disturbing the riders. 11 Euro/lesson

Havert Stables
Please help me by finding this information for me! The stables in Havert are well known and loved by many Canadian and American families in our area. The man who gives lesson speaks English very well and is excellent with children. Experienced riders have more autonomy and can ride the horses a lot more frequently. The only downside that I’ve heard from the many that recommend it is that it is more expensive than most. ~20 Euro/lesson

Islandpferdereitschule Frilinghoven

Monika Storms-Limbach & Franz Storms
Frilinghoven 33
52525 Waldfeucht
Tel.: 02455/3987822
Fax: 02455/930393
E-mail: frilinghoven@web.de
http://www.frilinghoven.de

Offers summer riding camps – 5 day programs and regular lessons.

Hensgens Horsestable
Tanja u. Hubert Hensgens
Address: In der Mulde 22
Ubach-Palenberg 52531
Tel: 0176-24548821

We took lessons for a year here, but left when they became unreliable. Benefits: Inexpensive lessons and close proximity to the base. Draw-backs: Lessons often canceled without warning, inconsistent teaching. Temperamental horses that bite and kick.

NETHERLANDS

Manege Galop
Tunnelweg 1
6372 Xh Landgraaf
Tel:- 045 546 1872
www.manegegalop. nl
Email:- www.manegegalop.nl

Lessons offered in English. Cost 9-11 Euros for an hour lesson.

Manege Brunssum
Ouverbergstraat 2-4
6445 CR Brunssum
Tel: 045-5273714
www.manegebrunssummerheide.nl
**Recommended from a friend who rode there a lot. Her children took lessons there also.

Manege Ten Eysden
Ten Eysden 1
Geleen
Tel: 046 5743210
http://www.grjv.nl/manegeteneysden.html
Hours: Mon-Fri 0730 – 2300; Sat 0730 – 1900 and Sun 0800 – 1800

This place has a “fan” blog at: http://manegeteneysden.hyves.nl/

Het Rijpaard B.V.
Broekweg 2
Schinveld
Tel: 045 5274377
There is no website for Het Rijpaard, but there are a lot of references to it online. It does have a cafe, so it would be easy to drive over, have a coffee, and check out the stables.

Houben Manege
Thull 8-B
Schinnen
Tel: 046-443-1017

*A friend takes her daughter here for lessons. She loves that it’s close to Schinnen and they speak English well.

A website with more locations: http://www.uitinlimburg.nl/maneges-limburg.htm

More information on Horses and Riding where you may be stationed: www.MilitaryStables.com

Ice Skating Rink and Swimming Pools

Update!

Glanerbrook
Kummenaedestraat 45
6165 BT Geleen
Tel: 046-4746988
E-mail: glanerbrook@laco.eu
Web: http://www.laco.eu/ (click on Laco Recreatie, then click on the last red dot on the bottom of the map – that will lead you to Glanerbrook information. Unfortunately, it is only in Dutch)

Glanerbrook is known.  Some AfNorth classes go there once a year for a class activity.  I know of one American family who takes skating lessons there regularly.

Recent find… I haven’t tried Eissporthalle Eschweiler out yet, so if you’ve been, please comment. I’m excited to find it though. We’ve been hoping to find a good skating place here!

Eissporthalle Eschweiler
August-Thyssen-Strasse 52
52249 Eschweiler
Tel: (0 24 03) 3 46 22
Email: info@eissporthalle-eschweiler.de
Web: http://www.eissporthalle-eschweiler.de

Hours: Mon-Wed: 0830 – 1900
Thurs: 0830 – 2100 ~~~ Fri: 0830 – 2200
Sat: 1000-2200 ~~~ Sun: 0900-1900

Special Days:

Mon-Wed from 1400: Children skate for 3 Euros. Child skate rental is also 3 Euros.
Thursdays from 1800: Ladies skate for 4 Euros.
Saturdays from 1500: Disco on Ice. 1 Euro extra per person admission.

