Hikes, Part I of Many
I was going to wait until I had a few more hikes under my belt before sharing this adventure. BUT between work and school (hi, yes I’m working on my degree while also working full time….I’m just a little crazy), I don’t see a ton of weekend excursions in my near future. Sad face.
One of the many things I love about living here is the availability of walking/running/hiking/biking trails. To me, it just helps put a focus on getting outside and enjoying the beautiful scenery. The trails have varying difficulties, so there’s something for everyone. They’re pretty accessible and most of the ones I’ve been to go in a loop so you don’t have to try to remember where you parked if you just follow the trail (which is a huge bonus for someone like me who relies on Google Maps to remind me where my car is). In pretty much any village we visit, there are lovely trails WITH free parking close by. And sometimes even snacks and drinks on the route! Here are a couple I’ve recently done and love :)
This abandoned-mine-turned-geothermal-energy-plant is a fun place to visit with pretty views. It’s called Wassergarten Reden and it is located about 45 minutes away from where I live. The pretty waterfalls and lily pads are an adorable background for pictures. The loop around the abandoned mine portion is pretty flat, so it’s family-friendly and also good for a quick run. Luna enjoyed exploring and sniffing around, except when it came to the waterfalls. They were a little loud for her and she stepped in the water at one point and didn’t love that. We spent about 2 hours wandering around the trails and taking pictures, so it was the perfect stop for a morning walk. There are a decent amount of castles in the area too, and this would be a nice addition to a castle hike too!
After seeing all there was to see at the mine (and probably being judged by strangers for all of the pictures), we stopped by Jägersburg for a quick walk around the lake . Google Maps said there were castle ruins, but they were pretty underwhelming. HOWEVER the stop was totally worth it because I got to have my first official German Bratwurst in Germany! It was delish. Even on a Sunday (when pretty much everything is closed), there was a waffle stand, a brat stand and a beer stand and lots of dogs and humans out enjoying the sunshine. There was plenty of parking and also an obstacle course that looked like fun (if that’s your thing). Would I go back for the castle? No. But, if I’m in the area again, I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a walk here again. I wish I would have gotten a few more pictures of all the fun activities at the lake(s) in Jägersburg, but I was too busy enjoying the lovely day and fresh air.
All in all, I would 10/10 recommend making a stop at the Wassergarten Reden. There are so many fun spots for pictures and the trail (and surrounding trails) are perfect for a morning walk or jog. Here are some more pictures because I really can’t get enough :)
XOXO,
Natasha
