So what now? Don’t worry, you won’t miss any of the highlights of Baltic Sea cuisine. Here you’ll find insider recommendations from Timmendorfer Strand and you might even discover a new favorite beach dish.

Try these Baltic Sea classics

The Baltic Sea offers a relaxed pace of life. Clocks tick a little slower here. The cuisine is down-to-earth, regional and often surprising. Michell shares a few classics that are a must on any visit to Timmendorfer Strand.

#1 Sea Buckthorn Dessert – Vitamin Sea Sweetness

Bright orange, tart and fresh, and rich in nutrients: sea buckthorn is one of the most characteristic wild fruits of the Baltic Sea coast. The thorny shrubs grow directly in the dunes, where they withstand wind, salt and weather – they are particularly common in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Sea buckthorn is harvested between the end of August and October, when the berries are plump and sun-ripened.

These little fruits are real energy boosters: they contain ten times as much vitamin C as lemons, as well as vitamins A, E, B12, and valuable omega-7 fatty acids.

“The orange power berry is tart but healthy. Whether in a mousse, parfait, or cake, it’s a superfood with coastal flair and a sweet Baltic Sea kick.” – Michell Meister

Sea buckthorn is popular as a dessert, juice, fruit spread or liqueur – and makes the perfect culinary souvenir. Important: When picking sea buckthorn, avoid protected areas and choose local products that have been processed sustainably.

Tip: You can buy sea buckthorn fruit puree from the organic fruit producer “Ostseelibe” in many supermarkets.

#2 Holsteiner Sauerfleisch – Coastal Meat Classic

“A pork dish in jelly, seasoned with vinegar, bay leaves and onions, served with fried potatoes and tartar sauce. Hearty, rustic, typical of Schleswig-Holstein,” says the hotel manager. “Why do people eat it? Because even meat lovers on the coast need something hearty – and sour meat just has a vintage vibe.”

#3 Red Fruit Jelly – Sweet North Love

This dessert is a very popular part of the cuisine on both the North Sea and Baltic coasts. Michell recalls, “In the old days, we just picked whatever was available: currants, raspberries, cherries. They were boiled down with sugar and served with milk or vanilla sauce. It was a reward after a hard day’s work – now it’s soul food for those with a sweet tooth.

#4 Beets and Turnips

Finally, a word about Baltic Sea vegetables: Potatoes (boiled and served with salt, they are called “tüften” here), swedes, carrots, parsnips, horseradish, and various types of cabbage grow in the Baltic Sea region – often in organic quality! Once relegated to the role of side dish, they are now the center of attention for plant-based eaters.

Eating fish in the Baltic Sea

For many people, a vacation at the Baltic Sea without a fish sandwich or a visit to a seafood restaurant is unthinkable. But be careful where you eat, and remember one important issue: overfishing.

Overfishing of the oceans and the Baltic Sea

In its report on global fisheries, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that 41 percent of the world’s fish stocks remain below “healthy” levels.

“Fisheries and aquaculture employ millions of people and feed billions more. But illegal fishing, overfishing and pollution threaten fish stocks and ecosystems.” – OECD

The Baltic Sea also suffers from overfishing, as does the North Sea, whose culinary delights we featured in this blog post. According to the WWF Fish Guide, current fishing laws are not sufficient to protect stocks in a sustainable way. Conversely, this means that we as consumers need to be careful about the fish we buy.

„”It is tragic that herring and mackerel continue to be heavily overfished in the Northeast Atlantic. The countries that fish there know the damage they are causing and are willing to accept the collapse of stocks for short-term profit. (…) As long as they continue on this destructive course, WWF advises against buying these fish.” – Mark Heuer, fisheries expert at WWF Germany

What fish from the Baltic Sea should you avoid eating? (according to WWF)

• Herring (from the North Sea is acceptable, but not from the Baltic Sea)
• Matjes (young, immature herring)
• Mackerel
• Eel (European eel is highly endangered.)
• Cod (only cod from Iceland is acceptable)

Which Baltic Sea fish is still safe to eat?

