Diwali With A Cause

Diwali is round the corner, it is a festival that celebrates triumph of good over bad. We celebrate Diwali with lights, yummy sweets, new clothes, new toys, fun with family and friends. There are certain people, especially children who are deprived of this fun and celebration. Let’s start this New Year by doing something unique and thoughtful, let’s bring smiles to the needy. Someone once said “Great opportunity to help others come seldom”.

An initiative by two amazing momprenures Pooja and Sheetal from Boredom Busters busy bags, they deal in Montessori tool education activities for 1 to 6 years.  They had donated their busy bags to a couple of NGO’s during their startup. After successfully establishing themselves for 3 years, they have mutually decided to do something special again this Diwali. But; this will only be possible with your love and support.

The mommy duo has decided to raise funds publicly for Sadhana School, an autistic children foundation. SPJ Sadhana School is a specialist school, the only one of its kind in the country.  It trains multiply handicapped mentally challenged to be productive members of society.  Ever since its inception, 44 years ago, the School has worked ceaselessly towards helping the mentally challenged individual, not only to learn to adjust to the world around, but more - to become a useful member of the human community, independent and self-sufficient, with a contribution to make to society.

The school is not grant aided.  It runs on the donations of Trusts, Companies, Philanthropic groups / individuals.

So grab this wonderful opportunity that has come your way. This Diwali make a difference to the less privileged.

You can donate as low as fifty rupees, through paytm and bank transfers. They will eventually donate these educative busy bags from the collected amount to Sadhana School as per the schools choice. I  know the most daunting question that arises any donors mind is “would my money be used for the right cause?” you can be rest assured that your money is going to the right purpose; Sheetal and Pooja are respectable citizen with a conscience, and have personally helped these NGO in the past for such honorable causes. They truly believe every child has the right to education; this is their way of contributing to the betterment of society. So people, do not waste time thinking, go ahead and transfer your desired amount soon so these mommies can get working on sending those wonderful busy bags to lighten up Sadhana School children’s Diwali.

You can view these busy bags on:

http://boredombustersbusybags.meesho.com or http://boredombustersbusybags.meesho.com/?page=1

Following are the details making it easy for you to donate the desired amount:

Paytm details: Paytm on 9820548447

Bank Details:

In case you wish to transfer money through bank, you can direct message or wassap on this same number to get the required details.

Munich With TEN-AGERS

Munich with TEN-Agers

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”- Saint Augustine, and so we moved on to the next page of our travel book; The Magnificent Munich. This Bavarian capital lies on the bank of river Isar, apart from being acclaimed for its Oktoberfest, Christmas Markets and numerous Beer Gartens, it has tons of attractions for children too.  My son was super excited to put his foot on the Munich land… Wonder how Neil Armstrong felt when he first stepped on Moon? Yes! My son was all gung ho about our Munich intenary as he had prioritized it himself. Result of a few symptoms of Pre-teenism, burgeoning decision makers craving for acceptance.

Before we planned on what to do in Munich, I had researched a bit and had shared some historical flashbacks about Munich with my son:

1)      The birthplace of the eccentric King Ludwig II, also known as “Swan King”, the “Fairy Tale King” or the “Mad King Ludwig”.

2)      The infamous Nazi ruler Adolph Hitler and his association with the city.

3)      The city’s eclectic mix of fascinating history and modernity.

Day1:

Before we could think about touring the city, our not so little buddy wanted answers to the zillion questions that emerged in his head linked with King Ludwig II’s various titles. So, we decided that our first destination had to be the enchanted Newschwanstein Castle and The Hohenschwangau Castle near Fussen.

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

Hours: Open from April to 15 October 9am to 6pm

                         from 16 October to March 9am to 4pm

                Closed on Jan 1, Dec 24, 25 and 31

Prices:  For various ticket and guided tour options confirm on  

             http://www.hohenschwangau.de/ticketcenter.0.html

               

Tickets are also available at the ticket center in the Hohenschwangau village in case you decide on a last minute visit. However Newschwantein Castle being the most popular tourist destination; the tickets get sold out pretty quickly, it is advisable to reserve your tickets online atleast 4 weeks prior to your visit. Also the ticket center shuts a couple of hours early.

