Europe’s largest port hosted millions of emigrants at the turn of the century and weclomes millions more to visit today.
Hamburg, Germany’s largest port and one of Europe’s key trans-shipment centers, has long shown visitors from around the world a good time. Said to be the city with Germany’s youngest and most creative population, it lures more and more sophisticated travelers each year. Low cost carriers from throughout Europe bring in weekend party-goers, so the city’s Red Light district and clubs on the famed Reeperbahn (the main nightlife thoroughfare) are throbbing with a multi-cultural throng.
However, a summer visit convinced us that families with school-age children will also find Hamburg a great weekend destination.
Hamburg, Hipper & More Multi-National
Adults who recall Hamburg prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall may concur with Ian Fleming’s description from his 1959 collection of travel essays, Thrilling Cities: “the last bastion in Europe of ‘anything goes.'” A new generation comes to admire the Indra, the club where the Beatles first performed in 1961, and other sites related to the Fab Four’s early days in this wild city. In fact, you can check out Dr. Mark A. Schneegurt’s cool Beatle Fan Walking Tour for more info about this aspect of the city.
Past visitors to Hamburg won’t forget the Reeperbahn, the city’s funky multi-lane artery of shops, restaurants and clubs in the St. Pauli district. To explore, catch the U-Bahn subway to St. Pauli, then walk from there; it’s a very long boulevard with lots to see and many over-scale buildings typical of this larger-than-life city.
On the eastern side of Elbpark, one of Hamburg’s 1,400 parks and gardens, are many historic highlights. The steepled Grosse Michaeliskirche (St. Michaelis Church) dominating the skyline is considered the most important Baroque Protestant church in northern Germany. Dating to 1751, it is especially known for the sound of its three huge organs. The Michel’s Tower can be toured day or night for great city views. St. Nikolaikirche is worth a stop; it was gutted by bombing during WWII, but its burnt neogothic façade remains standing as a reminder of all those who died.
The impressive architecture housing the Hamburg History Museum, Brahms Museum and other vast collections comprise the area known as Museum Mile. The enormous Rathaus or City Hall is a huge sandstone building dating from 1886. It’s a bit larger than Buckingham Palace with its 647 rooms and still houses the city parliament and senate. Plan on paying a visit to its lavishly decorated rooms any day of the week. English language tours are given regularly, though visitors are not allowed in during official events.
The Hamburger Bahnhof is a fantastic converted train station that houses the city’s modern art collection. From the Max Liebermann paintings to the Andy Warhol portraits, kids will have a lot of fun here. If the weather is fair (Hamburg can get extremely hot and extremely cold), consider joining one of the many walking tours of Alt-Hamburg, the old city center, that depart from the Rathaus.
Harbor City Welcomes the World
The stalwart shipping industry has embraced the aeronautics (the Airbus-A380 is produced here) and high tech industries. For a fascinating view of the region’s shipping history, pay a visit to the Stiftung Hamburg Maritim maritime museum (+49 40 78 10 48 48; Geschäftsstelle Australiastrasse Schuppen 50B, 20457 Hamburg); it’s open daily except Monday from April to October.
Speicherstadt, the 19th century Warehouse District by the Elbe River and near passenger cruise piers, boasts glass and steel condos next to canals next to renovated red brick warehouses where sugar and spices once were stored. You don’t have to be an architecture buff to appreciate the stunning white glass vertical Opera House installed above a former banana warehouse.
Recent immigrants from Asia and the Middle East hang the woven rugs they’ve brought to sell from warehouse windows and loading docks, lending it the air of Istanbul’s colorful Grand Bazaar.
Immigrants fueled the economic growth of the former West Germany after it developed a program to welcome gastarbeiter or guest workers in the 1960’s. Hamburg’s noted Afghan Art & Culture Museum (+49 40 – 37 82 36; Am Sandtorkai 32/1, D-20457 Hamburg) celebrates just one of the many cultures that have assimilated here; the influence of Turkey’s cuisine and arts is even more pronounced.
Nearby, apartments and a state-of-the-art aquarium are under construction in the futuristic waterfront development of Hafencity, a family-oriented housing project due in 2012. Visitors of all ages will enjoy learning more about it at the HafenCity Info Centre (+49 40 36 90 17 99) located at Am Sandtorkai 30 and the corner of Kesselhaus. Even better, join a Hamburg harbor cruise; the tourist office or your hotel concierge can help you select the best itinerary (of historic areas, contemporary shipping terminals, even daytrips to Sweden) to suit your interests.