In addition to Baltic salmon, you can also eat sprats. Sprats are small, herringlike fish that live in schools and are a staple of Baltic Sea cuisine. “Sprat stocks in the Northeast Atlantic are in good condition and fishing is at sustainable levels,” says WWF. “In the Baltic Sea, however, fishing pressure remains too high. This is evidenced by the fact that catch quotas have been consistently exceeded in recent years.”

Which Baltic Sea fish sandwich is the most sustainable?

According to Michell, fish sandwiches are available in the Baltic Sea with Bismarck herring, fried herring, matjes or salmon. The best ecological choice is Baltic salmon, caught off the coast of Rügen. The sustainability of this fish is controversial, but it is not as strictly discouraged as herring and matjes. In the WWF Fish Guide, Baltic salmon is rated yellow in the traffic light system. In general, the WWF recommends wild Alaskan salmon (green).

Be careful with smoked fish platters

Smoking fish has a long tradition on the Baltic Sea. “The quaint fish stands right by the harbor or beach make it authentic,” says Michell. They offer smoked eel, mackerel, salmon and sprat, usually served with black bread, horseradish and onions. However, two of these four species are not acceptable. When it comes to eels, it’s important to remember that they are a highly endangered species, with a 95% population decline in Europe! Eels are on a par with polar bears, gorillas and moose in terms of endangerment. They do not reproduce in captivity or aquaculture. Every eel that ends up on your plate has been caught in the wild and is therefore missing from nature. So the only sustainable option is not to eat it.

Research in Timmendorfer Strand

Yvonne Bork, manager of the Lifestylehotel SAND, did some research for us in Timmendorfer Strand. “At the moment it is almost impossible to find eel,” she reports. And when it is available, it is almost unaffordable. “The price per kilo is between 15 and 23 euros.” Matjes herring is “still affordable” and particularly popular in fish sandwiches.

Falafel and sushi as sustainable alternatives?

The adults-only Lifestylehotel SAND is located in the second row of the popular Baltic resort and is a breakfast-only hotel. Here the focus lies on sustainable organic ingredients. They are also happy to advise you on where to eat sustainably. The restaurant Bartmans Kitchen, within walking distance, offers fish and meat as well as daily vegan alternatives. The Hafeneck Kiosk serves fish sandwiches, fries with vegan mayonnaise, and falafel. Hostess Marion Muller sums it up: “Scarcity changes consumer behavior. The general trend towards sushi and the like is currently also reflected in the restaurants on the Baltic Sea coast.”

“Are we witnessing a generational and cultural shift?” – Marion Muller

But is imported sushi fish more sustainable than local Baltic Sea fish?

It is more sustainable to eat imported fish that is MSC certified and comes from a healthy stock than to eat local fish that is on the red list of endangered species. So there you have it. And yes, at first glance it seems wrong, because we as sustainable travelers are so focused on regionality. And yet, in the case of Baltic Sea fishing, the more sustainable option is not to support it unreservedly.

In 2025, the WWF published a sushi guide that ranks the most popular sushi fish. For many fish, such as tuna and salmon, the way they are caught is important. For this reason, it is easiest to look for the MSC label as well as the species of fish.

Even easier and more sustainable: choose vegetarian sushi with cucumber, pumpkin or beetroot. It’s just as delicious and won’t harm fish stocks in the Baltic Sea or anywhere else in the world.

With or without fish…

… the Baltic Sea remains a place to savor – not in spite of, but because of the growing awareness of sustainable fish consumption. If you take a closer look at your fish sandwich, you will discover new alternatives, rediscovered regional classics, and exciting taste experiences off the beaten track. So why not give it a try? And maybe your next visit to the Baltic Sea won’t have to include the daily matjes sandwich on the beach.

Tip: Check out this blog post about a weekend by the Baltic Sea for more great ideas for coastal excursions!

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This is the ninth installment in our “Tips for a sustainable weekend getaway” series. Every three weeks, you can expect a new green idea on our blog!

