Slow Travel meaning sustainable and slowed-down travel works with kids, too. But to do so you don’t need to travel far: the biggest lake of Germany, Lake Konstanz, is an ideal holiday destination that has especially for families much to offer. Who travels along the so-called “Swabian sea” crosses the neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland. A good travel guide should not be forgotten. My recommendation: “Bodensee mit Kindern” by Annette Sievers (2022, Peter Meyer Verlag).
According to Sievers, families are traveling different and therefore, need different information than sightseeing tourists or backpackers. Together with her partner Peter Meyer she recognized this necessity already in the 1990th. Since then, they specialized themselves with their Peter Meyer publishing company in travel guides for families. In the travel guide for Lake Konstanz, families can choose from a variety of activities by using a modular system. All activities are checked in their sustainability. This is why experiencing nature, hiking and bike riding is paramounted – true to the credo of the publishing company whos books are also printed eco-friendly. Right now, the travel guide to Lake Konstanz is the only one with the Blauer Umweltengel seal.
For this article, the author and publisher Annette Sievers was so kind to take some time and talk to me.
Have you been traveling with children around the Lake Konstanz for creating this travel guide?
The pure research work on set is way to exhausting for children. This is why I rely on the expertise of befriended families and readers who describe their experiences to me.
Which places around the Lake Konstanz are interesting for families who are living in the region themselves?
In experience, many localsusually just know the highlights, which you like showing guests. I simply would suggest everyone to go hiking or stroll through the back country, or travel across the lake and find out what there is to see in the neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland. For a local from Konstanz this could also mean to just walk through the wonderful Seepark in Kreuzlingen by foot.
Which place or activity is the most exiting for families who are traveling to Lake Konstanz the first time?
At the first time, the experience “lake” surely is the most important. But also there, families can vary their activities: bading, paddling, sailing or learning how to use a SUP. Additionally, I recommend visiting the Natural history museum and Sea Life Konstanz. Of course, the Affenberg Salem (a park with monkeys) and the Pfahlbaumuseum Uhldingen (museum of buildings on stilts) are perfect destinations for people all ages. On top, one could do a trip to Bregenz and drive the cable railway to the mountain Pfänder with the wild life park.
Which activities around Lake Konstanz are especially eco-friendly and sustainable?
Everything you can do with your own muscle power is more sustainable than a drive by motorboat. A drive with the public transport is more sustainable than an individual car ride – and cheaper anyway. With guest cards travelers are often riding for free. Beautiful and exciting for example are bike rides through the Rhine delta, a hike to the seven Churfürsten (mountain range) or a ferry drive to one of the museums and castles at the opposite side of the lake.
Do you think that Germans have to change their travel habits?
It doesn’t matter if German or English, we should all stop making short-trips. When I went to school, it was normal to spend four weeks at one place. The being-driven and individual as well as specialized travel today transportwise is very complex, un-ecological and bad for our environment. Power and gaining power comes from inner calmness!
Do you know the Slow Travel trend and what do you think about it?
My appeal to travel slower, longer and calmer is equal to the demands of the Slow Travel movement. Since the founding of the Peter Meyer publishing company 40 years ago, we are propagating this idea.
Interview by Anika Neugart
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