Childrens favourite day excursions

At Raba 500 playing with the local children Our younger guests love spending the day at home: no need to pay for travel anywhere. Just being here around Raba 500 is a holiday for children. There are about 15 children, aged 2 to 16 living around the hamlet of Bogdalowka, where Raba 500 is situated on the north side of Raba Wyzna. The children play outside spring through autumn, and run from garden to garden with a freedom that refreshing to see. Most homes have pets or farm animals: the children will see chickens, geese, turkeys, (many of which roam free in the lane) sheep, goats, rabbits, cows, horses, dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and, in the forest above Raba Wyzna, wild deer. Sharing is the rule, and if your child needs a bike, one will be found. Your children are sure to be invited into neighbouring children’s homes and are welcome to reciprocate as all the local children know that our door is always open to them. They may want to join the children helping their parents in the fields beside each house, raking hay, and then riding down to the farm on top of the horse drawn cart full of hay. In our garden, we have a climbing frame and slide, paddling pool, play house, swing and sand-pit and loads of out-door toys. In the evening, the children can host their own BBQ, inviting their local new friends round to cook sausages over a small fire. Our daughter will accompany them to the shops to buy supplies. Summer holiday evenings, June 21^st to 1^st September, usually find all the local children playing some sort of mass game until darkness sends them inside to bed around 21.00. During school time, however, children are usually in bed around 19.00 as they start school at 07.45. In the winter, sledging groups gather and all our guest’s children are welcome to join in. We have 4 ‘apple’ sledges and 1 bigger traditional frame sledge for their use.

	„Pod Gubalowka” market, Zakopane: puppy market The market is situated on the north side of Zakopane, most of it under the flyover coming in from Szymoszkowa. You can travel to Zakopane either by bus (6zl each way) or train (10zl return) or our driver can take you either one way (50zl between 2-6 people), or collect you later as well (100zl return trip between 2-6 people). The market, or jarmark, is about a 20 minute walk from the train and bus stations, through Zakopane’s main tourist district, including a walk down Krupowki pedestrian street. Our driver will drop you off and collect you from the car park at the entrance to the market. http://www.krupowki.biz/krupowki.html . The market is well worth a visit with all sorts of local produce on sale and tourist souvenirs. The hand knitted woollen sweaters are a must. Also, look out for the puppies on sale on the bridge just north of the underpass, and the hot corn on the cob and sesame buns stands. There are probably some 20 stands selling oscypek, the local cheese made from sheep’s milk. A smoked cheese, the darker it is, the saltier it is. You will be invited to taste the cheese at each stand. To the west side of the market you will notice a tall crane: here you can Bungee Jump, or just watch. 120zl per jump of 240zl for a pair. 30zl for a photo of you falling. http://www.jumping.pl/zakopane.html . Fantastic views from the top of the crane.
Bukowina Tatrzanska Thermal Baths A great family day out but you must go early to avoid a long entry queue. Built on a slope just east of Zakopane, in and facing the Tatra Mountains, this swim centre is a feat of architectural engineering, with the waters supplied from the great volcanic underground sea, under the Tatras. Children will love the flumes and slides. http://www.termabukowina.pl/en/home.html . Naturally hot therapeutic mineral water, slides, a lovely selection of pools for small children in their own area, a good café, massage and fitness centre, and about 15 different pools make this a recommended day out. One draw back – lots of wet steps so best to bring children some non-slip poolside footwear. We’ll charge 120zl to take you all there, between 2-6 people in the car, and fetch you at the end of your day. All day pass: 85zl adults, 58zl children. Price may go up in the summer.
	Gubalowka Ridge by funicular railway from Zakopane You can travel to Zakopane either by bus (6zl each way) or train (10zl return) or our driver can take you either one way (50zl between 2-6 people), or collect you later as well (100zl return trip between 2-6 people). The funicular railway station is situated at the north end of the market ‘pod Gubalowka’ which is about a 20 minute walk from the train and bus stations through Zakopane’s main tourist district, including a walk down Krupowki pedestrian street. Our driver will drop you off and collect you from the car park at the entrance to the market; about 5 minutes walk from the funicular railway. It costs 14zl for the return journey, but you can buy a single ticket and walk down. On the ridge, you can take a horse drawn cart, or sleigh in the winter, along the ridge and walk back. There are climbing walls ideal for even younger children, an aerial assault course, open-air grill bar, various stalls offering local handicrafts and the dry toboggan run which is excellent fun: you can reach speeds of up to 40kph! And, for older and adult children, check out the Aerial Assault Course page! http://www.krupowki.biz/krupowki.html
Drive a team of Huskies up Chocholow valley A little expensive but very popular with guests, children and adults: 250zl for 2 people for 1 hour gets you in charge of a small cart (summer) or sledge (winter) pulled by a team of Husky dogs. This is an energetic and very enjoyable hour. The owner, Pan Jan is a real Goral character! http://www.fundog.pl/ . We arrange the time and date for you, and our driver will drive you down to Bialy Potok at the base of Chocholow Valley, (50zl 2-6 people each way) In winter, there is a lovely, not expensive ski slope here with both beginner and intermediate slopes, which you can include in your day out, our driver fetching you at the end of the day. Or if you want to travel on to Zakopane without our driver, there are regular buses to Zakopane from a stop some 100m along the main road.
