Europa Park, Germany / License: Image author owned

Getting There

Europa Park is situated close to the A5 Autobahn 39 km north of Freiburg. It is a hassle free drive from the channel ports but if you wish to fly the park can be accessed from Basle and Karlsruhe airports both of which have shuttle buses to the park. Europa Park has a dedicated exit from the motorway and plenty of parking and so you will rarely be delayed on arrival in the area.

Layout

The park is ranged in areas themed on European countries and is beautifully landscaped. Each area features rides, attractions, restaurants and shops with something to please everyone in the family. The food is generally excellent, an uncommon occurrence in theme parks, and prices are surprising low for the quality of the food. There are plenty of places to relax and watch the world go by and a scenic lake in the centre of the park affords the opportunity for a pleasant walk when the rides have become too much!

Europa Park, Germany / License: Image author owned

Highlights

There is truly something for everyone at Europa Park. If you want peace and tranquillity you can explore gorgeous gardens with dancing fountains, beautiful woodlands or take a spin around the lake. There is an area dedicated to rides and attractions for small children and family favourites like the log flume and Fjord Rafting.  Serious roller coaster enthusiasts should check out the magnificent steel coaster Silver Star, the launch coaster Blue Fire and the incredible new woodie, Wodan which has the best queue line ever! If that is not enough thrills then there is also a bob sleigh ride, a coaster in the dark and the Matterhorn Blitz, a wild mouse ride with a unique twist at the start. Finally you will not believe Poseidon a visually stunning ride which is a roller coaster and water ride all in one. The best thing of all is that this park runs with relentless efficiency. The queues move quickly and the rides never seem to break down.

Accommodation

You will need more than one day to experience all of the attractions on offer and so an overnight stay will be required. Europa Park offers 5 beautiful themed hotels on site. The newest option is the Bell Rock hotel a masterpiece of New England styling with rooms that feature real wooden floors, oak furnishings and beds for children in the shape of boats. All of the hotels offer excellent dining, bars and entertainment. If the on-site hotels are beyond your budget there are numerous privately run local hotels which are very reasonably priced and are walking distance from the park.

Europa Park, Germany / License: Image author owned

Give it a try!

If you like theme parks and you haven’t visited Europe Park then give this place a try. I know of no other park which is run so well and offers such a fantastic range of attractions for everyone to enjoy. The hotels are superb and the prices very reasonable, there really isn’t a reason not to go.

Sally Stacey is an enthusiatic blogger and theme park fan currently writing on behalf of National Furniture who supllied the fantastic oak furnishings for her new bedroom inspired by the Bell Rock Hotel.

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Sioux City, Gran Canaria

If you’re looking for gun fights, cowboys and the Wild West in Western Europe, then this theme park is the perfect place to take a trip to. Sioux City has everything from gun fights and cow boys, to dancing girls and saloons and really is a Wild West adventure for both adults and children alike.

Sioux City, Gran Canaria, Spain by m-glimpz

Aqualand Aquasur

This waterpark is the largest in Gran Canaria and there’s more slides than you could ever imagine and for all shapes, sizes and levels of bravery. From the children’s pools to the Tornado rapids there’s a lot to see. Smaller ones can take advantage of the mini park and don’t have to get fully involved with all the thrills and spills; but will undoubtedly still enjoy themselves.

Dolphin Watching

There is not an adult alive or a child for that matter that won’t enjoy watching these amazing mammals. Dolphins swim right to the coast line of this wonderful paradise and daily excursions leave from all islands to watch the dolphins play, swim and have fun. It really and truly is one of those events that you will remember for a long time to come and something the children may be telling the grand children about – let alone you.

Dolphins, Gran Canaria, Spain by Mike, Emma and Nicky

Parque de Los Cocodrilos

If you like crocodiles then you’re in for a great old time at the Parque de Los Cocodrilos. This park has over 300 crocodiles and really is a great place to check out these creatures that are older than the dinosaurs – from the other side of a safe fence of course. The alternative is Reptilandia Park, which has over 150 different sorts of reptiles for visiting and ‘enjoying’. One of the best experiences is watching these often docile looking creates transform when being fed.

Mount Teide

If you have had too many Tapas, or are just looking to get out and about on this volcanic lands area, then the Mount Teide is a great walk, is the highest mountain in all of Spain and offers amazing views of a volcanic area and the rock formations associated with it.

