Kaiserslautern American
Page 20
September 18, 2020
Can’t-miss German day trips A-Z: Gartenschau Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern’s Japanischer Garten, or Japanese Garden. Located just down the street from the Gartenschau, the Japanese Garden offers rare resources: tranquility and harmony. Begin your day by exciting your imagination at the Gartenschau. Then soothe your soul at the Japanese Garden. Either way, you’ll leave refreshed, renewed and the good sort of exhausted.
by MilitaryinGermany.com There is much to be said for activating your imagination somewhere beyond your office, home, or home office. Sometimes all it takes is one little – or very large – piece of input to transport you far away from the daily toils and cares of the world. Like, say, if you find yourself looking up in wonder at the outstretched neck of an apatosaurus hovering over you like a bridge. Or if you longingly watch your children race off to an awesome wooden pirate fort…until it dawns on you: why not go with them? This is the stuff life is made of. And you can immerse yourself in it quickly at the Gartenschau Kaiserslautern. Far more than a garden show For English speakers, don’t believe your online translator when it says “Gartenschau” means “Garden Show.” It doesn’t come close to doing this place justice. No, this is like a wondrous botanical garden/dinosaur park/playground located in the heart of Kaiserslautern. Adults with or without children can easily fill several hours here.
You’ll find gorgeous views in Kaiserslautern’s Japanese Garden during any time of year.
Highlights include: Dinosaur Park: Think “Jurassic Park” without the potential for disaster. Several dozen hyper-realistic dinosaurs are found throughout the park in brilliant locations, offering brilliant photo ops, much wonder and no roaring. Natural beauty: Okay, so this is a garden show, too. And from late
spring to late autumn, the place shows it with a stunning array of flowers, cacti, trees and plants placed along the well-manicured paths. Incredible for children: If you have kids, the Gartenschau is a winner. Children 5 and under get in free. There are great play areas, and vast green spaces on which to sit and feed your worn-out family.
Photo by Marat_Yakhin / Shutterstock.com
Views: Take the steep (but short) hiking path to the top of Kaiserberg, where you’ll find more gardens and a whole new perspective on the city of Kaiserslautern. Double down on gardens: Japanese Garden For just a couple of Euros more, you can also buy entrance to
Opening Hours and Access For English-language information on opening hours and the very reasonably-priced admission fees, please visit the Gartenschau and Japanischer Garten websites. Please note that dogs are not allowed in either park. Reaching the Gartenschau requires a short drive or bus ride for KMC residents. By car, it is just a bit more than an hour from Wiesbaden, and a bit longer than 2 hours from Stuttgart. Check the DB website for train information. For U.S. government employees, including service members, remember to always follow command regulations, which may be different than host nation policies, when it comes to travel.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Photo by Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com
»» Family and MWR Fall Bazaar:
Celebrate the change in season at the Fall Bazaar! Shop from vendors that represent countries and fares from all over Europe with a wide selection of home décor, wineries, sweet and savory delights, as well as jewelry and clothes just to name a few! Oct. 9-11 at the Kleber Fitness Center, shopping will be open Fri & Sat from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun from 10 a.m.5 p.m. Social distancing and capacity rules will be in place, face coverings mandatory. All prices in U.S. dollars, with dollars, euros, and credit cards accepted. For more information go to Kaiserslautern.armymwr.com. »» Landstuhl Car Wash open sundays:
Enjoy the end of summer by getting your ride clean and spiffy for the week ahead. Cruise over to the Landstuhl Car Wash open Sundays until Oct. to take advantage of the limited Sunday opening while you can! For more information, contact the Landstuhl Automotive Skills Center, Landstuhl Post, Bldg. 93720, 486-7335, 06371-86-7335. »» Online job fair: USAG Rheinland-Pfalz ACS’s is inviting job seekers that are Transitioning Service Members, Military Spouses, DoD Civilian Spouses
and Family Members looking for a job to register for this online event that will allow you to video chat with local and CONUS based employers Oct. 6 from 12-3 p.m. A list of employers and job openings will be available on the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz ACS Facebook page as well as at the ACS and SFL-TAP Centers. Get a step ahead by providing a copy of your resume to ACS or SFLTAP before noon on Oct. 2 or email it to usarmy/rheinland-pfalz.id-europe. mbx.sfl-tap-baumholder@mail.mil. Advance RSVP is required to prove DoD eligibility status. RSVP by emailing 040414usarmy.rheinland-pfalz.ideurope.mbx.sfl-tap-baumholder@ mail.mil. For more information, call ACS at 541-9000, 0611-143-5419000. »» Stuffed animal sleepover: Drop off your stuffed animal for a night of fun at the Baumholder Library Oct. 1 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pick up is the next day between 12 and 4 p.m. where you can see what kind of mischief they got themselves into between the shelves the night before! For more information, contact the Baumholder Library, Smith Bks. Bldg. 8332, 531-2841, 0611-143531-2841.