	Krakow Zoo Our driver will take you out to Krakow Zoo for a day trip, although it will probably be Helen who drives, and her daughter who shows you and your children enthusiastically around the Zoo. To the west of Krakow, high up above the city, the hill top zoo has loads of space for the animals which, by their behaviour, are obviously quite happy to reside there. I am not usually a Zoo fan, but Krakow Zoo is OK! We charge 250zl between 2-6 people for a day trip with one of our drivers. The zoo entrance fee is 16zl for adults, 8zl for children, 3 years and under get in free. There's a play area beside the cafe for small children. http://www.zoo-krakow.pl/index.php
Horse and cart ride from Raba 500 The horse(s) and cart(s) arrive around 17.30 outside the house, and we pack on all the supplies of beer, vodka, soft drinks, potatoes, cheese, sausages, bread rolls, ketchup, music machine with extra batteries... and all the other bits and pieces we need for a 3 hour trip to the forest! There's room for up to 5 people per cart plus driver, but we'll fit 6 on if need be. Summer or winter, we'll make sure you are comfortable with sheepskins to either sit on or hide under. Burning brands light the way, and those sitting by the beer crate can start the evening on the outward journey. We can provide up to 4 horse and cart combos so groups of up to 20 can enjoy a convoy through the village, bells ringing, horses clopping and neighbours waving us on. This is a wonderful evening out for all the family, something that local families do for fun on a summers evening. The price includes the cart driver's fee, (and makes a big difference to his monthly income by the way) and your food and drinks, and apples and carrots for you to feed to the horses, of course. (Ask to see the photos of the guests feeding the horse mouth to mouth….) We drive out around the back of Bogdalowka, onto the main road and canter through the village, starting our 30 minute drive out of town. Slowly up the hill over Raba Wyzna's sole speed bump between the junior and senior schools, we come down past the football stadium, and pull over onto a track into the forest. A wooden roof with rustic benches and tables awaits, and the drivers build a fire in the grill and a bonfire to the side. Cooking is self-service: everything will be laid out on the tables for you. You can either put your sausages, potatoes and cheese on the grill or the drivers will provide wooden sticks to impale your goodies on, and hold over the flames till they are hot through. The sausages are pre-cooked so no fear of food poisoning. The drinks go round, the food goes down, the music plays and you may get a song out of the drivers... In the winter, children can sledge down the surrounding slopes, build an igloo or snowman and then warm up around the fire. Around 20.30, we start to pack the carts and head back home singing as we pass the abandoned palace. Cost: 350zl for 2-6 people. e.g. 5 people = 70zl each = £15.55.

	Zakopane Aqua Park You can travel to Zakopane either by train at 09.58, return 17.33, cost 10zl return, or our driver can take you, 50zl each way between 2-6 people. The Aqua Park is about 5 minutes walk up the hill from the station. Indoor and outdoor, slides, flumes, waves all sorts, the Aqua Park is a great day out even if it’s raining. The flumes (slide tubes) are amazing! For age 7 and up only, although a tall 6 year old can claim to be 7 quite easily. Don't try them if you get vertigo! Not for the faint hearted. We supply you with extra towels. http://www.aquapark.zakopane.pl Adult all day ticket is 50zl, 4-13 30zl, 0-3 free entry although the area for small non swimmers is small and you'd be better taking toddlers to Bukowina Tatrzanska or Szaflary thermal baths.