Cormac Reynolds writes for Global Visas a UK Immigration Company

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Churnet Valley railway

Just a short drive away from Alton, the railway is located in Cheddleton Village. From Cheddleton Station, the route passes through some of the most glorious spots and boasts breathtaking panoramic views including nature reserves and limekilns. The trip finishes at Kingsley and FrogHall station.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dominic Sayers

Blackbook Zoological Park

Located in Winkhill, the zoo is a fantastic opportunity to observe and get up close with some of the world’s rarest species. This is a great day out and very popular with children of all ages. The staffs at the zoo are very accommodating and friendly and can cater for large groups as well as families.

Photo by admin

Carsington Water

If you still fancy a little bit more exhilaration after the theme park, then why not get down to Carsington Water. Here you can indulge in the various aqua pursuits such as wind surfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and power boats. There is also a newly installed outdoor climbing tower for the equally adventurous.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Loz Pycock

Historic Buildings

For those keen on history, you will find many great examples to feast upon. Located in Bakewell, Haddon hall is a fortified medieval house which dates back to the 12th century. It was the setting for the film Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightly and has been owned by Lord and Lady Edward Manners since 1567. Also there is Croxden Abbey which houses some beautiful unspoilt remains which used to be home to the Cistercian White Monks in the 13th century.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Rob Glover

Dimmings Dale

A perfect way to round off the day would be to embark upon the wonderful setting that is Dimmings Dale. Very close to Alton and the Alton Towers theme park, the land is owned by the Forestry Commission and boasts scenery that is second to none in the area. Take a leisurely stroll around the grounds and you will feel like you are in another world. The water features are unique and will provide plenty of opportunities to take those all important photographs. Mountain biking is another to enjoy the area and the Dale has many bridle ways which the keen cyclist can utilise to further enhance their enjoyment. Once you are a little worn out, then take a break and relax at the Rambler’s Retreat where you can rest your feet and enjoy a cup of tea and cake.

All in all, Alton is a fun filled and extremely interesting place to visit and there is as we have seen something for everyone!

This collection of places to check out in and around Alton was written by Alton Towers Breaks, offering hotel stays in and around alton towers!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Maxwell Hamilton

Chertsey Abbey

Chertsey was built around this abbey and was founded in 666 AD by the Bishop of London of the time. It grew to become of the largest Benedictine abbeys in England. It was rebuilt in 1110 after it was destroyed by the Danes. The building was completely destroyed after 1537 with the bricks being used to make other buildings. The monument is an intriguing historical site despite the lack of the original abbey.

Mercedes Benz World

This is one for all you petrol heads out there. An opportunity to get up close and personal with a plethora of vintage and current models form the luxury car making firm. Visitors over 1.5m tall can take advantage of a track driving experience which is guaranteed to thrill. Even the tinier members of the family can experience a Mercedes with a mini electric race track available. Once hunger calls, have a bite in the Gull Wing cafe which conveniently looks over the main race track. At the end of the day you can take home a souvenir model of a variety of Mercedes cars. Located in Weybridge, it’s a very short drive from Thorpe Park.

Great Cockcrow Railway

Following on from the transport theme, a trip on the Cockcrow Miniature Railway is a must for anyone visiting the area. It’s a 7 ¼ gauge railway and one of the most extensive of its kind. There are two routes you can take, a red route and a green route. Both are 1 mile long and pass through the most breath taking scenery. The Green route makes a stop at Cockcrow Hill for the engine to be turned around. Each route has its own queue designated by the relevant colour so you know which trip you are going on.

Photo by cockcrow.co.uk

Chertsey Museum

The Museum is situated in the centre of Chertsey in the Borough of Runnymead. The museum houses the Oliver Matthews Dress and Textiles Collection which highlights the various stages of British fashion, a history that extends over the last 300 years. Children under 5 years old can come along and meet Charlie the Chimp on the third Friday of every month. Parents are encouraged to participate with their youngsters. The charge is only £4.50 with siblings under 1 admitted for free.

Brooklands Museum

This is a must see. Brooklands was the first motor racing circuit in the world and widely acknowledged as the birth place of aviation. There is so much to see so make sure your digital camera is on full charge. Once here visitors can explore over 30 different aircraft which are housed in the museum and stand back in awe at one of the last remaining Concords on display. There are a multitude of models of all types to see. The museum is just a stone’s throw away from Thorpe Park so don’t miss out!