An alternative way to tour Hamburg by water is the slow boat that plies the Binnenalster (Inner Alster) and Aussenalster (Outer Alster) Lakes. This picturesque, low-rise, high-rent area benefits from strict preservation laws. Starting from the Jungfernstieg Jetty, riverboats circle the shore as narrators serve drinks, pointing out celebrity homes and other architectural highlights. Families can choose between bi-lingual guided Aalster Cruises or the cheaper hop on/hop off ferries. At the Fahrdamm stop is a public park with a large café and walking paths, and there are other quiet docks along the shore where paddleboats are available for rent.
Honoring Those Who Left: Emigration
One of this maritime city’s newer attractions is the Ballinstadt Museum, commemorating Hamburg’s legacy of emigration. More than five million Europeans from as far as Russia and the Baltic states sailed to a better future from this port between 1890 and 1920, largely via what would become HAPAG Lloyd Shipping Lines and mostly to the United States. The Museum is located on Veddell Island in the Elbe River (easily reached from downtown by ferry or the S-Bahn train) within the original brick buildings where emigrants might have waited weeks to get the outbound processing and medical exams required by receiving countries.
Three of the 30 large Emigrant Halls are exhibit spaces: one is full of computer stations where eager visitors trace their own family genealogy by studying passenger records from HAPAG ships between 1850 and 1934, like Ellis Island in reverse. Another building houses costumed mannequins who are brought to life in tableaus of home, work and leisure activity with props, multimedia screens, videos and recordings; and the third is devoted to the historic memorabilia of the era. Newspaper clippings of world events, graphs, charts, historic film clips and the voices of elderly emigrants tell the fascinating and poignant stories of why so many people chose to leave their home countries in search of a new life.
The museum is named after Alfred Ballin, HAPAG’s managing director who insisted in 1898 that housing be built for his passengers at a cost of 3 million reichmarks. The comforts he made available to emigrants waiting in 22-bed dorms are surprising. Bilingual displays explain his largesse: from the years 1901-1934, more than 5 million people arrived at the “Port of Dreams” awaiting passage, and the astute Mr. Ballinn wanted to make sure they filled berths on his Hamburg-Amerika Linie instead of sailing with a competitor. Families can learn how women and children were segregated from the men, and how separate Kosher and regular kitchens were available to emigrants of different faiths. Facilities were kept very clean and all potential passengers had to have their clothes disinfected regularly. Mr. Ballin can also be called the father of modern day cruising, because after transporting passengers so profitably, he assigned a HAPAG vessel to sail the first pleasure cruise for other Europeans.
Details, Details
Hamburg has excellent public transportation, and English is widely spoken. One sightseeing option if you’re limited to a brief stay is the Hamburg Stadt Rundfahrt double-decker bus tour.
Alternatively, the Hamburg Tourist Board (+49 40 30 05 13 00) offers a Hamburg Card enabling families interested in lots of sightseeing to ride all public transport free, get 15%-30% discounts on many admission prices, and 10% off in many shops.
In this multi-cultural city are several shopping districts; keep in mind that style-setters such as Jil Sander and Karl Lagerfeld hail from this creative city.
Our favorite is the exclusive Neuer Wall, nicknamed “Chic, Sheik, Shock” from the story of a stylish woman who bought the latest fashions, asked her Arab sheik to pay, then watched him go into shock from the bill! The fun and walkable Monckebergstrasse is considered the shopping mile, Spitalerstarasse is a pedestrian mall, and Colonnaden is another small street of designer boutiques… but the soaring euro may diminish your interest in purchasing anything.
On the other hand, the Hamburg Tourist Board works with dozens of local hotels and international chains to create value packages and posts them on its website. At our visit, the Best Western Hotel St. Raphael (+49 40 24 82 00), conveniently located at Adenauerallee 41, Hamburg 20097, was offering a special tied in to “The Lion King” musical that has been playing in Hamburg for seven years (to great acclaim). It’s a short walk from here to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), museums and shopping, and standard rooms sleep three.
If you want to stay in Ian Fleming’s favorite hotel, the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (+49 40 34 94 0) on the shore of the Inner Alster Lake at Neuer Jungfernstieg 9-14, 20354 Hamburg, it’s still there. This famed European landmark has been serving royalty and celebrities its special brand of hospitality for over 100 years. Among the 157 beautifully finished rooms and suites are some with two beds and room for a rollaway, but you’ll pay at least double the rate of many other choices.