Ice skating In the winter, at Rabka Zdroj, an out-door ice skating rink and cafe are open from 09.00 to 19.30 in the evening. Skates are available to hire and with an hour and a half session, will cost under 20zl per person. We take you free of charge, or you can catch a bus, with the bus station just across the road from the rink. As the rink is outdoor, snow fall cushions small bottoms if they fall. Even so, it's best to warn children to be careful of the hands and wrists if they fall, and make sure they have water proof gloves
	Zakopane „pod Skoki” children's play area On the south side of Zakopane, through the centre and up, under the ski jumping centre at the base of the Tatras, is a marvelous play area for children. About 10 huge inflatable bouncy castles, slides and ball parks (10zl per child all day), a shallow pool with floating inflated balls that you get climb into and then try and run – bit like a hamster ball on water - 5zl for 15 minutes. There are bars and cafes and it’s a great place to site and watch the children play. You can travel to Zakopane either by train at 09.58, return 17.33, cost 10zl return, or our driver can take you, 50zl each way between 2-6 people.
Snow tubing at Bialka Tatrzanska and Harenda Snow tubing: at the top of the slope, you sit in a huge rubber inner tyre, attached to a long rope, then slide down the snowy slope. Safe and fun even for children who are nervous about skiing. You can try it at Bialka and Harenda ski parks. http://www.bialkatatrzanska.pl/ and http://www.harendazakopane.pl/ Sledging around Raba Wyzna We have a good size frame and wood sledge and about 6 apple sledges so the children can go off down the lane, sledging with the local children. For adults, when there’s a lot of snow on the back roads, we can tie you to the back of the Land Rover and tow you up to the top of the ridge towards Harkabuz, then let you sledge back down the road. Hilarious.
	In the garden at Raba 500 The garden at Raba 500 covers some 2000m sq; all safely fenced and gated so even small children can run out and play anytime. We have a splash pool, play house, climbing frame and slide, sand-pit and swing and a wide variety of out door games and toys, bike, skate board, roller blades and so on. The children love to host their own BBQ, day or evening, if you wish – the ladies at the local butchers will be delighted to help them choose their sausages. Sun shines most days throughout the summer: sunbathe or sit in the shade of the apple tree, sit in the pool with a cold beer, or under the sunshade at the bar with an iced drink: you don’t need to go anywhere for the day when you stay at Raba 500.
Horse riding lesson at Czarny Dunajec We can book horse or pony riding lessons for children at our daughter’s horse riding school. At Czarny Dunajec, about 25 minutes from Raba 500, the horses, ponies and their owner are teaching children to ride from Sunday to Friday. Helmets are provided, and the cost is about 25zl per hour per child. You can either travel there by bus (6zl), or our driver can take you, wait and return 50zl between 2-6 people, or you can combine it as part of a fuller day, booking the lesson to coincide with a return from Zakopane or Orawice Hot Springs, for example, and just pay Staszek 15zl extra on the other day trip charge Horse riding lessons at Chabowka For small children, we can book you in at our local horse and pony club which is 5 minutes away by car. No transport charge, a lovely grassy area for the lessons, and a little club house for snacks and displaying children’s drawings of the ponies. It's about 30zl an hour for a lesson and Marysia will be delighted to accompany your children and enjoy a lesson with them. These horses and ponies are for children only.
	Indoor play at Raba 500 It’s rare in the summer to have rain during the day at Raba 500, but if we do, there are plenty of day trips that keep you out of the wet. And during the winter, there may be some people who fancy a day at home relaxing from an excess of ski muscle use. If so there is plenty for adults and children alike to entertain themselves with at Raba 500. The library has over 1000 books with lots of variety for all ages, although we have many games so if you are aficionados, best to bring your own game with you). TV: we have cable TV so there no Barbara Cartland. A mini pool table for children, X Box, Play Station (although we haven’t got is usually a channel to suit. We can also lend you a lap-top if you fancy a film in bed in your own room, and we have 100’s of DVD’s for you to choose from. We also have a wide variety of jigsaw puzzles and some board games. For adults or family groups, there’s the sauna, 50zl for all of you for up to 6 hours use. We also have toys in abundance, although they tend to the girly side. In the dining room there is a fridge for guests use, so if you want to buy any food supplies for yourselves, feel free to use the fridge to store them. At Raba 500, we can offer a lunch snack of soup and bread for 20zl per head.
Rabka Pizzeria If you are visiting Rabka Zdroj for the day, you will almost certainly visit the park at some time. If you fancy some lunch, there is a very good Pizzeria to the east side of the park. Pizzas cost between 5zl and 40zl depending on the size. We recommend it! At weekends, they have a DJ and you might want to make an evening of it. We will make sure you have the telephone number of our recommended taxi driver, Pan Stojowski, so the Polish/English speaking waitress can call him for you, and he will bring you home. It’s about 50zl from Rabka to Raba 500. Or during the day, you can walk 5 minutes down to the bus station for a 4zl ride home.