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by dodge challenger1

This list of things to do (besides go to Thorpe Park) was written by Thorpe Breaks; offering you exclusive deals on all Thorpe breaks hotels and tickets.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by daniel.herding

Maritime theme park
The first exhibition called Maritime theme park is located in buildings of the former fish market. This exhibition is interactive and can be divided into several parts: Bruges and the sea, military-Zeebrugge harbor, fishermen earlier and now, the International port Zeebrugge or Pirate Paradise. Here you can take a closer look at the Zeebrugge port – its history and present, or at a hard life of fishermen and through the film into the depths of the sea.

Lightship West-Hinder II
The second exposure of Seafront Zeebrugge is Lightship West-Hinder II. It is the ship, which until recently served as navigation and was moored at a position at sea to mark the coast near the town of Nieuwpoort. You can walk through it, touch and learn more about the role of beacon ships.

The Russian submarine Foxtrot
The third exhibition is The Russian submarine Foxtrot. Submarines of this type were used until 1994. During your visit you will learn, how is the life in such submarine when it is filled up with 75 crew members.

Seafront Zeebrugge theme park is open every day from 10am to 6pm and in July and August to 7pm. Keep in mind that the tour of all three parts of the Seafront Zeebrugge takes about two hours. You can buy tickets up to one hour before closing time. Children up to one meter in height, accompanied by parents, have free entry. Children to 12 years pay €8.50, and adults €10.50. Special rates apply for the groups and Seafront Zeebrugge offers many other additional programs for schools and companies. The nearest tram stop is Zeebrugge Kerk. Parking is free right at Seafront Zeebrugge.

For further information, visit the official site of Seafront Zeebrugge.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dave Smith

You have to pay to get in to the theme park itself, which currently costs £30 for children, £40 for adults (and a child over 12 is considered an adult so expect to pay full price for older kids) or £120 for a family of four for a day, so it isn’t cheap, but once inside your ticket covers all of the rides and so the only extras will be souvenirs and food and drink.

Thorpe Park is famous for some of its rides, including the new rollercoaster and live action maze based on the Saw movie series. Not all of these rides are suitable for young children and some are particularly scary, so it is a great choice for thrill seekers and teenagers but not so good for the feint hearted.

Thorpe Park has several rides, including the Logger’s Leap log flume, where you will get very wet, so unless it is a very hot day it is a good idea to buy one of the waterproof ponchos they sell at the park to try and keep your clothes dry.

Thorpe Park also has plenty of restaurants and bars where you can unwind during your visit. For further information visit their official website.

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Parque Warner Madrid, Spain by Jeremy Thompson

Parque Warner Madrid is suitable for all ages. It is divided into themed worlds, according to Hollywood models. You can find here DC Superhéroes World (become your favourite superhero for a few hours), Cartoon Village (meet your favourite characters in mad situations), Old West Territory (stroll down the dusty streets of the Old West), Hollywood Boulevard (Take a stroll down the magical streets of Hollywood) and Warner Bros. Studios (a real movie set with real live action).

The perfect solution for the lovers of adrenaline is the Super Heroes World. The smallest visitors will love the Cartoon Village. Among the most popular attractions is the roller coaster “Superman: la Atracción de Acero”, which has 7 inversions and is 50 meters high. Furthermore, there are other roller coasters “Batman La Fuga” with 5 inversions and “Stunt Fall” with 3 inversions.

Very interesting is also a wooden roller coaster “Coaster Express” which is located in the section of the park called “Old West Territory” (formerly known as the “Wild Wild West”). If you like free fall you should try “La Venganza del Enigma”. The three water rides belong to the best one in the category.

Parque Warner Madrid is open from early March to December, but opening hours vary, so it is best to check Parque Warner Madrid official website before visiting the park. The basic daily admission fee is 38,00 €.

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You cannot miss Europa-Park as the Silver Star – the tallest steel roller coaster in Europe is visible from far away. Do not be fooled, nor discourage from the inclusion of the amusement parks. What you’ll see and experience here at the 85 hectares, you certainly not enjoy anywhere else. Fantasy worlds are waiting for you to be discovered!

You can try the rapid ride through the Greek antiquity on the water roller coaster Poseidon, or shocking Silver Star with a top speed of around 130 km/h, or an expedition into the world of dinosaurs.

Europa-Park provides hundreds of attractions and a great show not only for the kids but also for the adults. You can get into the train that take you from one fairy tale to another fairy tale and passes through the town of Rust.