Special Open/Closing days:
Check the website under the tab “Sonderveranstaltungen” to see a list of special events, open days, and special closed days. The rink is closed for a hockey tournement in October, the Sun and Mon of Karneval, and both Christmas and Christmas Eve.

Prices: €

Kids under 5: 2 ~~~ Youth 5-16: 4.50
Youth card for 6 admissions: 22.50 ~~~ Youth card for 10 admissions: 36
Adults: 5.50
Adult card for 6 admissions: 27.50 ~~~ Adult card for 10 admissions: 44

Skate rental: 4

Birthday Parties: For a group of 7 children or more, kids can have a skating party that includes skating admission, skate rental, and a small kid meal for 9.90E.

Extras: There is also a snack bar, a “American style bistro,” and a sports shop.

Tree2Tree – Climbing trees is fun!

Reader Recommendation…

“Driving around near the mall we happened upon several people climbing around in some trees in a forest. There were various structures built in and around these trees (rope and log bridges, zip lines, etc), and the people up there had climbing harnesses and were attached to cables. We realized this was some organized thing, and upon closer investigation noted that this was the Tree2Tree “Hochseilgarten”. Like a high ropes course, but it wasn’t all high (3 to 36ft) and wasn’t all ropes. I have always wanted to climb around like that; Adults can spend the day (okay, 4 hrs) there for 22 Euro, which includes equipment and safety training (I think they might speak English). Kids (who must be 1 m tall I think) and families cost less. We totally plan to go before we leave.”

http://www.tree2tree.de/preise/preise.php
(not in English)

Take A42 exit 10 (Oberhausen-Zentrum) bzw. A516, follow the signs to the “Zentrum” then look for signs for Gasometer Oberhausen” (Address and better directions coming soon)

_____

This looks like a lot of fun – definitely one to try especially with older kids or a youth activities group. If you go, please leave comments. I don’t like putting things up on this site with no voice of experience, but this place looks like a lot of fun. Swiss Family Robinson gone wild!

Alpinecenter Bottrop — Another Indoor Ski Place!

Reader Recommendation…

“There are at least two places to ski/snowboard indoors within 1.5 hrs drive. SnowWorld in Landgraaf is the most well-known among us Americans. Today my husband and I visited a different one. Alpincenter near Bottrop/Oberhausen has a nice long slope that I like better than SnowWorld. However, the conveyance to the top was not to my husband’s liking- one short tow rope for the bunny slope and a long conveyor belt the length of the entire slope. I enjoyed the ride on the belt (call me weird if you must). We made use of their “Before 2pm special” for 25 Euro each. This included rentals and a “warm/cold buffet and drinks” which we didn’t have time to check out. They also have lessons for kids and adults.”

alpincenter Bottrop
Prosperstr. 299-301
46238 Bottrop (DE)

http://www.alpincenter.com/

Open: Daily 0930 – 2400

Last entry: 2130 (Su – Thu) or 2230 (Fr – Sa)

** The website is in English and has a ton of information including online ticket sales and a very detailed pricing chart. It is best to refer to their website above for more information. Also, check out the FREE outdoor park area for nordic walking, a beer garden, and beautiful scenery.

Gymnastics Classes

Reader Recommendation…

Turncentrum Turning Point
Economiestraat 8b
6135 KV Sittard
Tel: (0031) 0630-495045
Email: info@turningpoint.demon.nl
Website: www.turningpointsittard.nl

Not only do I know of an American family whose children take classes here, but one of my Dutch friends took classes here for years and highly recommends it. The website isn’t as easy to navigate as some and though this next years schedule is up, it will take talking to someone to figure out what class is best for you or your child. Still, a quick call or email should do the trick. The staff are friendly and able to answer all your questions in English.

Cost: The first month’s cost of 30 Euros includes the membership fee. The second and subsequent months are 15 Euros. The little ones ages 3 and older meet on Saturday mornings from 1030 – 1200. There’s a class on Tuesday evenings as well for the older children 6 and older. Try up to two classes for free.