Frankfurt's west side mixes an old town of its own with forest, farmland and the banks of the Main. Höchst keeps its half-timbered lanes and riverside promenade, and the districts around it, from Griesheim to Schwanheim, put woods and open space within easy reach. These are the plans we've checked out west, for days when you want room to run without crossing the whole city.
St. Martin's Day is when German kids carry lanterns through dark streets singing "Ich geh mit meiner Laterne". Most parades start at a church with a short service or the story of Martin sharing his cloak, then walk the neighborhood with brass music, sometimes behind St. Martin on horseback.
Some end at a Martin's fire with sweet bread and kids' punch. Nobody needs German to walk along.
An ecumenical St. Martin celebration put on by the parish at St. Josef church in Höchst.
After the service, families head outside and kids carry their lanterns in a procession to Schlossplatz. The service is in German, but the lantern walk needs no German at all, so it suits any family with a kid and a lantern.
An ecumenical St. Martin's celebration at St. Bartholomäus church in Zeilsheim, with a Martinsspiel, the St. Martin's play. Afterward everyone sets off together on a lantern procession.
Kids bring their own lantern and carry it on the walk. The service and play are in German, so it suits families happy to follow along in German, and kindergarten and primary-age kids most of all.
Schneekönigin is a stage musical of The Snow Queen fairy tale, sung and spoken in German, put on for families at the Jahrhunderthalle.
It suits kids who already follow a story in German and can sit through a full-length show. Children who don't understand German will get less from it, since the songs and dialogue carry the plot.
Schwanheimer Düne is a 58-hectare nature reserve on an inland sand dune, formed from Main riverbed sand after the last Ice Age. A wooden boardwalk loops through pine trees, silver grass and open sand, with information boards. Kids have to stay on the boards to protect the lichens, which makes it a car-free stretch for running. Look for herons fishing in the Schmitt'sche Grube, a former sand pit.
Sindlinger Glückswiese is a sanctuary farm and riding therapy center on the edge of Sindlingen, home to more than 75 animals, many of them rescues: horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep, geese, ducks, chickens, pigs and cattle. None are sold or slaughtered.
Visits are guided. On a cuddle hour, staff walk families through the paddocks to meet and stroke the animals. Preschool pony sessions teach safe handling through play rather than riding.
Waldspielpark Schwanheim is a water play park in the Schwanheim forest. A big spray field cools kids off on hot days, and a paddling pool is set aside for toddlers. Around them sit play equipment, a row of table tennis tables, an 18-hole mini golf course and a soccer field. A separate barbecue area has open and covered fire pits.
Frankfurt's west side mixes an old town of its own with forest, farmland and the banks of the Main. Höchst keeps its half-timbered lanes and riverside promenade, and the districts around it, from Griesheim to Schwanheim, put woods and open space within easy reach. These are the plans we've checked out west, for days when you want room to run without crossing the whole city.
St. Martin's Day is when German kids carry lanterns through dark streets singing "Ich geh mit meiner Laterne". Most parades start at a church with a short service or the story of Martin sharing his cloak, then walk the neighborhood with brass music, sometimes behind St. Martin on horseback.
Some end at a Martin's fire with sweet bread and kids' punch. Nobody needs German to walk along.
An ecumenical St. Martin celebration put on by the parish at St. Josef church in Höchst.
After the service, families head outside and kids carry their lanterns in a procession to Schlossplatz. The service is in German, but the lantern walk needs no German at all, so it suits any family with a kid and a lantern.
An ecumenical St. Martin's celebration at St. Bartholomäus church in Zeilsheim, with a Martinsspiel, the St. Martin's play. Afterward everyone sets off together on a lantern procession.
Kids bring their own lantern and carry it on the walk. The service and play are in German, so it suits families happy to follow along in German, and kindergarten and primary-age kids most of all.
Schneekönigin is a stage musical of The Snow Queen fairy tale, sung and spoken in German, put on for families at the Jahrhunderthalle.
It suits kids who already follow a story in German and can sit through a full-length show. Children who don't understand German will get less from it, since the songs and dialogue carry the plot.
Schwanheimer Düne is a 58-hectare nature reserve on an inland sand dune, formed from Main riverbed sand after the last Ice Age. A wooden boardwalk loops through pine trees, silver grass and open sand, with information boards. Kids have to stay on the boards to protect the lichens, which makes it a car-free stretch for running. Look for herons fishing in the Schmitt'sche Grube, a former sand pit.
Sindlinger Glückswiese is a sanctuary farm and riding therapy center on the edge of Sindlingen, home to more than 75 animals, many of them rescues: horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep, geese, ducks, chickens, pigs and cattle. None are sold or slaughtered.
Visits are guided. On a cuddle hour, staff walk families through the paddocks to meet and stroke the animals. Preschool pony sessions teach safe handling through play rather than riding.
Waldspielpark Schwanheim is a water play park in the Schwanheim forest. A big spray field cools kids off on hot days, and a paddling pool is set aside for toddlers. Around them sit play equipment, a row of table tennis tables, an 18-hole mini golf course and a soccer field. A separate barbecue area has open and covered fire pits.