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we really appreciate your comments and have just updated this story in response. Thanks for keeping us up to date! – editors
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Hello,
I am giving away a free 30 minute Spanish class via Skype (conversation, grammar, etc. depending of your Spanish background. It could be from zero level to very advanced). I have more than 25 years of teaching experience and Spanish is my native language. So, don't miss this chance and write me to fit a schedule. Regular online Spanish classes via Skype are just $5/hour. I hope you will find the lesson very instructive and could ask for more lessons, but if not at least you will get your free lesson.
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There are so many great ranches that it is a fun challange to find the right one for you…but I have to say that the Dude Ranchers' Association website and directory are a very big help…you will find quality ranch vacations that will match what you are looking for. I recommend contacting the Association for more information.
Story tapes allow the driver to be amused and entertained along with the troops. The website Audible.com has a selection of stories for children and families and it allows you to preview a story to see if you like the reader.
A & J Aparments are no longer a vacation rental.
Sage Mountain Villas, the area code would be (284) not (809) we have not used that area code in many many years and is now used but the Dominican Republic.
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Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland.
These are all great options and sound like lots of fun. We've been planning to visit New Zealand and the Butterfield & Robinson vacations seem to be right up our alley.Thanks for the suggestion it sure beats me stressing over the details.
If you're looking for a place to stay try to have a look on http://www.rivierAds.com. Hope this helps.
For the bargain hunter, the beauty of Yosemite can still be enjoyed with an inexpensive stay at Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging. The resort is now offering <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com">Yosemite lodging</a> starting at only $39 for two nights for a yurt that can accommodate up to five people. Yosemite cabins start at only $49 for two nights for a basic cabin that can accommodate four people. With the Yosemite National Park entrance fee of $20 per car for unlimited entries for seven days, a family can spend less than $100 for two days of Yosemite-area lodging and admission to the park. These special rates are available at http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-lodging-camping-specials.html during the fall and winter season. Some restrictions apply. Yosemite Pines (http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com) is an RV resort, campground, and lodge located near Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Pines offers <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-camping-rv-tent.html">Yosemite camping</a> near Yosemite National Park with full hook-up RV and campsites. Yosemite Pines also offers Yosemite lodging and <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-lodging-cabins-yurts.html">Yosemite cabin rentals</a> near Yosemite National Park with cabin and yurt rentals. Amenities include a clubhouse, gold mine, gold panning, petting zoo, swimming pool, hiking trail, general store, children’s playground, horseshoe pit, and volleyball.
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You can find information about the Caribean zone at http://www.Cahuita.cr
D.C. is incredible. I love going there for the cherry blossom festival and I have also been lucky enough to get a tour of the White House's West Wing.
The Verizon Center is a great place to see concerts, and the metro is such an easy and convenient way to get around.
I'm lucky to live just a couple hours away in Colonial Beach, a great little riverside resort town.
I always wanted to visit Jamaica with my kids (boys 7 & 12), but lots of people really discouraged me with horror stories about the safety and attitude of locals towards tourists. I was told if we decide to go just make sure we stay inside our resort. We love exploring and learning new things so this keeps me away.
Thanks,
busymom
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Hi Guys,
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Claire
You can contact this tour operator in South Africa that specializes in African Safari. http://www.journeyintoafrica.co.za/
Hi. I like your story. I'm here in Växjö on a study abroad semester from SFSU. I found a nice Miyata 12 speed and totally refurbished it, including a new free wheel and brake levers. My main question is how easy it is to get on Swedish highways? I giving serious thought to riding to Copenhagen via Malmo from Växjö. I'm sure I can make an average of 80 miles a day but I would really like to just hop on a highway and tread right to Malmo. Do you know if Swedes allow riding on larger roads? I had a some problems with this in the states.
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Thank you for the interesting piece about Provence, and for giving us the courage to consider a French holiday with OUR teenagers the coming summer! It sounds like it was a great time for all. Looking forward to following your further family holidays.
The Gaylord Resort is a great place, although it's a bit far from downtown Nashville. But if you don't mind driving a bit, it's an empire unto itself and older kids can amuse themselves for hours just exploring the place.
UNLESS ITS NOT A CROWDED DAY, I THINK THE CABLE CARS ARE A MAJOR PAIN WITH TODDLERS. I WOULD WAIT TIL KIDS ARE OLDER TO GO TO THE TROUBLE UNLESS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE AND JOSSLE FOR A SEAT.