How to get there:

In Munich we booked our stay in a hotel that was just a block away from the Munchen Hbf Station. Yes! In cities it is extremely convenient to live around the nearest central station. Our Bayern ticket cost us approximately 33 EUR return, for 2 adults and 1 child under 10 years. This ticket included the 2:12h  journey from Munchen Hbf station to Fussen, and also the bus ride (Bus No 78) that took us to the ticket center in the Hohenschwangau village.

Barely 10 minutes into the village and there it was, the majestic Bavarian wonder perched atop the indomitable mountains, eagerly waiting for its new glaze of tourists to arrive. Seeing the never ending queue outside the ticket center, we breathed a sigh of relief; thank god we bought our tickets online or else would have never got to go inside the castles. We decided to visit the Hohenschwangau castle first as it was walking distance from the village, and then took a bus from Hohenschwangau castle to the Disney favorite Newschwantein Castle (this castle is the inspiration behind the magnificent castle shown in the movie “Sleeping beauty”).

The village dwells many restaurants, but families with children are highly advised to carry enough trail mixes, treats and fluids to stay hydrated along. Don’t forget to pack your sunglasses, hats and sunblock cream, as it can turn into quite a sunny long day. After spending a long satisfying day at the most beautiful castles in Germany we headed back for Munich as we didn’t want to miss our last train back to the city.

Day 2

Finally it was the day, the day my son had been patiently waiting for. If you have boys you can never ever go wrong with cars and sports. You got it right! Our first stop was The BMW Welt and Museum.

Address: 

Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 München, Germany

Hours:

               Welt: Mon thru Sat 7.30am to Midnight

                          Sun 9am to Midnight

               Museum: Tue thru Sun, public holidays 10am to 6pm

               Mondays Closed

               Last entry 30 minutes before closing time.

Prices:

The visit to the BMW Welt is free of charge.

For the Museum click on the site below to choose the various options for tickets http://www.bmw-welt.com/en/visitor_information/entry_prices.html

How To Get There:

               One can either opt for The Hop-on-Hop Off, or take public transportation.

1) The Hop-On-Hop Off takes the visitors on a guided tour on a double decker bus. It has daily tours covering all the major destinations and sights of Munich.

To get more information on the Munich Hop-On-Hop Off, visit

 http://munich-touristinfo.de/Sightseeing.htm

2) If taking the tram, you catch tram #27 from Karlsplatz, get off at Petuelring, BMW welt is a 10 minute walk from there.

3) We chose to travel by metro since the metro station was very close to our hotel. From the HBF station we took U2 to Scheidplatz and then took the U3 to Olympiazentrum. The Welt is a 3 minute walk once you get out of the station.

The BMW Museum exhibited a beautiful collection of BMW vintage cars and also narrated the history of the famous German car maker, showing the complete evolution of how they started their journey as engine manufactures and evolved into making world class automobiles and aircraft engines.

A pedestrian bridge connects the museum to the welt, making it easy to visit. As soon as we entered the welt; my husband and my son transformed into kids entering a huge toy mall. This modern museum is a glorious haven for cars and bikes. Each one was a beauty. Along with the fascinating cars and bikes they also had racing games for kids, a small coffee shop to refuel our energy and lockers to keep our backpacks. Do not miss the “Next 100 years” exhibit, it was truly captivating to see whats gonna hit the roads in the next few years.  The Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) is a must, must, must visit for everyone.

The Olympia Park

www.flickr.com

Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Prices: The entry to the park is free. For special excursions, adventure activities and guided tours. Check out http://www.olympiapark.de/de/touren-und-sightseeing/

How To Get There: The same way we get to the BMW Welt.

     The Olympia Park was by default our next destination as the BMW Welt is located right at the entrance of the park. This beautiful landscaped and well preserved park was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. This park contains the Olympiaberg Hill, Olympiasee Lake, An Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall, Aquatic center, ice sports center, tennis facility, golfing area, an open air theater, The Olympic Tower, Carillon, Munich Olympics walk of stars, a swimming pool (it is open to public, if you wanna carry your swimwear and relax in the pool).

                However we couldn’t visit all of it as we had to reach our next destination way before it shut, but we did manage to go up the tower and capture the glorious view of the Olympic area and the city. We decided if we get time we will come back to it later, honestly that never happened so if you wish to see the Olympic Area thoroughly, then be prepared to spend your entire day there.

