Field Trip Friday: Barefoot Park Adventures
The Barefoot Park (Barfusspfad Bad Sobernheim) is my favorite summer time field trip. We went here last year also, after “rowing” We’re going on a Bear Hunt. In that story, the family sets off on an adventure to find a Bear. They go through the mud, the tall grass, across a river and more. Throughout the book, the story repeats
“What a Beautiful Day! We’re not Scared! … Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it! Gotta go thru it!”
Its a beautiful story full of adventures, curiosity, and courageous kids- basically the perfect summer time book for little ones.
This morning, we woke up, and I told the kids we were heading to the Barefoot Park- before I could even get dressed, the kids had found our Bear Hunt book on the (well organized) bookshelf, and were all snuggled up on my bed to read the story before we headed out on our own Bear hunt.
This park is created to be enjoyed barefoot. So much care has been put into the path! They installed mud pits, water pits, sand, smooth stones, wooden planks, and fun challenges for the kids along the course. Our feet were able to feel SO many different textures!
The Bear Hunt story really comes in useful when it came to the mud pit! I just have to tell the kids “Ut Oh! Mud! Can’t go over it! Can’t go under it! Gotta go through it!” and they’ll sing back that “We’re not scared!” and stomp off through the mud and the muck.
Last year, when we reached the river portion of the path, we all declared it to be too deep, and too fast to cross with the little kids. I don’t know if it was lower this year, or if we’re all just a lot more accustomed to Germany and it’s idea of dangerous fun…. but we took the kids across that river!
The Barefoot park was wonderful, again. I really think the US needs to adopt this idea and create Barefoot parks in the states. Y’all are missing out! If you’re local, Bad Sobernheim is only about an hour from Wiesbaden, and the cost is low (about 3 Euro a person). They even have a wurst stand to get snacks when you’re done with the walk. It takes 1.5-2 hours to complete the path.
When I am barefoot… all life is wonderful ! 🙂
Awesome! My kids would love this park. This is one of the coolest ideas I have ever seen. Most parks you are afraid to go barefoot because of broken glass. But a park dedicated to being barefoot and it is safe would be a dream come true! Looks like you had a great field trip and a wonderful way to experience Going on a Bear Hunt with all your senses!
That looks so cool! You are right, we need something like this in the US. Preferably, PA! Thanks for sharing your adventures, I love them:)
These parks are SO neat- I bet you could do a mini-backyard barefoot park adventure! I love knowing that they have cleaned it and made sure it really is safe for feet though
I soooo wish we had these in the states!
They are really popular here!