Outdoor Recreation

Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, Bldg. 2905, 493-4117 or 0631-3406-4117. Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on federal holidays. https://kaiserslautern.armymwr.com

Venice Express
July 26 to 28
Cost: $189 per person
Lose yourself in the island city of Venice, Italy! Venice is the original pedestrian zone and is filled with countless shops, restaurants, museums and other attractions. With no tour guide or set schedule to follow, you will be able to explore this living museum however you see fit. Visit the glass museums on Murano, ride a water taxi or gondola in the Grand Canal, or shop on both sides of the Rialto Bridge. Regardless of what you plan for your day, make sure to visit Saint Mark’s Square, and remember to plan time into your schedule for when you eventually get lost (and you will!) in this beautiful maze of winding streets and canals.

Swiss Chocolate Train
July 27
Cost: Adults $159 & children (under 12) $149
Switzerland is well known for mountain views, chocolate and cheese. Enjoy a delicious day when you will enjoy all three! In Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, you will board a train and enjoy first class comfort and amazing views in a first class Belle Epoque Pullman car as it climbs through the Swiss Alps. After arrival in Gruyères, you will tour La Maison du Gruyère cheese factory and taste the local cheese at 3, 6 and 9 months of aging. During your free time in Gruyères after your visit to the cheese factory, you can visit the historic Château de Gruyères, built in the 1200’s and designated a Swiss Heritage Site of National Significance, the terrifying HR Giger museum, or simply enjoy the scenery, shopping and fine food. In the afternoon you will visit the Nestle/Cailler factory in nearby Broc where you will experience a sensory smorgasbord culminating in the tasting room! After returning by bus to Montreux, you will round out the day with free time for dinner or more sight seeing along Montreux’s lakeside Grand Rue.

Trout Fishing
July 28
Cost: Adults $59, ages 6-11 $39, ages 5 and under $19
Get back to nature, relax, and enjoy a day of trout fishing. While there are a wide variety of places to fish in Germany, we have chosen this one because it’s close, family friendly, and offers the possibility of catching 10-pound fish! And don’t worry about getting skunked, our certified fishing instructor is just waiting to provide as many tips and tricks as it takes to catch as many of them as possible.

Ramstein
Ramstein Outdoor Recreation, KMC Center, Bldg. 3336, 480-5705 or 06371-47-5705. Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat., Sun., holidays and training days 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. https://www.86fss.com/sports-and-recreation/outdoor-recreation
Climbing 101
July 23
Cost: $15 Ages: 10+ with parent
Pre-register by COB day prior
Are you new to the growing sport of rock climbing? We’re here to help! Movement, safety, techniques, training, grading systems, and where to climb in our area both indoors and outdoors will all be covered and more in this comprehensive introduction! A perfect class to develop a new interest and a new community to climb with! No previous experience necessary; belay certification not included and not required.

Bostalsee tandem kayaking
July 27
Cost: $39
Ages: 6+ with parent, water confidence a must, must fit in our youth PFDs
Pre-register by Wednesday prior
Board a kayak to enjoy the scenery and wildlife on one of German’s largest recreational lakes. This trip is designed for anyone interested in learning paddling technique, or to simply experience a day of nature on the water. Bring plenty of food and water, and dress according to weather.

E-bike the Netherlands
July 27 to 28
Cost: $239 Ages: 16+
Pre-register 1 week prior
Includes: Transportation, e-bike rental, accommodation, some meals, instruction, tour guides accompanying you on the routes
Join MOSA E-Bike tours through this unique partnership with Ramstein Air Base. Our daily rides will range between 20 and 40+ miles through the rolling “highlands” of The Netherlands around historic Maastricht. Participants are responsible for their own riding apparel. Trek LM1+ trekking and touring bikes offer a comfortable upright riding position perfect for taking in the sights of the rolling countryside along the border between The Netherlands and Belgium.

Metz SUP
July 28
Ages: Unrestricted: young paddlers ride with parent
Pre-registration date(s): 5 days prior
An ODR classic, the ever-popular Metz Stand up Paddleboard tour provides an amazing way to take in the sites of this beautiful French City. Glide across the canals of the Moselle River through the city center! We will start off outside the city then “commute” into downtown via waterways and canals. A small docking platform allows us to secure our craft and then wander the city streets in search of a sweet or savory lunch option. Perhaps a Royale with Cheese? Register early to ensure you snag a space! No previous SUP experience required, however water confidence, balance, and some physical endurance suggested. The winds can be unpredictable. Water shoes and modest swim attire suggested. Bring passport, euro for lunch, and a change of clothes for the ride home. Boards support up to 250 lbs adult or adult/ child combined.

Baumholder
Baumholder Outdoor Recreation, Smith Barracks, Bldg. 816, 485-7182 or 06783-6-7182

London Express
Aug. 9 to 11
Cost $149 per person
Immerse yourself in the world of the royals at the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Windsor Castle. Visit the British Museum, the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert’s, or Madame Tussauds. Snap that perfect panorama picture of Big Ben from the top of the London Eye. Visit the original Hard Rock Café and get a picture crossing Abbey Road, or get in some shopping on Oxford Street or Harrods. With a free e-travelguide downloaded from Army Libraries, you won’t have to worry about not finding something to do. You will even stay in London late enough to spend an evening at the theater, or enjoy dinner in a high class restaurant or specialized gastro-pub.

Paris Express
Aug. 10 to 11
Cost: Adults: $99, Children under 12: $69
Enjoy the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower or Tour Montparnasse (the only place in Paris where you can’t see the ugliest building in Paris), ride the RER to Versailles, take the “secret” back entrance into the Lourve and skip the line to see the Mona Lisa. With no tour guide to follow or pre-planned sight-seeing schedule to adhere to, you are free to explore the “most romantic city in the world” however you wish.
If you asked 50 different people to describe the best way to spend a day in Paris, you would get 50 different answers. Don’t settle for someone else’s pre-packaged day in Paris seeing what they want you to see. When you download a free e-travelguide for your phone or tablet from Army Libraries you can make your trip to Paris your own.

Bavarian Fairytale Castles 
Aug. 24
Cost: Adults: $99, Children under 12: $79
Never intended for public eyes, the interior of this fantastic castle is visited by millions of visitors each year, and was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland! You will also visit one of King Ludwig’s favorite childhood homes, Hohenschwangau, a medieval castle purchased and rebuilt by his father Maximillian II. After visiting both castles, you will still have time for a leisurely lunch break, souvenir shopping, and a visit to the Museum of the Bavarian Kings before your return to Baumholder.