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It rains an awful lot in Germany. That’s one thing we picked up on pretty quickly.
Instead of canceling our plans, most soggy days, we put on our boots, hats and jackets and head out, anyway. Otherwise, we might be stuck in the house weekend after weekend for months at a time.
We want to see all of the sights and make the most of our short time here, but every now and then, the thought of dragging muddy raingear back into the house one more time makes me want to scream.
If you’re looking for someplace fun, educational and dry to spend another rainy day in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), load up the family, and take them to enjoy a day with the dinosaurs at Das Praehistorium! Adventure awaits in the neighboring state of Saarland, just a short 30-minute drive from Ramstein Air Base.
Museum
Start your journey with a fascinating 3D movie depicting 4 billion years of evolution in less than 15 minutes. Then, make your way into the 10,000-square-meter hall where eerily realistic animatronic dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures come to life in lush recreations of their natural habitats. It’s important to note, the robotic animals are so lifelike, the displays may be too scary for some.
Dinosaur show — Adults and children, alike, will enjoy the dinosaur bones and fossil exhibits, as well as the world’s largest dinosaur show, featuring near-life-size mechanical replicas of Titanosaurus, Gigantosaurus and Aucasaurus.
Time travel exhibit — The Z.E.R.A. (Zeitexpress Reiseagentur) exhibit just might convince you that time travel is possible. Step through a vapory portal and into the past as you walk through realistic sets that illustrate the history of mankind.
Megalodon — Finally, come face to face with Megalodon, the ancient shark regarded as one of the largest and fiercest predators that ever lived, in a thrilling 4D presentation.
Indoor Playground
Gondi’s Dino World (Dinowelt) Indoor Playground is a colorful, cushy wonderland for children, ages 12 and under. While the little ones play in an area designed just for infants and toddlers, the big kids can burn off pent-up rainy day energy by traversing the obstacle course, bouncing on trampolines, zooming down fast slides and navigating their way through the volcano ball pit and giant dinosaur play structure. Meanwhile, adults can kick back and watch it all unfold with a beverage or treat from the snack bar.
Tickets to the museum include entrance to the indoor playground, but it can be visited separately for a discounted price. Birthday party packages are also available.
Dining
Don’t forget to bring euros along, just in case you work up an appetite. There’s an on-site café, coffee shop and snack bar offering tasty entrées, steamy caffeinated beverages and sweet treats.
Outdoor dining is available, but on rainy days, you will want to enjoy your food indoors in the shadows of the enormous dinosaur skeleton.
Tickets and military discount
Single, family and group rates are available, and children under four years of age get in for free. You can save money by purchasing an annual ticket package.
With a valid military ID, visitors can receive 10 percent off ticket prices every day. Additionally, Das Praehistorium has a Military Appreciation Day, offering a generous 20 percent discount to servicemembers and their families on the first Friday of each month.
A trip to Das Praehistorium is an exciting, educational immersion experience for the whole family, and the perfect excursion for adding a little fun and adventure to those gloomy, rainy days!