Alliance Arena (The F.C.Bayern Statium)

        Address: Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 25, 80939 Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Hours: Open 10am – 5pm

Prices: For tours and tickets check out their homepage https://allianz-arena.com/de/touren-und-fcb-erlebniswelt

How To Get There: From the Olympiazentrum station we took the U3 train to Odeonsplatz, from Odeonsplatz we took the U6 train going towards Garching, and got off at Frottmaning.

Make sure you have put on a comfy pair of sneakers as the stadium is a 1.2 km walk once you get out of the Frottmaning station( Nope no other way to get there unless you are driving, we had to walk up there)

Every step towards the stadium was building up my offspring’s enthusiasm; this was the first football stadium he was visiting. As promised we first took him to the stadium shop, after wandering around the entire shop for an hour he finally chose “The Football” he wanted. No football fan should ever leave the stadium without doing the arena tour. The arena tour cost 10 euro for adults and 6.50 euros for kids aged 6-13, and 9euros for (senior citizens, trainees, students and for people with disabilities)

The arena tour was one of the best experiences, would highly recommend it to every visitor. They took us to the stadium and briefed us about how FC Bayern acquired the stadium. The guide explained us what technology was used to get the best surround sounds and echoes. We were escorted to the player’s dressing room, the therapy room, the kitchen and finally we walked down the tunnel (just like how the players walked down during a match…with music and all) into the pitch. They explained us about the underground temperature controlled heating system that took care of the grass all year round, especially in winters.

                With the amazing experience at the arena, we brought an end to our Day 2. After being totally drained out from this educative day all we could think of was heading back to the hotel and enjoying a scrumptious meal.

Day 3

Scheissheim is a suburb of Munich, there are three palaces and an aviation museum. After visiting two magnificient castles the previous day, we decided to give the Schleissheim palaces a miss, but we were extremely keen to visit the Deutshes Museum dedicated to aviation. This museum is an extention of the castle.

Flugwerft Schleissheim

        

www.panaramio.com

www.bayernradar.de

        Address: Ferdinand-Schulz-Allee (for navigation systems) 85764 Oberschleissheim Germany

Hours: Open daily from 9am to 5pm

Prices: Adults 6 euros, children/students 3 euros

How To Get There: We took the S Bahn train to Oberschleibheim and then cabbed it to the Schlossanlage schleibheim

The aviation museum is built on Germany’s oldest airfield. They have some beautiful modern and historical WWII airplanes, gliders and helicopters. An interesting extension of aviation for airplane lovers.

Marienplatz and the City Centre

Finally we were in the mood to relax, unwind and shop, after the aviation we decided to go to the city center and just strolled around. We walked around the Marienplatz (the heart of Munich), the shopping street and also visited its Glockenspiel. If in the mood for some luxury shopping; do not miss the famous Maximilian Strasse. When we reached the Marienplatz Square, there was a muster of tourists; all looking up towards the sky. All eyes were glued at the Glockenspiel waiting for the hour to strike. We spent the rest of the evening sauntering around the city followed by a delicious dinner. We then headed back to our hotel room to pack our bags for the next morning check out.

We had 3 days in Munich, but in case you decide stay for longer try squeezing in:

1)      Palace of Nymphenburg

2)      The Segway Tour ( not for children below 13 yrs)

3)      Schwabing/ Siegestor

The art district of Munich with numerous eateries and openair cafes, click a few pictures with a gigantic sculpture called the “walking man” and do not forget to check out the “English garten’’.

It’s time to say chao to the “Magnificient Munich” until next time.

KidsBeanstalk will keep posting such wonderful experiences from around the world.

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www.Kidsbeanstalk.blogspot.com

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SMOOTHIES FOR BATH

Hey people, it has been quite some time since my last review. Shopping online; I came across this wonderful site called www.kompletekare.com. KompleteKare currently offers two range of products "Naturalium" and "Belcam".

          Naturalium varies in six different flavors, body lotions (370ml – INR 399), shampoos and conditioners (400ml – INR 399) and shower gels (500ml – INR 499). The company's USP is to offer products that meet the standards of the rich at affordable prices. This surely tempted me to try one of their products; I finally short listed on the kids range.

