Kick off your shoes and go barefoot in the lovely countryside near Munich
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
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Who and What:
My family and I just finished visiting The Biosphere House in Fischbach, Germany, and were on our way home. We drove past a sign declaring ‘Barfußpfad’ at which point I began excitedly encouraging hubby we could dig deep and find the energy to have one more adventure. My husband kindly offered to entertain our very tired 3-year-old daughter on the playground so our peppier 4-year-old daughter and I could have our first barefoot path experience together.

Why:
A few weeks earlier, my friend and experienced German traveler, Jane, had told me about barefoot trail craze in Europe, where you walk au naturel from the knee down on a trail of varied terrain, which sounded quirky and fun to check out with the kids.

The High Point:
I was delighted to discover the amount of giggles that could be packed into a 1.6K walk. Walking on the wood chips, small smooth stones, across the stubbly grass, on concrete, over wooden beams, in the soft sand, through a mud pit and in a stream created laughs with each transition.

For those of us who confine our feet to the uncreative world of socks and shoes it was a feeling of freedom and childlike joy to experience all the different sensations underfoot. A spa treatment it was not, but my feet felt wonderful, smooth and tingly after their adventurous walk outdoors.

The Low Point:
As you can see in the photos, it was a bit of a chilly day. We’re talking Germany in March; so chilly might be an understatement. Also, this was a ‘sidetracked’ adventure, so I was not prepared with a change of clothes or a warm towel that would have been a welcome sight at the end of our walk.

The Kid’s Take:
“I loved it when I ran in that cold, cold water. And I liked walking in the mud and sand and rocks. And I loved it when my pants got too wet and I had to wear mommy’s jacket like a skirt.”

The Bottom Line:
If you ever find yourself in front of a ‘Barfußpfad’ sign, I strongly suggest you ditch your shoes and have some fun. You might be a bit more comfortable in warmer weather, but you have to seize opportunities as they present themselves, right?

The path we went to cost only 1.50 € for adults, 1€ ages 6-16, and was free for kids under 6. There was a huge playground, mini golf course, restrooms, and a snack bar at the start of the path.

July 11th, 2011 | by Julie Breitigan Comment