Europa-Park is one big city, composed of twelve districts, which follow and bring atmosphere of the selected European countries. The main gate to welcome you to Germany, and take you to a panoramic train. France invites you to an ultra-fast single-track Silver Star, where you usually waste an hour in the queue. Swiss will sit you on the bobsleigh track. Norwegians throw you into the rubber rafts in the vortex of a wild river bed. Russians offer traditional tunes and fables with scenes of pagodas, and you can also visit the space station MIR, where the centrifugal force tries the resistance of the space candidates. Dutch people will sit you into porcelain tea cups and spin in a wild circular motion.

You can feel free to let your children explore the world of dinosaurs, play on the pirate ships, seek the treasure or watch knights jousting while you enjoy the charms of European countries. You will distinguish them easily from each other according to the typical architecture and culture, but also by shops, restaurants, delicacies and visage of staff in different parts of the park. You can walk through Spain in the beat of the flamenco, try paella and then go e.g. to Italy. In Café Benedeta you can taste a cup of coffee, while enjoying magic of Venice Carnival. In Holland you can buy great chocolate to your children. The ladies probably get lost in France during a visit boutiques and fashion shops. You can then meet in a bar Marianne and take a glass of real champagne.

However you can pass Europa-Park in one day, we recommend you to take 2 days for it. During the day you can watch the exciting contest of gladiators, dancing on ice, visit London’s Globe Theatre, or a medieval jousting tournament, but the park is alive at night as well!

In the program you can choose from a Spanish fiesta “Viva la Vida”, the German knight’s banquet, an evening with a French cook in the bar La Cigale, or sitting at La Scala and listening to Caruso and his friends…

In Europa-Park you can enjoy a memorable gourmet dinner with cultural program, simply select a country to which you desire! Stylish performances do not end the show in the evening, it continues even in local hotels that are full of inspiring experiences and dreams. For example, you can stay overnight in the Colosseo, Santa Isabel, El Andaluz, or in an Indian village.

Europa-Park is open 09.04.2011 – 06.11.2011 from 9 am to 6 pm (extended opening hours during peak season). 2 day ticket for adults costs €67, for children (4-11 years) costs €59,50. For children under 4 there is free entry.

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Parc Asterix is based on the stories of Asterix and Obelix – who are famous French comic book heroes (the Gallic warriors). They lived around the year of 50 BC, and fight successfully against Roman legions with the help of a magic potion. Parc Asterix offers more than 30 attractions, especially the large variety of roller coasters and 3 different performances.

Among the favorite characters from comic books and movies you can experience the adventure on a bobsleigh and the turbulent water flow. You will find here also the Dolphinarium, classic Gallic village, and if you will have a good luck, one of the Druid offers you a magic potion.

In the complex there are also sections devoted to ancient Greece, Roman Empire and the Vikings. There is a roller coaster La Trace Du Hourra that transports you to ancient times in a speed of 60 km/h. For those of you who are more adventurous there is a roller coaster Goudurix, where you will be several times upside down. Another interesting fun is a wooden roller coaster Tonnerre de Zeus, which can ride at speeds up to 85 km/h. The track was even named the best wooden roller coaster in Europe.

Parc Asterix is open during the summer season from April to August almost daily from 10:00 to 18:00. You can visit it also throughout the whole year, but at first check the opening calendar at their main website to ensure it is open.

Very close to this park you can enjoy fun also in France’s and Europe’s most visited tourist attraction – Disneyland Paris, which is only approx. 30km far.

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Euro Space Center is devoted to space and astronautics and it is one from the few such theme parks in Europe. Visitors have the opportunity to learn and test many devices and other things associated with flights or their preparations into the space. Euro Space Center offers the opportunity to try what kind of experience real astronauts enjoy, when they are going into space. The most popular attraction is about the spacecraft simulator and to try to walk on the moon. Euro Space Center aims to force young people to learn more about the space and various technologies associated with this industry. Therefore, they regularly organizes four-day camps for children from different countries of the European Union. They test here the various situations that may happen during space flight.

Euro Space Center is open from April to mid November, daily from 10:30 am to 17 pm. Tickets cost 11 EUR for adults and 10 euros for students. Children 6 to 12 years pay 8 EUR. Groups of at least 20 people paid 9.50 euros. There is an audio guide also in French, English, German and Flemish. There is free parking for cars and buses.

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