Drehpendel: German Italian Restaurant in Bierstadt

Drehpendel: German Italian Restaurant in Bierstadt

Drehpendel is a hidden gem right for a great night out right in Bierstadt! The restaurant offers great food and also a German bowling alley called, Kegelbahn. 

The Restaurant
The owners are a husband and wife. The husband is from Italy and the wife is from Croatia.  The menu consists of German and Italian dishes. Each meal looks and tastes like a home-cooked meal. This is a great break from fast food dinners or big restaurants that rush you out. The atmosphere of the restaurant is so relaxed and laid back. You really feel like you are at your own or someones home. Locals come in and have their dinner as if it is a weekly ritual. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. This is a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy your meal after a hard day. When I went to eat there at the end of the work week, I left feeling very satisfied from my meal and relaxed from the overall atmosphere. The prices are great and they also take credit card.      

They even have a children's menu with pictures! How fun for little ones to also chose their meal.

Try a local treat: Rambacher/ Obstwasser Schnapps. It is a type of distilled alcoholic drink and the menu for these are on the tables. Obstwasser Schnapps is a German fruit brandy made from apples, pears, cherries and more.

The tables are comfortable and they have a few kitchen nooks! This is very relaxing and even your little ones can stretch out after a big meal of yummy pizza! (I wish adults could get away with that in public!) 

Save room for dessert because the ice cream was delicious! They also have many other choices like apple strudel. 

The Kegelbahn

Right in the restaurant they have a large room with kegelbahn lanes. You can eat and drink while you play! What great night out with family and friends! Or even an innovative and fun place for a groups Hail and Farewell!

Kegelbahn is also known as nine-pin bowling which is primarily played in Europe. The first time it was played was in

Medieval times in Germany. The game is like bowling where you roll the ball down the alley towards the pins, but the ball is much smaller and lighter. You can hold the ball in the palm of your hand. There are also no holes for your fingers. (No broken nails, ladies!) You get points for the pins that you knock down on each throw.

Home-style German or Italian food, drinks and some sport with friends is a perfect recipe for a fun night out!
Address for GPS:

Drehpendel

Am Wolfsfeld 52

65191 Wiesbaden

http://www.drehpendel.de/deutsch-italienisches-restaurant/willkomen.php

About the author: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.

Getränkemarkt Maruhn GmbH & Co. KG: Beer World in Darmstadt

Getränkemarkt Maruhn GmbH & Co. KG: Beer World in Darmstadt

 

 

Calling all beer, wine and liquor aficionados that want to sample drinks from around the world, while just walking around one store!
 

Whether you are looking to buy a gift, or you are an experienced connoisseur or wanting to expand your beverage tastes, Maruhn will have what you are looking for and more. They pride themselves on selection from “specialties from around the world - from A for Argentina to V for Vietnam”.
 

The Store

The staff is very helpful and will answer any questions you may have in your selection process. Prepare to be overwhelmed!  Not knowing too much about beer, I felt comfortable asking questions for recommendations on different beers that I was bring back to my friends. There are also many employees happy to help you while speaking English.       

 

Prices

The prices are extremely reasonable and are not inflated as a novelty/ tourist beer store that can be found in some cities. They also accept the VAT form. Some people like to take the long drive to Belgium to just stock up on Belgium beers, however the prices here are pretty close to what you would find there and then you save the trip! Less driving..more beer!

 

Beverages

The beers are lined up alphabetically neatly on the shelves. You can buy them in single bottles, crates of mixed beers to try, or a case of your favorite. All of the drinks are together by region. They have mirco-brewery beers from all over Germany. Along the wall they have a fantastic collection of unique single beers from Belgium, USA, Ireland, British, Mexico, Japan and so much more.  

Bigger USA names like Sam Adams and Budweiser can be found here, but they cost more than the German beer.. so leave that to your next shoppette run.

 

 

 

Beautifully displayed, Maruhn has an impressive selection of wines from around the world. Any seasoned pallet or wine sampler can appreciate this collection. 

 

 

The liquor room is a vibrant well decorated, festive room. This is a great place to find a nice gift for someone which is original and something different that is not from the shoppette!

 

They also hold tasting events! For example, recent whiskey and also gin tasting. Follow their Facebook Page to learn about upcoming events.  https://www.facebook.com/WeltDerGetraenke

 

 

What is better than drinking out the proper glass for your drink? When you pick up your Pil or Hefeweizen, get a nice glass with your beer's logo on it. Serving it in the proper glass is not just for the looks: the glass is made to accommodate that certain drink. For example serving your Weizenbier in an authentic Bavarian Weizen Glass as thin walls and length to showcase the beer's color and allows for much headspace to contain the fluffy heads that is associated with the style.  They range from 3-7 euro each. After all, it is a great keep sake to take home back to the States!

 



 

Maruhn is a must see during you time in Wiesbaden! My personal favorite drink is Mongozo's Cononut Beer! The glass to drink it out of is in the shape of a coconut shell. Yum!  

CHEERS!!!