Calling; all parents who are tired of paying exorbitant prices for bath and body products. Komplete kare's Belcam range offers a variety of products for all ages. However it is the kid’s products that I am scooping in on today. Belcam products are essentially an amalgamation of body wash, bubble bath and shampoo. These ambrosial spas in a bottle come in 19 different flavors; I chose the "Groovy Grapes" and the "Coconut Delight" from the 4 kids products they carry, 500ml bottles costing rupees 599/- each . Both the fragrances reminded me of the yummy smoothies I devour for breakfasts. Apart from its frutilicious fragrance what truly attracted me to these products was:

No sulphate (Sulphates are aggressive detergents that strip your scalp of all the essential oils).No parabens (Parabens give longitivity to the products, but these chemicals get absorbed by the skin disrupting your hormones, eventually cause various problems). No phthalates (Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, dibutyl and diethylhexyl are completely banned in the European Union). No propylene glycol (Safe in small quantities according to the FDA however, large quantities can aggravate allergies). No petroleum (imagine crazy oils seeping into your skin, and making a home forever!! These non- refined oils do not metabolize.). No artificial color (Most of the colors used in cosmetics are derived from coal tar, a byproduct of petroleum). No animal by-products(gives me an assurance no animals were hurt in the process). No 1,4-dioxane & formaldehyde (Toxic cancer causing ingredient). It is Biodegradable (Completely eco-friendly, causing no harm to the skin or the environment). Gluten free (Gluten is difficult to absorb and allergic).Soap free, vegan and hypoallergenic fragrance

Of course, it is difficult to find products that promise you a complete package like this, at all times. But, when we do find such products, there’s definitely no looking back. These 3 in 1 products cleansed well, leaving the skin tender and smooth. The hypoallergenic fragrance added a lingering fruity and a long lasting fresh feel to the skin. No burning or irritation in the eyes after washing the face. My son’s hair is dry and a little rough in texture, I really liked the fact that after washing his hair with belcam, his hair was more manageable and smoother than before.

Their products are not only affordable, but it also carries a conscience; a part of their revenue goes to an NGO – WORLD VISION.

          I am looking forward to trying their other products too, and would truly recommend moms to try these smoothie bottles on your children without any worries. So mommies; go ahead try these products and make them a part your child’s daily hygiene. I would love to hear your experiences with these products in the comment box below.

Please like, follow and share www.kidsbeanstalk.blogspot.com and www.KompleteKare.com on facebook, instagram. 

My First Years With Make-Up

           Teenage years can get quite tricky, adding some amount of pressure to the young beauties. In this transitional stage of teenage to adulthood, a girl spends more time in front of a mirror than the good ol’ books. Physical appearance starts playing the most crucial role in their lives. The love to explore with Make-Up, hair and clothing flourishes; leading to expensive bills paid by parents.

During this period called “Teenage Years”, proper skin care regime and minimal make-up, is the key to lustrous and healthy skin. Do you have a make-up loving teen in your house? Sometimes, teenagers get carried away with the overwhelming choices of make-up products available in the market. Excessive or wrong choices of products can aggravate the already existing common teen skin issues, resulting in acne breakout, oily patches, uneven skin tones, sensitive skin, and rashes and so on.

Apart from protecting the skin, correct application of make-up is equally important, leading to a more attractive and confident individual that fits well in the society and among peers. Make-up should elude class and sophistication; application should be limited only till the features are enhanced. Incorrect application of make-up can lead to criticism and mockery, resulting in extreme pressure on parents and the child.

So, no more teens running after mommies and pestering them to take them to those expensive salons, no more crazy make up bills. To help your teen girl overcome these paramount issues, and transform them into young sophisticated individuals, with healthy and glowing skin. KidsBeanstalk and A Mirror Image by Shivani have put together a workshop “Early Years with Make-Up” for teenage girls.

Why A Mirror Image by Shivani?

Shivani is a Mumbai based professional make-up artist credited with a number of years of experience. She has gained popularity with her exceptional and unique style that has reached audiences through different mediums, from fashion shows to ad films. A Mirror Image clientele includes prestigious fashion weeks, Bollywood actresses, and renowned fashion designers. Along with her rising career, shivani is a doting mother of a girl. Being a mother she knows exactly what other parents of teenage girls are going through. As the famous proverb goes, “good looks attract the eyes while Personality attracts the heart”. Shivani too believes if we learn how to look good and presentable, personality and confidence has no choice but to follow.

So girls, register your seats for the workshop “My First Years with Make-Up” and look pretty, build confidence and go win every ones hearts!!