	Szaflary Thermal Baths Just south of Nowy Targ, 100m off the east side of the Zakopianka, the Thermal baths at Szaflary are fed from underground mineral water springs in the area. Indoor and outdoor, the pools are ideal for small children as there are a number of slides in the bigger indoor pool. An all day pass costs 50zl for over 7’s and adults. Under 7’s pay 2zl. You can either get the bus from Raba Wyzna, or the train, or our driver will take you, drop you off and collect you at the end of your day: 30zl each way between 2-6 people. http://www.termypodhalanskie.pl/en
Meals at Raba 500 Traditional Polish food is really yummy and I learnt to cook here in Podhale so you’ll enjoy real home cooking, Polish style. Children of all ages love the meals we serve up, with many parents being delighted to see supposedly ‘fussy eaters’ tucking into their second helping of beetroot soup. All meals and soups are prepared from scratch, fresh ingredients sourced locally. Our potatoes are home grown and 100% organic. Milk is fresh from the cow each morning, although I have shop bought milk if you prefer. Cakes are made by the locals, and bread baked at the local bakery 2km away. Breakfast (included in your accommodation charge): cereals or home mixed muesli and milk, bread or toast, butter, margarine, home made jams, Marmite, yoghurts, ham, cheese, tomato, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice. Lunch: soup, bread, cake, coffee, tea, water: 20zl adults, 15zl under 12’s. Evening meals: 30zl adults, 20zl under 12’s. A three course meal, order it in the morning and dinner can be on the table anytime between 16.00 and 21.00. Just let me know. Dinner includes soup, bread, main course, cakes, coffee, tea, vodka, beer, juice or water. If you require wine, I can buy it for you at 35zl per bottle or you can buy your own on your way home. We will happily cater for special diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies. Just make sure you let us know what you require.
	Rabkoland funfair At Rabka Zdroj, the next town 10 minutes drive away is the fun fair Rabkoland, open between May and September. 1zl entry fee, and then 35zl for a 10 ride card, this is probably the most inexpensive funfair in Europe! Great rides, nothing like Disneyland – more like a country funfair in Britain 50 years ago. You’ll find candy floss, dodgem cars, and a great activity area for small children. There are a couple of bars, a café and a restaurant but the food is pretty basic. It’s probably best to eat elsewhere. Free transport to and from Rabkoland, and the bus stop is nearby if you want to go it alone.
u Bogdalu BBQ and farm fun My best friend and neighbour, Krystyna Bogdal, lives with her family across the road from us. Their small farm is a regular venue for fun and games for children of all ages! You and your children can learn to milk a cow and then have the milk you milked with cereals for breakfast next morning. The family will put on a BBQ for you, and you can wander around, meet the horses and the bull, the dogs and wild cats and dance in the grass to local Goralskie music. In summer, a paddling pool is ready for children and adults alike. A very ‘real’ experience, and adults should not expect to come home sober. No transport charge of course, even if we have to drive you home (!). A very full afternoon or evening, with snacks, BBQ, drinks etc. costing 50zl each. Another ‘to go where no other tourist group has been before’ experience.
	Meander Park Swim Centre at Orawice, Slovakia Just over the border, in Slovakia, on the slopes of the Tatra Mountains, a Polish group opened Meander Park Thermal Baths just over 4 years ago. The centre is still being enlarged, although the works going on don’t disturb bathers at all: this is a marvelous swim centre with 6 or more pools of naturally hot thermal mineral waters from the underground sea under the Tatras. Indoor and outdoor, massage jets, water massage beds and seats, sunbathing, wave pool, children’s pools and a huge flume slide, a day at Meander Park will be a family favourite. Our driver will take you there – a 45 minute trip from Raba Wyzna, with a stop in Chocholow wooden village if you wish - and either wait while you enjoy a 3 hour session, or leave you for the whole day, returning to collect you all at the end of the day. The centre opens at 09.00am and closes at 21.00pm. There is a poolside café, a restaurant, a bar, a snack bar. Orawice is on the edge of the National Park: before or after your swim session, you can take a peaceful car free walk up into the trees and enjoy the silence. Or take the chair lift up into the hills and enjoy the view of the mountains around you. The restaurant is outside the pool area: you can enjoy and evening meal there if you wish. We charge 250zl between 2-6 people for the 2 way trip. An all day ticket to the Centre costs 17€ adults, 12€ 7-14, f.o.c. 6 and under. In the winter, the ski slopes beside the swim centre have chair lifts and great slopes, for a variety of levels of experience. For big groups of 7 or more, spending the whole day here, we leave the Zafira in the car park and leave you the keys so you have a place to store ski/swim gear when not in use. Swim: http://www.meanderpark.com/PL/page.php Ski: http://www.meanderski.com/PL/page.php