Schwarzwald

Southwest Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg Germany

The Schwarzwald is a wooded mountain range whose highest peak, Feldberg, has an elevation of 1,493 meters (4,898 feet). The sandstone and gneiss-covered soil of the area supports pine and fir forests, through which the rivers Enz, Kinzig, Murg, Neckar, Rench and Danube run. Important tourist destinations in the area are the cities of Freiberg and Baden-Baden on the western edge of the forest; the mountains Feldberg, Belchen, Kandel, and Schauinsland; the Titisee and Schluchsee lakes; the All Saints and Triberg waterfalls; and the crevasse of the Gooch river. The German Clock Museum in Furtwangen and the Vogtsbauernhöfe open-air museum are additional tourist attractions.

Hohenzollernstraße 28
30161 Hannover, Germany

Located in the center of Hannover, Eilenriede is Germany’s largest urban forest. There are 640 hectares (1,600 acres) to explore, including pathways, play areas, fields, and ponds. Families can easily spend a day exploring here, and kids have the option to play at 10 playgrounds. You can bike or hike the forest park, which includes 38 kilometers (23 miles) of bike paths and 80 km (50 mi) of hiking trails, or just have a seat and enjoy nature. Seek out the lawn maze or play some mini golf, while the cafes offer options to relax and enjoy a snack. Eilenriede includes 50 wooden bridges and is about twice the size of New York City’s Central Park.

Oberschweinstiegschneise
Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt City Forest encompasses nearly 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) south of Sachsenhausen, making it the largest urban forest in Germany. In addition to walking, visitors can bike or even ride horses over its many kilometers (miles) of paths and trails. There are ponds and playgrounds, as well as the Goetheturm (Goethe Tower), a wooden observation tower that sits in the forest's northern edge. It's no longer possible to climb the tower but there is a beer garden at its base. This land was once part of the Imperial Forest before the city purchased it in 1372 from Emperor Charles IV. In the 15th century, stones were placed to mark off an area where sheep could graze, and they're still visible today on the Sheep Stone Path.

Nationalpark Jasmund

2a Stubbenkammer Sassnitz
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 18546, Germany

Jasmund National Park adjoins the chalk cliffs above the Baltic Sea in the northeast of Rügen Island and is the smallest national park in Germany. It was opened in 1990, before the unification of Germany. The tallest part of the park's famous cliffs, the 118-meter-high (387 feet) Königsstuhl (King's Chair), forms a majestic backdrop to a sweeping landscape. The scenery inspired a painting by the German romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. Rare plants like the black alder, Malus sylvestris, wild service tree, and the orchid variety Cypripedium calceolus can be found in the forest swamps behind the cliffs. The forest is home to birds like the white-tailed eagle, kingfisher, house martin, and peregrine falcon.

Starnberger See

South of Starnberg Southwest of Munich
Bavaria, Germany

Formed from Ice Age Alpine glaciers, Lake Starnberg is the fourth largest lake in Germany. Lake Starnberg provides a recreation area for the residents of the city of Munich. A number of towns have grown by the lakeside, including Berg, which is famous as the site of the drowning in 1886 of King Ludwig II. Other small towns near the lake are Starnberg in the north, Seeshaupt in the south, and Tutzing in the west. The lake has a single river, the Wurm that flows out of it, and one island, the Roseninsel. The inflow into the lake from the Osterseen chain of smaller lakes in the south comes through the river Ostersee-Ach.

Unterbacher See

Südstrand
40627 Dusseldorf, Germany

There’s rarely a better choice for a summertime outing than to hit the beach. Unterbacher See (Lake Unterbach) has two swimming beaches, and boat rentals offered here are a great way to explore the lake. Rent some bikes and explore the area or plan to camp at the campsite. There’s places to barbecue as well, whether you stay the weekend or just the day. Kids and adults will enjoy the playground, where kids can have some unstructured playtime. A restaurant and cafe located on the waterfront are additional options for snacks and meals.

Maschsee

Rudolf-von Bennigsen-Ufer
Hannover, Germany

Situated south of Hannover's center, the artificial Maschsee Lake is the city's most popular recreation spot. Walk over on a weekday morning and visitors will share the promenade with joggers and cyclists. Come on the weekend and you'll find skaters, walkers, families, and picnickers. The Maschsee was one of Saxony's success stories during the mid-1930s. The Nazi administration used unemployed workers to dig out the flood meadows of the River Leine, creating the 2-meter-deep lake between 1934 and 1936. It was intended as an ecological barrier against floods, but the artificial lake became one of Hannover's favorite parks. Come in winter and you have a chance to skate on the frozen surface. Visit during the summer and you can swim, sail, row, or windsurf. And if those sound too taxing for a vacation, there are fireworks and festivals for kite boats and dragon boats as well.

Between Berlin and Rostock
Southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Encompassing 31,805 hectares (78,592 acres) and more than 130 lakes in northern Germany, Müritz National Park was opened in 1990. The towns of Waren and Neustrelitz are located on the edge of the park. About 500 meters (1,640 feet) of the park run along the clear waters of Lake Müritz, the biggest lake in northern Germany. The park has a varied landscape and more than a hundred lakes inside it. The larger part of the park on the eastern side includes pine forests and moorlands, while the rest of the park is hilly with beech trees, small lakes, and bogs. The park's fauna includes red deer, cranes, white-tailed eagles, ospreys, and the black stork.

Tiergartenstraße 117
30559 Hannover, Germany

Bring the family to Hannover’s Tiergarten, a recreational forest that includes an assortment of animals. Deer, rabbits, squirrel, wild boar, and several bird species call the park home and offer close-up views for children to enjoy, as many of the animals are within natural enclosures. There are 112 hectares (276 acres) to wander, and an 18th century barn is also on site. Plan for a few relaxing hours enjoying nature and the surrounding peace and quiet.