Vacation naturally and enjoy the lifestyle

The Baltic Sea is wonderful in any season: the sea, the horizon, sandy beaches, dunes, wild oats and fresh air. Many good reasons to grab your partner and a beach bag and head to Timmendorfer Strand. Timmendorfer Strand is a real hotspot on the Baltic Sea thanks to its magnificent promenade. See and be seen. Well-kept, sophisticated.

Here you will find the sustainable and special Lifestylehotel SAND, which we want to recommend to you in this blog article.

The hotel is located on the second row of the beach and is super beautiful, bright and stylish, designed with natural materials and beach feeling in mind.

Friday: Starry sky over the Baltic Sea in a sleeping beach chair

After work it’s off to the sea! A plan that promises to be fun.

For travel to Timmendorfer Strand, the following options are available:

• BlablaCar and Flixbus (cheap and sustainable option)
• Train (Timmendorfer Strand station)
• By car

Once you arrive at the SAND Lifestyle Hotel, you can check into your room, freshen up and head straight to the beach for a stroll. Either on the promenade or barefoot down to the water. Along the promenade you will find many restaurants to start your weekend with a cozy dinner.

Sleeping in a beachbed

Back at the hotel, you have the option of sleeping on the comfortable and sustainable COCO-MAT mattresses in your hotel room or booking the beach chair on the roof terrace (available until October) and spending the night under the stars. (The beach chair used to be on the beach, but unfortunately the local authorities often shone their flashlights in it, so it was moved to the roof of the hotel 😉 )

“A warm and cozy atmosphere, an open-air setting, a glass of sparkling wine, private atmosphere, letting your soul drift, forgetting time for a few hours and escaping from everyday life – that’s what we call true luxury“. – Marion Muller, owner of the Lifestylehotel SAND

Saturday: Late breakfast and beach day

You can sleep in on Saturday morning. After all, SANDBreakfast is available until 1 pm!

At the front cooking station you can order egg dishes made with fresh organic eggs and enjoy a rich breakfast buffet with regional organic products.

After a hearty breakfast, it’s off to the sea. If it’s warm enough, you can swim or play other sports like volleyball and frisbee, write love messages in the sand (and take pictures of them), take selfies, rent a beach chair, read, and relax.

Dinner recommendation: „”We recommend the restaurant “Bartmans Kitchen” within walking distance to our SAND guests” – Marion Muller, Lifestylehotel SAND

Excursions in Timmendorfer Strand

If the beach is too windy, too hot, or too cold, there are plenty of things to do:

#1 Kurpark

The Kurpark is a park in Timmendorfer Strand with trees, flowers and green meadows. Here is also the Trinkkulturhalle in a round glass building. Admission is free and you can see works of art by performance artist “Anja”.

#2 Fishing harbor of Niendorf

Niendorf has a beautiful fishing harbor where fishermen go out to sea in the early morning hours and later sell the day’s catch. There is a small kiosk where you can get refreshments and watch the boats.

#3 Sea Life

One of the biggest attractions in Timmendorfer Strand is Sea Life. The aquarium is home to around 2,500 marine animals, with sharks and sea turtles being the main attractions. Of course, Sea Life is not really sustainable. However, the Sea Life Trust is involved in a number of projects for marine sanctuaries, species protection and clean seawater. Still, you should think carefully about whether you want to support the aquarium – or whether you would rather dive into the Baltic Sea with a mask and snorkel to watch the fish 😉

Sauna on the roof – at the Lifestylehotel SAND

Before spending your second night at the hotel, you can round off an eventful day with a visit to the sauna. The sauna at Lifestylehotel SAND is located on the roof terrace, which makes the visit even more special. Afterward, treat yourself to a refreshing homemade iced tea and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. After all, you are booking the sauna just for the two of you.

Sunday: Enjoy the sea one last time

Check-out is at 11 a.m. You are welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel, have breakfast until 1 p.m., and maybe go to the beach before you end your weekend at the Baltic Sea and start your journey home full of new impressions and energy.

Save this article for your next weekend trip as an inspiration!

