Travel for Kids: Frankfurt, Germany



Germany

		Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main)


		Frankfurt may well be your entrance port to Germany: over 40 million people pass through the Frankfurt airport every year. An old city, Frankfurt has hosted the Romans and Charlemagne. It's also a cultural center as well, with over 40 museums, half of them conveniently lined up along the Main river, but don't explode trying to see all the Frankfurt museums with your kids, pick a few and spend time in each one.


			Start by taking in the whole city at a glance – In the Zielgalerie (a shopping center with over 50 stores) ride the elevator up to the 8th floor observation platform where kids will be able see all of Frankfurt.

			A great place to start the day in Frankfurt is at the Alte Nikolaikirche. The facade of "Old Nicholas Church" is dominated by sculptures of St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus). Once the court chapel, today it belongs to a Lutheran congregation. At nine a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. you'll hear the 40-bell Glockenspiel play German folk songs. Go inside to see the Schmerzensmann, a medieval sculpture dating from 1370. In summer months, on Wednesday evenings, catch the English language musical vespers.

			The Römer (on Römerberg Square) consists of three houses built around 1300 and used in the 16th century as the city's Rathaus (town hall). In the center house you'll find the Kaisersaal with a collection of the portraits of 52 Holy Roman Emperors.

			Struwwelpeter Museum – This is a free museum of memorabilia of the children's books, Struwwelpeter ("Slovenly Peter"). Written and illustrated in the 19th century by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman who also founded the first hospital of neurology here. If you've read the Slovenly Peter stories, you may have read Mark Twain's translation.

			Dom St. Bartholomäus – History buffs (and those who love pomp) shouldn't miss Dom St. Bartholomäus. Dominated by a red-sandstone tower, in this chapel the Holy Roman Emperors were elected and crowned for 300 years.

			The Historical Museum (Historisches Museum) – A great place to go to get the feel of the city. Check out the scale model of the Old Town, the apfelwein (apple wine) museum (which also serves as a cafe) and the Children's Museum.

			Goethe House (Goethehaus) – "On the 28th of August, 1749, at noon according to the Glockenschlage, I came to Frankfurt am Main and the world..." so begins Goethe's autobiography. Anyone who has read and loved Goethe will enjoy touring this beautiful home. Don't miss the collection of paintings of Goethe's life in Germany and Italy.

			Judisches Museum – Located in the Rothschilds' original mansion (the Rothschild Palais) you'll learn the story the second-largest Jewish community in Germany before the Holocaust – and about one of the great banking families of the world.

			Senckenberg Museum of Natural History (Naturmuseum Senckenberg) – One of the biggest natural history museums in Germany. Exhibits cover the evolution of the Earth, there's a great paleontology exhibit from Grube Messel, a pit with fossils dating back 50 million years. Grube Messel is considered the world's the richest site of the Eocene era, especially the early stages of the evolution of mammals – it's one of only two dozen World Heritage Sites in Germany.

			Palmengarten (Gruneburg Park) – 50 acres of botanical gardens where, in warm months, you can rent rowboats on the pond. Tour the reconstructed historic greenhouses (some built over 100 years ago). There's lots to see, from a magnificent rose garden to an oriental rock garden. At the Subantarctic House there are plants from Chile to New Zealand; in the Tropicarium it's tropical vegetation. At the palm house you may catch a flower show, and at the band stand on warm evenings you can listen to the band or join in the dancing.

			Frankfurt Zoo (Zoologischer Garten) – A true city zoo, the special place here is the Grzimek House, set up to mimic night time so you can watch nocturnal animals at play. Braver kids will want to see the Exotarium, with its reptiles and insect exhibits.

			The Sachsenhausen district on the south side of the Main River famous for its traditional Apfelwein (cider) pubs. The stretch along the river, called "Museumsurfer," is sprinkled with museums:

			Museum fur Post und Kommunikation (Museum for Post and Communication) – A museum all about communication, it's really geared for kids, with lots of multimedia exhibits of the history of postal services in Germany (those Thurn und Taxis again!) and elsewhere. Don't miss the upstairs area with hands-on activities: a printing press, bits of electronic junk and glue guns (great for older kids), a working pneumatic tube mail system, drawing and painting, plus a nice cafe where you can get very good brownies.

			After you've done the museums, you can also go swimming at the public pool on Textorstrasse or head for Stadtwald – south of Sachsenhausen, this big park is great for strolling, especially in the section called Louisa Park, with its little lakes.

			Go swimming – There are about a dozen public pools in the city, some indoor some outdoor. Probably the most popular is the Rebstock (August-Euler-Strasse) where you'll find a wave pool, an Olympic lap pool, a huge water slide, hot tubs and saunas. You can even swim down a canal that takes you from the indoor pool to an outdoor pool. There are child care facilities here if you want to relax with a massage or in the Japanese steam bath set in a traditional Japanese garden.

			Eissporthalle Frankfurt – Slip over to the Ice Rink with two arenas and an in-line track kids (and adults) can skate heart out or take in a hockey game. During summer, inline skaters can try their skills on half pipes and street courses.

			Take in a soccer match – Chances are someone in your family plays the game – don't miss the opportunity to see a world class team. Click here for schedules of the major teams in the city: Eintracht Frankfurt, Frankfurt Lions, Frankfurt Galaxy (in German) and the Skyliners.

			Alte Oper ("Old Opera House") – This concert hall on Opernplatz is where you'll find stunning performances of opera and ballet – the Germans love both so get tickets early.

			Tour the Frankfurt Airport – Stuck in the airport coming in or going out of town? Ask about the "behind the scenes" tour at the airport itself! The kids will find it a lot more entertaining than sitting at the gate and you'll get them moving around, always nice just after or before a long flight.

			Around Frankfurt


		Tip: Wednesday's admission is free to many of the city's museums, but they're closed Mondays.

		Wherever you stay or what you want to see, getting around Frankfurt is easy. Stop in at the Frankfurt Tourism Office, either in Old Town or at main train station, and pick up the Frankfurt Card which gives you an unlimited pass for public transportation and half off the entrance fee to museums.

		Check the festival schedule. The city hosts over 100 folk festivals, many have a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Check at the tourist office for a schedule.


			Fun food –

			Do you really have to ask? Frankfurters of course!

			Farmers Markets – Depending on the day... the Farmer's Market is Frankfurt is somewhere different every day of the week. Check with the tourism office for schedules and specialties! A great place to find fresh foods and local treats.

			Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse will give you more choices than you may want – everything from upscale restaurants to fish markets (with cafes and delicatessens in-between).

			Shopping –

			Founded in 1746, Hochster Porzellan, the famous porcelain, can be bought in the company store on Berliner Strasse. The factory itself is in nearby Hochst (ask about tours). Frankfurt is famous for toy makers: Das Spielzimmer has handmade dolls and Hannah Kley wonderful wooden toys. Saturday morning head for the flea market along the Schaumainkai.

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