If the curtain-raiser inspired you to visit Hamburg, here are more reasons to book your tickets!
A Wild Day Out at Tierpark Hagenbeck (Hagenbeck Zoo):
The Tierpark Hagenbeck or Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg has been owned by the Hagenbeck family for six generations. It was rebuilt after being destroyed during World War II.This vast zoo is characterized by its “open” design; the animals are housed in open enclosures with moats. The endearing elephants, the polar bears and walruses in the Eismeer, and the beautifully landscaped park and garden make this one of our favorite zoos.
The petting zone brought many a smile to Junior’s face. I couldn’t take my eyes off the pretty picture of pink flamingos and the cherry blossoms. B was fascinated by the design of the enclosures – at times, you can view several animals in the same frame, just as they would be spotted co-existing in the wild.
As you walk around the zoo, turn around every once in a while for incredible views – of animals and the surroundings. This place is quite a wonder.
There is also an aquarium here. Our zoo visit took an entire day, and so, we decided to meet our aquatic friends another time.
Useful Information:
http://www.hagenbeck.de/en/tierpark/start.html
http://english.hamburg.de/hagenbeck/nofl/3637950/hagenbeck-zoo/
The World of Trains at Miniatur Wunderland:
Our best experience at Hamburg was at this wonderful land of miniature railways. Do not miss it for the world!
Junior had been fervently counting every hour, minute, and second until it was our turn to enter Miniatur Wunderland. Although we had initially planned to visit the attraction in the morning, it was quite crowded at that time, and we managed to get tickets only for a later slot in the day.
As the evening air turned chilly in Hamburg, we headed indoors, into the fascinating miniature world of trains. ICE trains zipped along, Amtrak trains chugged on, SBB trains moved at varying speeds across the beautiful Swiss landscape – an incredible sight! Over the next few hours, we walked from one zone in the museum to another, from Hamburg to America, from Scandinavia to Austria, from Switzerland to the Knuffingen airport, and the attention to detail in the models amazed us. Signals, train stations, landscapes, people… everything in miniature! Needless to say, the young train aficionado in our family was shouting with joy and exclaiming in wonder throughout our visit (that lasted almost 3 hours :)). When we left the museum, his voice has turned quite hoarse :).
Junior loved every single train in every section of Miniatur Wunderland. My favorite zone was Switzerland, which extended over two storeys. I had to tear B away from the Knuffingen airport, a fascinating area, with scheduled landings and take-offs of aircraft.
Tip:
During holidays and peak season, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance.
Useful Information:
http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com
More reasons to visit Hamburg? Read the next post! 🙂
Related Posts on FunderfulWorld:
A Holiday in Hamburg: Port on the Elbe
A Holiday in Hamburg: Stroll, Wander, Discover