“Hello. Your tickets, please,” say child railway conductors in uniforms as they welcome passengers of the Children’s Railway. A 130-year old locomotive Katka whistles from May to October as the choo-choo is running from Čermeľ for four kilometres to the stop Alpinka.
PICNIC IN ČERMEĽ VALLEY
After a 20-minute-ride passengers get off in recreation area Alpinka, which offers playgrounds, a mini zoo, western show and golf. It is an ideal place for picnic or lunch at a restaurant serving regional dishes. Just up the hill is the 180-metre-long rope park Tarzania, which consists of tree top tracks from 4 to 10 metres off the ground. The course most suitable for children is 89 metres long. During the season, children can ride ponies. Like the railway, most of the attractions operate only during the weekends and on state holidays. In July and August, the attractions operate all-week long, with the exception of Mondays.
ANIMALS AND FUN
Zoo Košice is open all year long and is the biggest such facility in central Europe. It is located in a Košice suburb and houses more than 140 different animal species. Today it is best-known for its brown bear quintuplets, who were listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Visitors can enjoy feeding the penguins, seals and malpa monkeys or check out the hippodrome. For those who would like to be closer to animals, the zoo is offering a new attraction, the chance to be zookeeper for a day. This adventurous programme is offered in Slovak, English or German. A professional zookeeper gives participants instructions, food and necessary assistance.
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This article was published in the latest edition of Košice Region Guide , which can be obtained from our online shop.
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Those interested in dinosaurs can also visit the Dino Park, which is part of the zoo. The affiliated exhibition features 13 static and five mobile dinosaur models, as well as a 3D cinema. Children can try the paleontological playground, with its hidden skeletons of dinosaurs. Food is available at the Dino Grill while souvenirs are available at the Dino Shop.
Endangered animals like leopards or tigers can be seen at another zoo in the Košice region, in nearby Spišská Nová Ves. Children are offered a number of attractions including the inflated air giraffe or air castle, horseback riding, a mini car show and trampolines.
Outside the city, children can ride horses and have contact with domestic animals like goats, sheep, pigs or rabbits at several places in the region. Ranch Šugov is a typical example of countryside life. It offers restaurant with typical Slovak cuisine and accommodation. Horse riding schools at Ortáše, Kráľovce or Šebastovce offer family trips to nature which can be combined with visits to nearby castles or water attractions in the region.
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This article was published in the latest edition of Košice Region Guide , which can be obtained from our online shop.
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Author: Miroslava Landyšová
