Nature explorers for a day

Not all children jump for joy when it says: "Today we're going hiking." This is also the case with our family. My eight-year-old daughter Julia and her three-year-old brother Elias are very reluctant to slip into their hiking boots after breakfast. They don't yet feel the passion for the Alps that their father Peter and I share.

With our Wildpass, we can go straight through the turnstile and don't have to go to the ticket office - but wait, there's still something missing. We quickly pick up the amulet pass for the children. They can use it to collect amulets at each station and receive a small reward at the end. This surely motivates them if their enthusiasm wanes.

When we board the Panoramabahn at the middle station, the children are gripped by the high mountains - even if only for a short time. After getting off, the adventure playground is already much more interesting. In the meantime, we adults grab a coffee and continue to enjoy the panorama from the terrace. It's nice when there's enough time for everyone.

Then we set off on the Brandnertal nature trail, accompanied by the clever fox Brandolin. From station to station, we learn more about nature, how the water filters itself, which stones lie on the mountain and what a dairyman does all day on the alp. The children race around and can hardly wait to open the next drawer or turn the next disk to learn more about nature and its wonders. Peter and I hike leisurely behind them, enjoying the sunny day, the clear air and the smell of the fir trees. Children, can you hear the squirrel between the branches?

The forest soon thins out in front of us and we reach the Parpfienzalpe. Time for a long break. We sit down together on a bench and order cheese, sausage and elderberry juice for everyone. It reassures me to know that my children are eating top quality local products here. If only it were that easy at home in the city.

We have to decide what to do next. Do we want to explore the animal trail or walk back to the cable car via the barefoot trail? The children agree - they want to get out of their hiking boots. Then off we go. It's wonderful how the forest floor, pine cones or the crystal-clear water of the mountain stream feel on bare toes.

When we get off the cable car back down to the valley, the afternoon sun is shining brightly. What to do now? Fortunately, this question is always answered quickly in Brandnertal.

We grab our swimsuits and jump into the cool natural swimming lake "Alvierbad" in the middle of the village. Was it a nice day of hiking? No, a great day of adventure and discovery.