»» Get Fit & Eat Right challenge: Feeling
like you need a reboot after the last few months? The Get Fit & Eat Right challenge is a great two and a half week course to learn healthy habits with nutritional guidance, fitness plans as well as integrative medicine techniques to help enhance your emotional well-being. Weekly support sessions will support you staying on track as well as provide access to a variety of fitness classes. Cost is $20 and registration is Sep. 1 at the Mountaineer Fitness Center starting at 7 a.m. For more information, contact, Mountaineer Fitness Center, Smith Bks., Bldg. 8820, 531-3405, 0611-143-5313405. »» Halftime Sports Bar now offering dinein: The Halftime Sports Bar is open
again! Service is take-out or dine-in, Mon-Thu, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., Fri, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m., Sat, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m., closed on Sundays. Enjoy great burgers, Reubens and classic bar food. The menu can be found at Kaiserslautern. armymwr.com/programs/landstuhlcommunity-club. Call in your order ahead of time, or stop by. 486-6107 or 06371-86-6107.
»» SKIESUnlimited: Dance, Theater and Voice Classes: Register your child ages
3-18 for one of the following classes offered by SKIESUnlimited: PreBallet/Pre-Tap, Beginner Ballet 1 and Tap, Beginner Ballet 2, Intermediate Ballet, Musical Theater Jazz, Acting and Musical Theater as well as Private Voice Lessons. (Beginner Ballet 2 and Tap as well as Beginner Ballet 2 require at least one year of previous ballet experience.) Class times, dates and fees vary depending on age of the child. For more information and to register, contact Parent Central Services, Rhine Ordnance Bks., Bldg. 162, 541-9066/9067, 06111-143541-9066/9067 or Webtrac. »» SKIESUnlimited: Gymnastics classes:
SKIESUnlimited offers gymnastics classes for children ages 12 months to 18 years old. For class offerings, times and prices contact Parent Central Services, Rhine Ordnance Bks., Bldg. 162, 541-9066; 0611-143541-9065/9066/9067. »» Frozen Jr. Auditions: Based on the beloved Disney film, the story centers on the relationship between two sisters who are princesses, Elsa and Anna. After inheriting the throne, Elsa flees, inadvertently causing the
kingdom to become frozen in an eternal winter. Anna must venture out to find her sister and bring her back. Auditions will be held Sep 28 & 29 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the KCAC on Daenner Kaserne, Bldg, 3109 for youth ages 6-18 only. For more information, contact KMC Onstage, Kleber Kaserne, Bldg. 3232, 4836626; 0631-411-6626. »» German Hunting Course and Certification at Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation: Kaiserslautern
Outdoor Recreation offers you an opportunity to earn your certification to hunt in Germany for only 10% of what a similar course would cost on the economy until Oct. 17. The German Hunting Course is an intensive course that covers all facets of hunting in Germany. During this course, participants will learn land management, game disease and harvest plans, as well as earn the right to hunt and own firearms in Germany. Hunting license is valid throughout the EU and is lifelong. Ages 18+. Contact Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation today at Pulaski Bks., Bldg. 2905, 493-4117, 06313406-4117 for more information and to get signed up, spots are limited!