Raising Independent Thinkers

A country is only independent when its citizens are independent, not only physically but introspectively too. Celebrating Independence Day with my family today got me thinking about whether I; as a parent am doing enough of rights to raise an independent thinker.  Somewhere along this journey we as parents have unintentionally suppressed the term “Independence”. Independent thinking and Innovation is the key ingredient to raising a happy, confident and a successful individual. Just as parenting is an ongoing process, raising independent thinkers is also an ongoing process. A parents’ ultimate goal is to raise an individual who becomes self-reliant in the future. I feel I am always playing this tug of war, where I want my child to still need me and at the same time I also wish he would be mature enough to do things independently. Am I confusing my child??? Maybe…

What kind of characteristics should an independent child possess according to you? Does being independent mean following a time table all the time, finishing their homework on time, eating proper meals on time, attending all the classes or going to bed on time? This may be a part of being independent, but does it really end here? I don’t think so.

I am not an expert or a child psychologist, but over the years parenthood has taught some lessons that I would like to share with you guys.

There are many ways in which we can foster independent thinking in our children:

1)      Try and be less around them:

Of course it is imperative to supervise them but while administering them, we turn into this genie that appears the minute our child yells “mom/dad I need help!” We need to just pacify ourselves, it is okay if he/she cannot do it in the first try, let them try again, they will surely figure it out eventually. It is only after a number of unsuccessful tries that we jump in to guide.

2)      Encourage them to get out of their comfort zone:

Children tend to build an invisible cocoon of comfort around them, making it difficult for them to accept any changes. Encourage them to go on school trips and excursions, make new friends, and explore new hobbies. They do need to follow certain safety norms, but never get afraid of exploring a new sport or adventure. Talk to them about the different choices, some may be wrong, but that’s absolutely okay. One learns from their mistakes.

3)      Let them fight their own battle:

A lot of games eventually lead to arguments and many times children come home crying to their mommies because their friend didn’t give them a fair chance. All children experience such moments at various stages of life, but never to get disheartened by it. These are all part and parcel of growing up; parents should not get involved in the matter at all. Let the child use his/her own surviving skill to overcome such challenges. That will boost a child’s confidence and the ability to tackle all genus’s of situations.

4) As I have mentioned in my first post “Teaching Financial Responsibilities to Kids” too, finance is a very important sector which can be taught only by parents:

Kids learn all kinds of subjects in schools, but learning how to handle one’s finances can only be taught from home. Just like other subjects, financial literacy also cannot be learnt overnight. Talk to your kids about the importance of saving, spending in a budget, and the basic expenses that need to be focused on first. Make sure your child sits with your child when you are planning your monthly expenses. They may not find it interesting at first, but eventually you will be surprised at their involvement.

                

      These were some of the points that I learnt through trial and error over the years, but today I can confidently share it with others. In the same manner children also grow and built confidence to decide between the right and wrong.

My parenting journey is no different from others, but somewhere along this juggle between studies and extra-curricular activities, we tend to miss out on a few basic but important exercises which I wished to share. If you have some amazing tips on “Raising Independent Thinkers”, do share on the comment section below.

GINGHAM to the RESCUE!

They say its the trend of  2017, I say Gingham is a trend forever!!! Gingham was never out, its probably celebrated more birthdays than Denims or maybe just as equal. Just like the LBD (Little Black Dress), there's one piece of Gingham clothing in every ones closet. It's funny how if you discard one checkered shirt, instantly a checkered pajama or shorts takes its place. This checkered print is an all time favorite and super popular among children too. Our school uniforms use to be Gingham, although we were quite bored of it by high school and I don't remember wearing anything checkered for the next two years after. 

Judy Garland's blue and white Gingham pinafore, worn in the classic movie "Wizard Of Oz" was auctioned for a $ 1.5 million to an anonymous buyer.

www.dailymail.co.in

  Look at how beautifully the print has evolved since, now you can add a dash of Gingham everywhere, clothing, decor and food. Boys look cute in Gingham bows around their necks while girls show it off on their heads. 

www.zazzle.com

Love the two checkered rings around this clock, the little boat with the anchor works well for the blue theme wall  or the sailor theme wall. You can get such clocks in various different colors too.

www.dottyhippo.com

The Gingham individual sofa looks extremely comfy and cute, something which you wouldn't want to outgrow from easily. In fact you can also use Gingham bed sheets with personalized pillows to complete the look of your room. 

www.wanelo.co

www.otaa.com

www.zara.com

Love how the Zara shoes go perfectly with this black and white Gingham dress from Wanelo, the bow from Otaa adds extra finish of cuteness to the look. A graceful evening wear.

www.carters.com

The yellow with cute pink embroidery from carters feels light and summery, perfect for a bright day in the park, or a play date. 

