Hello lovelies, we've just gotten back from a weekend in Berlin with the children and it was really wonderful. So today I'd like to tell you about *Berlin with kids and the Foxtrail **(disclaimer: we were invited to Berlin by Foxtrail) that we did there.
City trips with children can be exhausting, but they really don't have to be. That's what this report is about – how you can make the best of a city trip for the whole family. This weekend we got to experience a little adventure, and it was incredibly fun. But first, from the beginning.
GETTING THERE
We flew with Swiss on Friday afternoon. We set off right after school, and since we only had hand luggage for the weekend, that was very stress-free too. Berlin is of course great for a longer stay, but a weekend is definitely worthwhile too.
You'll find good flight deals with both EasyJet and Swiss, which both fly to Berlin several times a day (today to Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER; back then it was still Berlin-Tegel).
From the airport we took an UBER to Alexanderplatz, but it would also be possible to take a bus from the airport.
Accommodation
We stayed in a great apartment near Alexanderplatz, so very central and therefore ideal for a short city trip.
You can find more info about it here: http://holiday-at-alexanderplatz-apartments.hotel-in-berlin.org/de
The apartment has a bedroom, a living room with 2 sofa beds, a kitchenette, a modern bathroom, and was very clean, with everything you need on hand. The key handover happens very easily via a key safe, the code for which you receive in advance.
We didn't use the kitchen for the weekend, but it would of course be very practical if you want to cater for yourself, or stay a bit longer in Berlin and don't want to eat out every day with the children.
Activities
Since we only arrived on Friday evening, we didn't do all that much then. We strolled over to Alexanderplatz, ate something at the TV tower (at Momotaro Tavern, which was okay), and then walked leisurely back to the apartment. We also wanted to be rested for Saturday, when we had special plans.
On Saturday we first fortified ourselves with a delicious breakfast. We decided on "The Reed", a restaurant with a DJ and trendy interior. We were a little surprised to be the only guests there at 10 a.m. But with the children that wasn't so bad, and the breakfast was really delicious.
After that, though, it was off to our actual adventure: the FOXTRAIL
Now you're of course wondering first: Foxtrail, what's that? Or do you already know it?
FOXTRAIL
Foxtrail is an urban adventure that engages all the senses, challenges the mind, and strengthens team spirit. The playful, entertaining Foxtrail stations let you explore a city in an active and independent way, gaining astonishing insights and views along the way. Find the fox in the big-city jungle – Foxtrail mixes the best of a scavenger hunt, sightseeing, and an escape game.
The task: Find the fox in the big-city jungle. The hunt for the clever animal leads right across the city and is an exciting challenge even for locals.
We got to do the Foxtrail Dufte, which led us through Berlin's center. After a short introduction at the Foxtrail headquarters on Friedrichstrasse, and once we'd solved the first task there, we were off. The girls had been super excited the whole time and also very keyed up about what would await them. And of course we were all eager to find the fox and solve the tasks.
You don't need much for the trail, apart from the game materials, a smartphone, and a bit of brainpower to solve the riddles. There are all sorts of different clues, and I was very surprised how interactive they were. Some were really a bit tricky, but together we managed to solve them after all. The various tasks and riddles are hidden in the most varied places, and without wanting to give away too much, I was really amazed at the ingenuity.
A wide variety of media are used too – there are videos to watch along the way, staff/devices in shops and museums are involved, and we often had to smile at the fox's cunning.
Along the way, of course, we simultaneously saw some of Berlin-Mitte's sights and learned a bit of history too – another advantage of the Foxtrail. And the children were really never bored at any point.
In all, the Foxtrail Dufte is about 4 km long and the average time is around 2.5 to 3 hours. But you can take breaks at any time, eat something, and do the trail at your own pace – which is of course relaxed with children.
At the end you reach the headquarters again, and we, and especially the children, were visibly proud that we'd discovered all the clues and never lost the fox's trail. But even if it should get too tricky, there are always hints available and the Foxtrail team is there to support you.
As you can tell, we were really thrilled with the Foxtrail. I wouldn't have thought the fox hunt was staged so cleverly, and the fact that so many different media were incorporated made the adventure not only exciting but also very engaging, and provided some moments of surprise.
At the same time I was also thrilled at how well the Foxtrail is integrated into the surroundings and various buildings of Berlin-Mitte. Whether pillars, museums, shops, or churches – the integration was sometimes so surprising, but always very fitting. Thanks to the green band you wear during the Foxtrail, those in the know recognize you and are very helpful with the fox hunt.
So I can really highly recommend the Foxtrail; our girls are now almost 7 years old, can read a little, and I'd say that from this age it's certainly ideal. The older, the more exciting it surely gets, when you can decipher the clues and riddles more independently. But even for our children it was already really exciting, and the 4 hours on foot and the route were no problem at all – that's how every city tour is fun.
Back then it was said that more Foxtrails would be following in Berlin very soon - by now, however, the Foxtrail in Berlin sadly no longer exists. In Germany, Foxtrail currently runs trails in Nuremberg, Fürth, and Erlangen.
FOXTRAIL Switzerland
The successful Foxtrail concept comes from Switzerland, by the way, and is already in 12 places there with all sorts of different trails and adventures. Whether in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Basel, or even in Ballenberg, there's surely something exciting for the whole family, colleagues, or friends. You can find information here.
After the successful trail, we then enjoyed a well-deserved early dinner at "Hum's Vegan Cuisine". I can highly recommend this restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine; non-vegans will find something here too, and everything tasted super delicious.
We spent the rest of our time in Berlin with dear friends who'd recently moved to the city and whose baby we got to meet. So it was a lovely opportunity for us to combine the two.
I hope I was able to spark your curiosity for a city adventure – or take a look at the other Foxtrail adventures too! You'll find more city trip and family day-out ideas in our Copenhagen fun and food guide and our family trip to the Papiliorama in Kerzers.
Love, Verena and family
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