A big heart for guests of all ages: Hotel Weihrerhof on the shores of Lake Wolfsgruben in South Tyrol is run by a family with children of their own. They know exactly what it takes to make a family weekend on the Ritten a success.

This is the seventh installment in our “Tips for a sustainable weekend getaway” series. Every three weeks, check our blog for a new green idea!

Family weekend at a hotel

It doesn’t always have to be an extended vacation. A weekend getaway can bring you and your family together for a great time you’ll never forget. Getting away from the daily grind and routine while discovering new things together will strengthen your bond and allow everyone to take a well-deserved break!

Raising sustainability awareness among children

“Sustainable” is not really a concept children can relate to. But nature, the environment, animal welfare and justice are often more present in children than in adults!

“You can educate your children all you want, but in the end they will follow your example” – an oft-quoted proverb about education

If you want to instill environmental awareness in your children, there’s no better way than to lead by example. We dedicated an entire blog post to this topic, including how you can use your vacation to do just that.

Another important thing is getting children out into nature! In our blog post about insects, we quote zoologist Lars Krogmann, who complains to Deutschlandfunk Kultur that many children simply lack experience and contact with nature, and are therefore denied important opportunities to appreciate small animals such as insects.

Sustainable Hotel Weihrerhof at the Wolfsgruben Lake

Lake Wolfsgruben is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters on the sunny Ritten plateau and one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Italy. The Hotel Weiherhof, owned by the Pichler family, is located directly on the shore. In summer there is a beautiful lawn for sunbathing and in winter the lake itself is a huge ice rink.

Friday / Arrival

An ideal weekend begins with a train ride. Not only for its environmental friendliness, but also because it is a special experience for young and old. All major trains stop at the Bolzano train station. From here it is only 500 meters to the valley station of the Rittner cable car, which will take you and your family to Oberbozen in about 12 minutes, where a hotel shuttle will be waiting for you.

Info: The Ritten Card is included in the room price. With it you can use the cable cars and all other public transport free of charge and enjoy free admission to more than 80 museums. Children under the age of 6 can use public transport for free. The card can also be sent to you in advance.

After checking in, the first thing to do is explore the outdoor area. There is a playground with a trampoline for the kids and, fittingly, right in front of the sundeck, so you can start your short break with a delicious drink and still keep an eye on the kids.

In the summer, the lake is ideal for swimming, and on cloudy days you can go pedal-boating, rowing, or kayaking (life jackets are available for rent). A walk around the lake (or part of it) is also a great way to stretch your legs after the train ride.

In the evening a homemade menu with regional ingredients awaits you. Of course, the Pichler family always offers a vegetarian or vegan option.

Tip: The Seagschichtn, 12 stories about Lake Wolfsgruben, are available for reading aloud. The in-house library also offers books for adults about the region (in addition to other bestsellers and the “Book Blinddates”).

Saturday:

Wake up to a game of tennis or a refreshing dip in the lake while the rest of the family is still asleep. Or why not enjoy breakfast on the terrace, followed by a short hike to energetically special places – maps and descriptions of these places of power are available in the rooms.

At noon finally visit the spa area. The highlights are the indoor pool and the boathouse sauna. In the indoor saunas there is a children’s sauna from 14:00 to 15:30, which is not quite as heated.

Perhaps mom or dad would like to indulge in an afternoon spa treatment with BergSea Natural Cosmetics ? During the spa time, the rest of the family can return to the lake.

Sunday:

In the winter you can have a morning swim in the pool, breakfast and then go ice skating or curling on the lake. In summer you can swim in the lake again. You can take the historic narrow-gauge railway, which is free with the RittenCard. You should plan a few more hours on the Ritten, because the children will love the historic red train 🙂

Overview of offers for children:

Hotel Weiherhof offers the following extras for younger guests:

• A game box in every room
• High chairs, cribs
• Children’s playground with trampoline (visible from the terrace)
• Children’s menu in the evening
• Tennis court (tennis lessons can be booked)
• Lake and indoor swimming pool
• Pedal boats, rowing boats, SUP and life jackets for rent
• Sauna for children
• Nature to experience

Overview of offers for parents

• Indoor pool with counter-current system
• Boathouse sauna
• Lakefront lawn
• Bestseller library
• Ritten Card (free use of public transportation including cable cars)
• Signature treatments with the BergSea cosmetic line (natural products with Wolfsgruben lake water)
• Relaxation in nature
• Relaxing evenings at the hotel bar or on your private balcony

What do you value most in a family weekend?

Save this Weekend trip for later inspiration! (By the way: It’s also a great winter destination 😉