Summer holidays in Sylt

[Katrina 4,522]

Expaticus, you might find Rügen suits you. Same beautiful sunsets, same breezes, none of the social whirl.

[Matt T 174]

Of course there are Aldi's and the usual supermarkets, and plenty of places to buy good seafood (including the place Gosch started his empire in). But yes, Westerland is pretty much it, as far as night-life goes, and there is way too much of the "looking monied" rubbish going on. Older kids / young adults are likely to be bored, unless they're into that...

[Expaticus 752]

 

Expaticus, you might find Rügen suits you. Same beautiful sunsets, same breezes, none of the social whirl.

Thanks, Katrina. My wife and I went to Binz for a few days last year just the two of us. The beach and surronding island scenery made me most homesick for Cape Cod/Nantucket/Long Island Sound. Very similar topography. The Victorian-era architecture was also quite interesting. The restaurants were also good.

 

It was nice for two adults at a spa hotel getaway, but I wonder if it wouldn't get too boring for kids. I didn't see any any sailboat or even kayak rental, half-day fisihing charters or anything outside of sitting the beach or walking around on the promenade eating ice cream, buying Sanddorn soap or looking at shops full of watercolors showing exactly what one would see if one walked 50 yards to the beach rather than spend the day walking around looking at watercolors

 

It also sort of reminded me of a regional economy run as a Junior Achievement class project. And I must admit, there was a bit of a creepy "fishbowl" vibe as all the East Germans in rubber shower sandals and too-short shorts walked the promenade in front of our (quite nice) hotel cocking a snook and doubtless reminiscing how much better they liked it before reunification. Not looking for a "social whirl", but something just a wee bit more "social" ... hold the "-ism"

 

That all said, perhaps we need to get further off the beaten track on Ruegen. Any other town suggestions?

[mlovett 8,681]

 

Spain's too hot.

Expaticus, try the Canary Islands. They told me it never gets above ~ 25degC. We had a WONDERFUL time there last month, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. If you want a bit more solitude, try La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro. I'll be headed to those next time. Wonderful beaches AND mountain hiking. Something for everyone.

[KenY 3]

I'm really glad someone started this thread. We're having a big household debate over where to go on vacation this August.

 

In previous years, we've been to Cape Cod, The Hamptons, Binz and the Costa Blanca in Spain. Spain's too hot. Binz was nice (for East Germany, where the oldest business in town was founded in 1993), but a haul. I'm homesick for New England/Maine-style beaches, but don't want to travel transcontinentaly for a few days at the beach. Our kids are pre-teens, and we would like to consider taking bikes, but perhaps renting would be better than lashing them onto the the car.

 

So what's the day-to-day like? How's the sailing and fishing? Are there decent grocery stores / fish markets for cook-at-home, lobster-shack style informal places to eat, or does everyone eat at chic restaurants every night? It Westerland a honky tonk? Is everyone an opthamologist from Bonn with a social x-ray orange wife in tow, a hearse-sized Mercedes and clothing that's all just the slightly wrong cut and color ... or are there windsurfer trustafarian types? Does one have to drive everywhere?

 

KenY Says - there are sailing opportunities but I am not aware of them and I'm sure with fishing but you know Germany, you need a license for everything but breathing. Suggest you Google and see what you can find. There are plenty of inexpensive places to eat and grocery stores exist...Gosch is a well known restaurant chain on the island but certain areas are packed with the Schikki-Mikki types. Go to List and eat at the glassed in Gosch on the main street on List. Forget the Harbor restaurant...always busy...Gosch also has a big store in the harbor in list for buying fish to take out and prepare at home. Westerland is the main town on Sylt and is fun to walk around to shops, but try to stay somewhere else. Parking is a problem too. Kampen is the real Schikki-Mikki area of Sylt but it is a nice area with great beaches.

 

My German wife shares HEM's view that Sylt is too Schikki-Mikki, and that I'd probably go nuts and/or be arrested trying to build a beach bonfire for a clambake. She thinks the kids would be bored because of the floridian demographic.

 

Wife may be right...it isn't the east coast of Mass. If you are the lay around type like me, its perfect. Get into the strandkorb with a good book and just relax. I always manage a good all over sun tan when we go. Since we usually have an apartment, we can pack lunches and take them with us to the beach and eat a main meal in the evening at home or out.

And, if it's not Sylt, where would an active young-ish family be able to have some hassle-free domestic beach fun?

 

Hummm...that I cannot say. I say give Sylt a try and if you don't like it, add it to the "never again" column. KenY

[Katrina 4,522]

 

Expaticus, try the Canary Islands. They told me it never gets above ~ 25degC

This isn't actually 100% true and I'll explain why.

I've been about 5 times, including a boat delivery which turned into an island hop tour - the air temp can get above that, certain islands (Lazarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera) are extremely windy so the preceived temperature may be a lot less. Gran Canaria certainly gets a lot hotter, especially around Maspalomas (very popular with nudists and gay holidaymakers). But it is extremely easy to get sunburnt - many forget how far South the Canary Islands are. Easy done with the air-temp, so if you have kids, be careful of their skin.

 

If you like wind, want to try the Canary Islands, love sport and want something for the kids to do: Club La Santa

The scenery around the place is very wild and rugged as it is at the North of the island, with a hire car elsewhere is reachable, the sports and activities available are top notch.

[mlovett 8,681]

We were north on both islands, far far from the beach going hordes. We stayed on farms, as we are not the club med type people. It was amazing to me the difference in temperature and flora on the different sides of the islands. (lush vs. desert). We had a car, so we did full loops of the islands. We also stayed near the volcano on Tenerife for a couple of nights (brrr, cold!).

 

I must warn that the car ferries WILL make you sick, if you are prone to that. I am not, but I now know that my son is. He barfed all over the place, sigh.

 

They brought in professional chefs for us on these farms. I think I gained 10 pounds. The food was phenomenal!

 

Anyway, it was very nice to get some heat in the middle of the German winter! August is definitely NOT the time to visit mainland Spain if you don't like heat. Italy is worse.