                                                                    www.jcrew.com

Oh, how adorable will your little one look in this stylish yet classy Gingham blazer. To make the look formal, pair it with black or beige trousers, and to give a slightly informal look just put it on with a great pair of denims. Gel your hair, put on a nice watch, and shoes and you are ready to rock the occasion.

                                                                    www.zazzle.com

It doesn't stop at just that, Gingham has quite favorably digged its claws in various other commodities like water-bottles, lunch boxes, crockery and cutlery. Any Gingham fans? Please make a note of this.

                                                                        www.flickr.com

I would love to host a Gingham party for my son. Imagine, Gingham  cake, Gingham decor, Gingham clothes, Gingham related games, and finally Gingham back presents. Fun and trendy theme it would be. 

So pull up your Gingham socks, its the Gingham Brigade to the rescue always!!!

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72 HOURS IN BADEN BADEN WITH KIDS

My son just turned a big TEN this summer, gone are the years of single digits. It’s a major milestone, feeling less like a child and more like a teenager; rather a TEN-AGER. Beginning of some emotionally fragile years, aspiring adulthood; yet in the need of care and protection. My husband and I wanted to do something special for him this year. We decided to take him on an international holiday and bring in his birthday overseas, just the three of us (Family bonding time u see). The criteria’s had changed; now fun meant more adventure, adrenaline pumping activities, sports and friends (who goes on a holiday without friends??)

I guess planning a trip with one child is lot easier than to plan a trip with two or more children (more kids more choices). Finally after a lot of research and brainstorming, we managed to list down a certain key factors that would cater to his interests and yet make it an exciting family fiesta. Having taken our last trip in Asia itself, we nailed down on Europe.

Our First destination happened to be Germany; Baden-Baden.

Almost 1.5 hour drive from the Frankfurt International Airport (Germany) is Baden-Baden, a picturesque and classy town located in the southern region of the famous Black Forest area of Germany. Apart from its elegantly curated landscapes, this town is famous for its world class thermal spas. A culture that evolved thousands of years ago under the Romans has still retained its popularity. This stylish town has something to offer to every age group, fascinating architecture, Casino, parks, gardens, sports, churches and castles. One can experience a horse-drawn carriage ride and enjoy the breathtaking surroundings, or try ones luck at Germany’s oldest Casino, or maybe take the kids to a cultural music or dance event (A great way to soak up a different culture)

Baden-Baden with Kids:

So, Keeping our budding teen’s interests in mind, this is what our Baden-Baden itinerary looked like:

Day 1:

       MerkurBergbahn-

Address: Merkuriusberg 2, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany

Hours: Open daily 10AM–10PM

Prices: For a variety of combination tickets confirm on http://www.stadtwerke-baden-baden.de/merkur-bergbahn/oeffnungszeiten_tarife.php

How to get there: We drove up there, but you could take bus 204 or 205 from the main city center. In case you take a bus, ask the driver to give you a combination return ticket that covers the funicular too. There’s plenty of parking for cars and private buses next to the funicular station. We saved a few bucks at some places as kids under 10 years were free. (And guess what...my son was turning 10 in a fortnight!)

MerkurBergbahn has two funicular trains that work simultaneously, in 6 minutes the funicular takes you up an extremely steep and forested slope, to a 668 meter high summit, The Merkur. It was really cool to see these technically advanced machines operate without a driver.  It was a little windy up there (don’t forget to carry light jackets), but had a glorious view of the city.

 This beautifully landscaped paradise for hikers and Para gliders also has a restaurant 'Merkurstuble" open daily 10 am to 6 pm, a barbeque area, few deckchairs where we could unwind, a playground with swings and slides, and a picnic spot too. Apart from all these facilities, an elevator in the Merkurtrum Tower takes you further 23 meters high to a viewing deck that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Baden-Baden, the Black Forest, the Murgtal, the Rheinebene and the Vosges.

