Cable cars are a common means of transport in the mountains, but how often do you get the chance to take a trip back in time rather than space? A few minutes up the Steinplatte and you've travelled 200 million years back in time to the Triassic period. The Triassic Park in the Austrian village of Weidring invites you to visit the dinosaurs. It's well worth planning a trip there if you're holidaying with a child in the ski resort of Reit im Winkl in Germany.
As children are the main visitors to the park, there is a sensible mix of educational, motor and play activities. The Triassic Centre is a fascinating journey into the depths of the sea. Of course, there are dangerous aquatic lizards, so the dive takes place in a special lift cage with safety bars.
What happens when you try on an antique diving helmet? That is for the young visitors to find out. The centre will also teach them about ancient molluscs and how to determine the age of fossil shells and fossils. Children can make their own impressions of a mollusc shell.
From the seabed they can climb up to the mountains on the 4km Triassic Trail. Here they'll find another surprise: corals. They'll learn how these marine vertebrates came to be on land and how limestone is formed. They will be able to answer some of the questions themselves.
After all this fun learning, they can take a break. There are two playgrounds for young naturalists by the lake. One is for children, with low slides, swings and climbing frames. On the Triassic beach, a spatula and a sieve will come in handy — you'll find some strange things in the sand.
The second site, called Robinienpark, is a bit like Robinson Crusoe's buildings. It's all made of logs and you'll have to be smart and clever to overcome the obstacles. For the more adventurous, you can raft across the lake. This site is suitable for school age children. The dinosaurs also rest on the lake — who knows, your child might even make friends with one.
While the children explore this ancient period of Earth's history at Triassic Park, parents can climb up to the viewing platform for a breathtaking view of the mountains.