I ALSO THINK CROSSING THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE IS FUN, BUT ALSO LOST ON TODDLERS, SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO IT, SKIP THAT ATTRACTION OR MAYBE JUST WALK OUT A LITTLE WAYS.
THE EXPLORATORIUM SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR A COLD, FOGGY OR RAINY DAY – IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE FOR LITTLE ONES TO RUN AROUND AND PUSH, PULL AND POKE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
if you're in Scotland you have to try the national dish, haggis, just don't tell your children what it is! It's actually quite delicious. Scots often refer to dessert as pud or pudding, but they mean the entire gamut of dessert items, not just pudding.
I think it's important to get out of the city and go into the country if you get the time. Check the calendars to see where a Scottish game might be where there will be bagpipers, the tossing of the caber, and all kinds of interesting Highland games. They take place throughout the spring and summer throughout the country and are well worth a detour.
I'd skip Poble Espanyol in Barcelona — way too touristy — unless you want to take advantage of the kids crafts activities.
Kids adore Gaudi's crazy Sagrada Familia, the high-spired church that soars above the skyline. Pay to take the elevator up and then climb down the tight spiral staircase – your kids will be thrilled.
Barcelona;s beachfront was developed during the Olympics, it's now a relaxing way to spend an afternoon with the kids after too much busy city-touring.
Another great kid pleaser is the aerial tram ride up to Montjuic where older kids may enjoy the Olympics museum or a quick stop in the Miro museum.
Villa Cosmica
Villa Cosmica is located on the south side of Puerto Vallarta, far away from the noise, where only the sound of wild birds and the whispering of the waves colliding in the ocean will awaken you every morning. Enjoy this 5 bedroom house, where all bedrooms surround a beautiful swimming pool with a Jacuzzi for 10 people and the most marvellous view to the bay is just a glance away from you. All the bedrooms have air conditioning, also our T.V. room with a game table and SKY cable at your service. Our living room, in the center of the villa is open to the breeze, under a beautiful palapa roof with a small bar to pamper all your senses.
Bedrooms: 5 Sleeps: 10 Baths: 6
Floors: 2 Parking Space: 2 Year Built: 2007
Size of Unit: 450 sq. mts.
Period Nightly Weekly Monthly
Jan 6, 2009 – Apr 30, 2009 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
May 1, 2009 – Nov 15, 2009 $978.00 $6,846.00 N/A
Nov 16, 2009 – Dec 17, 2009 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
Dec 18, 2009 – Jan 5, 2010 $1,840.00 $12,880.00 N/A
Jan 6, 2010 – Apr 30, 2010 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
May 1, 2010 – Nov 15, 2010 $978.00 $6,846.00 N/A
Nov 16, 2010 – Dec 17, 2010 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
Dec 18, 2010 – Jan 5, 2011 $1,840.00 $12,880.00 N/A
http://www.pvrpv.com
Gay Friendly Puerto Vallarta
Nestled between the lush jungle greenery of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the sparkling waters of one of the world’s largest bays, The Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta has earned an international reputation as one of the best Gay tourist cities in the world.
Being a port city and a destination for many cruise lines including RSVP and Atlantis, Puerto Vallarta is tolerant and abundant with all things gay.
The center of the activity is the charming section of old town known as The Zona Romantica. Here you will find cobbled streets, red tiled roofs and lovely white washed buildings rich with Spanish architecture. Many gay owned and gay friendly businesses including restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries for every pallet and taste, fill the narrow streets of this splendid fishing village.
Coming Events
There are no scheduled events.
Most tourists spend their day on the gay beach. With its white sand and raging surf Playa Los Muertos is the place to be and be seen. Find a deck chair, sit back and relax and let the friendly servers indulge you with great cocktails and yummy food while you unwind and watch whales and dolphins frolic in the blue ocean waters. If beaching is not for you, Puerto Vallarta offers many gay tours to fill your days. Bay cruises, horseback riding through the jungle, bike rides along the Rio Cuale and canopy tours are just a few of the many activities available.
Late afternoon the roof top bars of the gay hotels offer entertainment and a place to enjoy and view spectacular sunsets. These lively spots are crowded with beautiful men and women drinking, laughing and sharing their stories. After the sun sinks into the ocean, it’s time for dinner. From internationally recognized 5 star restaurants to small local eateries Puerto Vallarta is a foody’s delight. At last count, Puerto Vallarta boosted over 1100 restaurants of every description. Haute cuisine to meatloaf, the list of places to dine is extensive and wonderful.