          Strasbourg (France):

   

After coming down the Merkur, we decided to visit Strasbourg in France. A 60 minute drive via A5 (towards Basel), this capital city of the Grand Est Region sits by the German Border. Strasbourg boasts of being the first town in France to be listed UNESCO World Heritage. The city which lies on the Grande Île in the River Ill, parallel to the River Rhine, can be explored by foot or by bicycle. We strolled around the fascinating city exploring the city’s main sites and monuments. Also saw The Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, also known as Strasbourg Minster. We enjoyed my favorite “Le Petite France”. The old French quarter lined up with beautiful rustic half-timbered houses. This charming old district of Strasbourg once dwelled fishermen, millers and tanners. We happened to witness a handsomely dressed couple carrying out a pre-wedding shoot on the famous Pont du Faisan swing bridge.

After and exhausting but intriguing day we drove back to our Baden-Baden apartment.

Day 2:

Europa Park

www.keywordpicture.com

Day 2 was full of adrenaline rush. We visited the famous “EUROPA PARK”. Europa Park is one of Germany’s biggest theme parks. (Oh! Incase visiting Berlin?? Just recently there is a new indoor park opened up close to Berlin, you might wanna check that out too!)

Address: Europapark-Strabe 2 Rust, Baden Wuerttembeg, Germany.

Hours: Summers - Open every day from 9 am to 6pm.

            Winters – Open every day from 11 am to 7 pm.

Tickets and Other Details: http://www.europapark.de/en/info/opening-hours?from[value][date]=01.06.2017&to[value][date]=01.07.2017

How to get there: It took us roughly about 60 minutes via A5 in a car but, by train it takes about 2 hours and requires 3 train changes.

This huge sprawling theme park, lying between the Black Forest and the Vosages is a must. The highly recommended park was exactly what we needed to get my sons adrenaline gushing. The theme park offered rides, shows, attractions and eateries for all ages. The Authur Ride was a big hit with us.

Day 3:

 Caracalla Thermae Spa

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Address: Roemerplatz 1, 76530, Baden-Baden, Baden-       Wurttemberg, Germany

Timings: Open 8am to 10pm

Tickets: For current rates go on - http://www.carasana.de/de/caracalla-therme/

How to get there: Walking distance from the city center.

After being pooped out from the previous day’s theme park, we finally decided it was time to melt away our fatigue and sores in the famous Caracalla Thermal Spa. How I wished I could stay there forever! This was the supreme highlight of our trip for me. The Caracalla Thermae is known worldwide for its thousands of liters of healing spring water. This sprawling Thermae has various indoor and outdoor marble pools, with massage jets and currents.  There is a stone grotto with a soothing warm waterfall, just sitting under it felt like bliss. The spring water is known for its healing properties as it contains some amounts of sodium chloride and minerals like, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese and more. All of which work wonders for curing our body’s skin ailments, cardiovascular system, the respiratory system and the digestive system. The spa also has steam and sauna rooms, a hammam room, a sun bathing lawn, and a stone grotto.

They have ample of parking space and don’t forget to show your parking ticket at the counter to waiver of the parking charges. The spa also includes a small restaurant/café, and a store in case you have forgotten to bring your requirements.

After coming out of the spa totally rejuvenated and as completely new people, we strolled around the city center, it was fascinating to see the elevating human statues (its amazing how they can stand there for hours at a stretch!), and later headed to the Lichtentaler Allee.

  Lichtentaler Allee

The Lichtentaler Allee is a beautiful 2.3 kilometer no car, strolling boulevard along the river Oos. With free WiFi this avenue has some splendidly landscaped gardens, and there are lovely fairy tale bridges every few meters on the river Oos. These turn out to be amazing backdrops for photography lovers. It’s a treat to see some elegant mansions along the allee. One can skate, bicycle or walk, perfect for picnics too.  The Allee also has a Museum which summons the history of Baden-Baden (Free entry on Sundays). If visiting in the month of March do not miss the famous Rose Society Garden, which is painted with all the varieties of Roses possible.

Apart from all that is mentioned some more places to visit are the famous Kurhaus Casino, The Theater and The Modern Museum Frieder Burda.

Bringing you to the end of our amazing weekend in Baden-Baden, Germany, Can’t wait to share about our next destination.

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 On: www.KidsBeanstalk.blogspot.in

Coming up soon is a blogpost on our next destination with kids.