Salt Mines with kids 7 & 9?
May 20th, 2009, 12:46 AM
#1
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Salt Mines with kids 7 & 9?
I was wondering your thoughts on doing the Salt Mines with kids 7 & 9. On other websites people were against going as there is tremendous amount of walking and the sights are not worth it. Wanted to see what you all thought.
Thanks
Thanks
May 20th, 2009, 01:20 AM
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Our kids (8 and 14) loved it!
Here is what my DH wrote about it in our blog:
The vast network of underground galleries and chambers was created over the centuries in the mines where salt has been excavated since probably 11th century. There are huge banquet halls, stunning chapels, sculptures, and various displays related to salt mining and the lives of miners. A fascinating tour!
English-speaking tours leave roughly once an hour. We were very lucky with our guide, who not only spoke very good English, but also exhibited very dry sense of humor with deadpan delivery, cracking the group up on many occasions and keeping it lively. The tour itself lasted over an hour and a half; afterwards, we were left on our own to go through another kilometer or so of chambers in order to get to the elevator up. The descent is on foot, via something like 60 8-step flights of stairs.
There are several ways to get to Wieliczka Salt Mines. Organized tours or direct mini-buses are probably the easiest. We opted for the cheapest option instead, taking bus #304 from Filarmonia in city center; it does not stop right by the entrance to the mine complex, but rather a good half-kilometer from it - you need to ask your fellow passengers to alert you to the right stop. But it only cost us about 10 PLZ each way; adding 177 PLZ for the family visit ticket, we spent about half what it would cost for the four of us to go on an organized trip (which would be 380 PLZ if we hired the tour suggested to us by the B&B).
Enjoy!
Bring a small plastic bag with you and let kids collect salt from the walls.
If you'd like to read more about our Krakow visit, look here
http://burlaki.com/travelog/cracow-krakow/#more-822
Here is what my DH wrote about it in our blog:
The vast network of underground galleries and chambers was created over the centuries in the mines where salt has been excavated since probably 11th century. There are huge banquet halls, stunning chapels, sculptures, and various displays related to salt mining and the lives of miners. A fascinating tour!
English-speaking tours leave roughly once an hour. We were very lucky with our guide, who not only spoke very good English, but also exhibited very dry sense of humor with deadpan delivery, cracking the group up on many occasions and keeping it lively. The tour itself lasted over an hour and a half; afterwards, we were left on our own to go through another kilometer or so of chambers in order to get to the elevator up. The descent is on foot, via something like 60 8-step flights of stairs.
There are several ways to get to Wieliczka Salt Mines. Organized tours or direct mini-buses are probably the easiest. We opted for the cheapest option instead, taking bus #304 from Filarmonia in city center; it does not stop right by the entrance to the mine complex, but rather a good half-kilometer from it - you need to ask your fellow passengers to alert you to the right stop. But it only cost us about 10 PLZ each way; adding 177 PLZ for the family visit ticket, we spent about half what it would cost for the four of us to go on an organized trip (which would be 380 PLZ if we hired the tour suggested to us by the B&B).
Enjoy!
Bring a small plastic bag with you and let kids collect salt from the walls.
If you'd like to read more about our Krakow visit, look here
http://burlaki.com/travelog/cracow-krakow/#more-822
May 20th, 2009, 01:30 AM
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Wow, I can't imagine kids NOT liking it! I guess it really does depend on the kids, but I certainly don't remember the walking as being extreme and the mines were fascinating to me. Here are some pictures to get a bit of an idea about it: http://travel.webshots.com/album/555...oGvOQ?start=24 and my trip report is here, just in case it would be helpful: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-july-2006.cfm
May 20th, 2009, 01:56 AM
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I think your kids will love it. It's not THAT much walking.
(It depends on your lifestyle -- it may seem like a lot of walking if you are used to driving everywhere)
Bring a sweater. It gets cold down there.
Turn off the flash on your camera; the flash won't work well in the dark.
Wear comfortable walking shoes (heels will hurt).
(It depends on your lifestyle -- it may seem like a lot of walking if you are used to driving everywhere)
Bring a sweater. It gets cold down there.
Turn off the flash on your camera; the flash won't work well in the dark.
Wear comfortable walking shoes (heels will hurt).
May 20th, 2009, 10:02 AM
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If the kids can't walk long enough for the cave they're going to have problems all over europe - which requires a lot of walking. (If you're used to driving everywhere suggest you all get started on a walking regimen until you can do 5 miles easily.)
