Munich Kids

Aqua & Soul is a wellness and health center offering a swimming pool, steam sauna, biosauna, color therapy room, infrared cabin, massage, and a gymnastic and dance room.  According to their brochure, their specialty is swimming courses for babies and small children up to age 4.

The center is recommended by a reader of Munich Kids.  She prefers it to other pools in the city, because the water is held at a higher temperature, making it more comfortable for the babies and children (not to mention parents!)

A full listing of prices and course schedules is listed on their website.  The website is in German only.

Address:  Maxhofstrasse 91, 81475 Munich, Fuerstenried-West

Telephone:  089/ 57 96 89 29 (office) and  089/ 74 50 01 04 (pool)

Email:  helga-korp-atem@gmx.de

Website:  http://www.aqua-soul.de

Nearest public transportation:  U3 Fuerstenried/West or Busline 56, 134, 166, 260, 261, 267, 936, and N41 to Fuerstenried/West

There are 4 indoor play parks in Munich and the surrounding areas:  1) Jogoli in Munich; 2) Lollihop in Aubing; 3) Coco Loco in Gruenwald, and; 4) Peppino in Forstern

I have only been to Jogolis.  There is a separate post about that play park on this site.  If other readers have been to the other play parks, please feel free to add a comment to this post, or send me an email at munich_kids@yahoo.com with your own text for a separate post about that play park. 

Each of the play parks have adventure playgrounds, with spaces for running, jumping, climbing, and playing.   Take a look at any of the websites and it will make you wish you were a kid again…or be glad you have kids, because they all look like so much fun!

Each park also has concession stands and birthday party options.

 Visit the individual websites for more information on prices, facilities, and locations.

Jogoli webiste: http://www.jogolis.de/

Lollihop website: http://www.lollihop.de

Coco Loco website: http://www.cocoloco-gruenwald.de/#

Peppino website: http://www.peppino-forstern.de/

Sea Life Munich opened in Spring of 2006.  It is part of a group of Sea Life centers in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and other parts of Europe.  There are currently 9 Sea Life centers in Germany, of which the Munich center is the largest.

Sea Life Munich covers over 2000 square meters and holds over 30 aquariums. One of the highlights is a  400,000 liter, 7m deep ‘Sea Life’ aquarium.  You can view this giant aquarium at two levels - from the lower level, as you walk through a tunnel, with the aquarium above you, and from the top level, where you can get eye to eye with sharks and other sea life.   A giant shipwreck in the shape of a Trojan Horse adds to the whole aura of being under water.  It really is quite amazing.

A primary mission of of the Sea Life center is to provide visitors with insight into local and regional aquatic ecosystems.  The center is set up so that you must follow it from one end to the other. As you wind along the passages and tunnels, you pass through aquatic exhibits on  the Isar and Danube rivers, through to the Black Sea and the Mediterraenean Ocean.

There are small interactive learning stops, throughout.  Learning stops and information placards are printed in English and German. 

A few words to parents with young children: 1) Much of the center is darkly lit and has a close feeling about it, so young children might be frightened of the dark, claustrophobic feeling of these areas; 2) There is no coatroom or lockers to hang coats, and it’s warm inside, so you may be carrying around a lot of coats; 3) The only bathrooms, as fas as I can tell, are at the entrance to the center.  Once you have entered the center, you must go all the way through it, in one direction, to exit.  So have the kids use the toilet before you go in.

They do have plenty of space for strollers, and  an elevator is available for when you step down to the underground level.

Lines can be very long, on weekends and holidays.  I recommend going during the week, if at all possible.

Entrance is somewhat expensive - 12,50 EUR for adults and 8,50 EUR for children ages 3 -14.  Discounts are available for groups, seniors, students, and persons with disabilities.  There are also several places where you can pick up 2-for-the-price-of-1 coupons.  I picked up my coupon at Pizza Hut.

Address:  Willi-Daume-Platz 1, 80809 München (in the Olympic Park)

Telephone: 089/ 45 00 00

Email: muenchen@sealife.de

Website:  http://www.sealifeeurope.com/

Nearest Public Transportation:  U3 to Olympic Zentrum, follow the signs to Sea Life, about 5-10 minutes on foot

In addition to the Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, there is another animal park in the Munich area.  It is called the Berg Tierpark Blindham.  I have not visited it myself, yet, but is has been recommended by a reader of Munich Kids.  In addition to being able to see the animals, they have additional offers for children. These include a playground, bungy-trampoline, and guided tours for birthday parties.

The Berg Tier Park is open daily from 9:00 -20:00 during the Summer, and from 10:00 - 18:00 during the Winter. Entrance price is 4,30 EUR for adults and 2,90 EUR for children aged 3 -12.  Discounts are available for seniors, students, persons with disabilities, and groups.  A yearly pass is also available.

It looks somewhat difficult to get there by public transportation.  The nearest stop appears to be a bus stop that leaves you with a 1 km walk on foot.  More details are available on the web site.  From the home page, click on “Besucherinfo”.  Then click on “Anfahrt” to obtain transportation information.

Address:  Blindham 3, 85653 Aying

Phone:  (0) 8063 20 76 38

Website:  http://www.bergtierpark.de/

Nearest Public Transportation: From Aying with Busline 9582 Aying/Bad Aibling or Busline 9581 Aying/Bad Feilnbach to the Aschbach/Haus Hoheneck bus stop.  From there 1 km to the zoo by foot.
 

Munchkins Playgroup - Munchkins is an English speaking playgroup South-East of Munich. Running each morning from Monday to Friday we offer many activities for children from 20months to 5 years old. For further information contact Tracey Bowen at 089/907 777 97

Looking for a taste of American style pizza in an environment that is kid-frienldy? Try the Pizza Hut on Sendlinger Strasse.  The dining area is on the ground floor (only one step to get in, for folks with strollers).  The aisles between tables are wide, making it easy to negotiate a stroller to the back of the restaurant.  They have  a lot of bench seating.  We’ve found bench seating works great with little ones.  We set a parent at each end, and the kid’s in-between to help keep busy kids at the table.   This Pizza Hut has a lot of little things to help entertain the kids.  They have  a selection of children’s books to look at, kids’ placemats with crayons, and balloons.  There is also a children’s menu.

Address:  Sendlinger Strasse 54, Munich

Phone:  089/ 089 260 7235

Nearest Public Transportation:  U1, U2, U3, U6 Sendlinger Tor

Felicity Nannies is an agency that provides families with qualified nannies from English-speaking countries.  The agency works with certified childcare professionals in the UK to hire competent, qualified individuals and then works with you to link your family with a nanny.  Nannies can work full-time (more than 30 hours per week) or part-time. They can also be hired on a temporary basis, for up to 3 months.  The nanny can live with you, or can be on a live-out basis.  Felicity Nannies also provides services for linking your family with a maternity nurse, governess, or au pair. 

Felicity Nannies’ website (in English and German) provides a wealth of information on the different childcare options, fees, salary guides, and qualifications. 

Address:  Ina-Seidel-Bogen 69, 81929 Munich

Phone:  089/ 999 49 644

Email:  Mirja Lindberg at info@felicity-nannies.de

Website: http://www.felicity-nannies.de