German

Spelling: Prost
Phonetic Pronunciation: Prohst

 

Irish Gaelic

Spelling: Sláinte
Phonetic Pronunciation: Slawn-cha
 

French

Spelling: Santé
Phonetic Pronunciation: Sahn-tay
 

Czech

Spelling: Na zdravi
Phonetic Pronunciation: Naz-drah-vi

Italian
Spelling: Salute or Cin Cin
Phonetic Pronunciation: Saw-lutay

Address for the GPS:

Pfungstädter Str. 174,
64297 Darmstadt, Germany

+49 6151 428800

About the author: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.

 

 

Taunus Wunderland: Theme Park

Kids of all ages would love to visit Taunus Wunderland and we in Wiesbaden are so lucky to have it right in our backyard!

About the Park

Taunus Wunderland is in the southwest of the Taunus Mountains in the town Schlangenbad. The park was opened in the summer of 1966 as a Fairytale Forest and a petting zoo. In 1998 they expanded as an amusement park including rides. Today as you walk through the park you can see the history with the great variety of rides, decorations, petting zoo, birds and picnic/barbeque areas.

Getting In

Getting to the park by car is a very smooth 20 mins from Wiesbaden and when you arrive you see that there are two free parking lots. This year they built a tunnel that goes under the road so visitors do not have to cross the busy road anymore.

There is also a bus (Bus 274) that leaves from the main train station in Wiesbaden, then changes over (Bus 241) and then takes you right in front of the park.

A day ticket for an adult is 19,50 euro and a child is 17,50 euro. However if you plan on going more than 3 times in the next year, it would really pay off to buy a year card. An adult is 59,00 euro. It is great that you buy a year pass and it isn’t a season pass, so you really get your money’s worth.   

What to bring

It is very common to see families pulling wagon’s filled with backpacks, drinks and food. (Okay and a child or two in there as well.) You are allowed to bring in your own drinks and lunch. I suggest bringing other items such as sunblock, hand sanitizer (petting zoo!), baby wipes, light jacket, bug spray and cash (there are no ATMS) to buy ice cream or treats. The food is extremely reasonably priced! It was a great relief to see after coming from a certain theme park that is ran by a mouse. There is also a BBQ area where you can grill up an impressive lunch for family and friends or even have a birthday party.  

BBQ Area

One of the many food vendors

Wunderland-Snack

The Park Attractions

We love going to the park because of the variety. Since we have year passes, we don’t feel pressure to do so much in one day to get our money worth. We come to sometimes just walk around and use the playground area and other days we bounce around from ride to ride.

For all of the Dinosaur lovers, they opened a new ‘Jura Adventure’ where you can see and listen to all of your favorite dinosaurs. No Barney here!

Jura Adventure

Rawr!!

Roller-coaster with a great drop

Pirate Ship and Pirate boats for the little ones

Oldie but Goodie and our favorite: The Swings

Flying like a bird

The petting zoo is great because you can climb down in there with the goats and sheep. They also have food you can buy for 1 euro to feed them. The horses come to the gate sometimes and you can pet them there.

The biggest ride is the water log ride. Nice cool down for a hot day!

Towards the end of the park is Miners Mini Golf which is also an adventure climb. Very fun!

So next time you are having a lazy Saturday at home, come to Taunus Wunderland and check it out! There is something for everyone and if anything you enjoy a walk in the beautiful Taunus Mountain scenery.

Kid Tested

Result:  Thumbs up!

(Test note: the other thumb was occupied by cotton candy! Otherwise: Two Thumbs up!)  ;)

Address for the GPS

Taunus Wunderland

Haus zur Schanze 1

D-65388 Schlangenbad

About the author: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.

Ponyhof Schanze: Riding in the Beautiful Taunus Mountains

Explore the beauty of the lower Taunus Mountains on a pony or horse from the lovely Ponyhof Schanze! Horse lovers of all ages and all experience levels can enjoy an open ride along their trail in the woods. Don't worry you can't get lost... the horse knows the way!

How to get there: 

Located in Schlangenbad, Germany, 20 mins from Wiesbaden, and adjacent to the adventure park Taunus Wunderland. They have their own parking lot for customers and they are extremely friendly to newcomers.

The Horses:

You have the option to take a pony or horse on your own or have a group/ party with one of their experienced guides. The price is extremely reasonable at 9 euro for 30 mins on a self guided ride with a pony. With a reservation you can have a group with a guide for 15 euro each for an hour to an hour and a half ride in the forest.   

If you plan on bringing your children, the parent holds the leash of the horse and guides the way. The path can be slightly muddy if it recently rained.. so don't bring your best shoes!

The view is breathtaking and the air is crisp. It is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the Wiesbaden streets and only 20 mins away. 

At the end of the trail you can get a sneak peek into the Taunus Wunderland park and wave back to the happy children observing your ride. 

The horses are extremely well groomed and well trained. They have a kind demeanor and they know the way back to the barn! 

Lyra the Pony

On the Trail

After the Trail:

If you feel like having a special treat after your Ponyhof experience, Bad Schwalbach is only 5 mins away with ice cream cafe's, restaurants and a historic town center.     


Address for the GPS:

Hof zur Schanze 1

Schlangenbad

65388

Deutschland

    

Giddy up, and enjoy!   Tschüss for now!

 

 

About the author: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.