Being a top gay destination, Puerto Vallarta offers more gay bars and dance clubs than most mid-sized American cities. Cantinas, martini bars, stripper and drag shows and fabulous dance clubs await you. As some of the clubs serve until 6am, most are not busy until 1am, so it is advisable to take that all important ¨Disco nap¨ before heading out.
While the vast majority of gay travelers are from Canada and the United States, Vallarta, recently has seen an increase in gay tourists from Europe and as far away as Australia. Gay men and women world wide are discovering and falling in love with the little spot of paradise that is Puerto Vallarta, making it Mexico’s and perhaps the world’s, gay mecca.
It’s good to be gay and it’s great to travel to such a gay friendly resort town. Puerto Vallarta beckons and embraces its gay tourists and it will be a spot you will return to often.
Agree that the skiing is absolutely terrific – the tram to the top of the mountain makes this resort absolutely awesome top to bottom. But I think there is one level of skier/rider who would have trouble – the advanced beginner or beginning intermediate. There isn't as much terrain to select for this group. But it's a resort that you definitely have to experience at least once – and you might get hooked and never want to go anywhere else!
It's important to start 'em young! Of all the family vacations you can pick that can last through the decades, skiing is the very best. When the kids are little you get a break because they're having fun in ski school. When they're older and more accomplished you can ski together. When they're teens and are whizzing past you, you can still ride up the chairlift with them and have them to yourself in the condo. Then when they're in college, you get to spend quality time with them on the slopes and in the condo because you're buying your lift ticket. It's a family vacation that can continue on as a tradition until you're too old to strap on a pair of skis…
i think many accidents occur when new teen or young men (and sometimes women) who are not very experienced are out with their much-more experienced pals. They get talked into trying a part of the mountain that is too much for them and then they try to keep up. They get themselves into trouble that way and often are injured.
If you are looking into hostels and you are a family, call the hostel to get a sense of the character of the place. We went to a hostel once with our elementary age kids(not in a ski area) and it was filled with young 20 somethings and teens having lots of fun – smoking pot in the parking lot, partying, etc. Even though some hostels have family rooms, if the place is full of kids it can be uncomfortable. Some hostels do have older visitors and more families, so it pays to ask.
Don't forget to plan some time to see some of the other attractions in Monterey, like the aquarium, which has an amazing sea horse exhibition coming up and take a drive to Point Lobos to hike around and Big Sur to see some of California's most spectacular coastline. Have lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur.
Great advice and some fun ideas for new places to try. thanks for sharing your family secrets!
All of Wyoming is a great destination with kids, but my family especially loved this place because it is really a unique bit of the Old West. Definitely worth a detour!
Hello People,
I Just joined up and am trying edit my profile but i can't see the button!! probably staring me in the face lol
thanks guys
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The 25-year-old tour company Wildland Tours has a family vacation package for 2009. It will be a great multi-generational adventure for folks who like whales, puffins, comfortable hotels, and the many wonders of Newfoundland.
Just stopping by to say that the fourm seems to be a great place so i thought that i would signup and join in on all the fun
Hello People,
Just joined! I'm liking it around here 🙂 hopefully i can contribute something to the forum in future.
G
Great article- I am a resident of oregon and my family and I enjoy the coast and central oregon. Oregon has some of the best fishing in the northwest and such a diverse climate to choose from year round. The weather is very tempermental and almost impossible to plan around so bring a rain coat and sunglasses. I think this article gave a pretty good overview of everything that Oregon has to offer.
Sunriver Resort is a quality organization with a great reputation in Oregon. I have been to sunriver probebly 10 times since moving to Oregon and we have used the resort 7 times to book vacation rental accomodations. I highly recomend them and also visiting Sunriver.
Good hotel in a great location.
I find it to be a good value hotel, breakfast facilities are one of the best i have seen. Room is great for people on a budget who want the amenities and cleanliness of a 5 star. I'm very happy with our choice.
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Just wanted to add that we're on Central Daylight Time and now open at 9:30 am (Holiday World) and 10:30 am (Splashin' Safari). In 2009, we're introducing the World's Tallest Water Ride, Pilgrims Plunge, plus the new (free) HoliWatch program which will help separated family members find each other during their visit.