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A Night under the Stars overlooking the Baltic Sea

Enjoying the sunset over the Baltic Sea in the evening. Spending the night under the stars. And waking up to the first rays of sunshine in the morning. How does that sound?

The sleeping beach chair at the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand at the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig Holstein offers you just such an experience. Even if the temperature is a bit chilly outside, a night in the sleeping beach chair is a special experience that offers unique moments of togetherness.

The Sleeping Beach Chair is located on the roof of the Lifestyle Hotel. In the morning, you wake up to a 360-degree panorama of the Baltic Sea and the surrounding countryside. And that’s much nicer than being woken up by flashlights from the public order office, isn’t it 😀 These “visits” are the reasons why hotel manager Marion Muller and her team decided to put the beach chair on the roof instead of on the beach.

Note: You always book the overnight stay in the sleeping beach chair in conjunction with a room for your short trip to the Baltic Sea. The Lifestylehotel SAND is also an Adults-Only hotel (from 16 years).

Sand, Beach, and Sea

During the day you can explore the nature in and around Timmendorfer Strand with your favorite person and let the fresh sea air blow around your nose. For example, you can use the sustainably produced bamboo bikes from the hotel’s partner myBoo to get around. There are also bamboo fitness bikes on the terrace for your morning workout!

Nature awaits you not only outside, but also inside the hotel. The furniture is made of recycled teak and you sleep on natural mattresses from COCO-MAT. Some of the accessories in the rooms and the key rings on the room keys are made from flotsam – now that’s upcycling!

The hotel’s philosophy of doing good in and with nature also inspired the name: SAND Aspires Natural Design.

Good for the Climate, good for your Well-Being

The hotel team has laid down the sustainable principles of the SAND in a declaration of compliance with the German Sustainability Code. In addition to environmentally friendly materials and the use of solar energy to heat water, food also plays an important role. By using mainly local, seasonal, and organic foods, the hotel makes a further contribution to climate protection. And at the same time ensures enjoyment for all. For breakfast, guests can watch the chefs at work in the show kitchen. Egg dishes and pancakes are prepared fresh in front of your eyes. Less waste and more enjoyment!

Find inspiration for your adventure right in your own backyard

Holidays in Germany, yes, but the sleeping beach chair is not the right thing for you? The Katzensprung project aims to make traveling in Germany more attractive by creating unique and climate-friendly travel offers, especially for young people. Curious about what adventures you can experience in Germany? Check out the project’s website for all the accommodations, destinations, activities, and culinary offerings. And if you’re looking for inspiration for a micro-adventure on your doorstep, take a look here: Five micro-adventures at home.

Be sure to save this article to Pinterest so you are always reminded of how great an adventure on your doorstep can be 😉

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Will people still be geocaching in 2024? Oh yes! In fact, a recent statistic shows that there are more caches hidden than ever before: over 83 million (83,720,498)! As you can see from the community, some people who used to go geocaching on vacation or at home with their parents are now going on GPS treasure hunts with their own kids. After all, it’s a near-perfect family activity: out in nature, all you need is your phone, and you can usually start right outside your front door. So it’s not only fun, but also sustainable 😉 

Geocaching: How does it work?

To geocache, you first need the geocaching app. The basic version is free and you can start geocaching right away. The premium version costs 6.99 Euro per month. You have to allow the app to access your GPS location, and it will show you caches in your area. Now you go out and instead of a simple walk, you look for a TREASURE! (Pure child motivation: my five-year-old son was immediately excited by this idea).

By the way: Besides the official app, there are other good ones. Maybe you’ve already tried some? Share your experiences in the comments!

How exactly do you find a cache?

There are caches in different difficulty levels from 1 to 5. If you start with the basic version, you will only discover easy caches. Once you landed at the right place via GPS, you can display a “hint” that gives you a hint about the cache.

• An easy hiding place might be attached to a tree or under a park bench.
• Difficult hiding places are under cobblestones, in old pipes, or underwater.

What kind of treasures can be found in geocaching?

Geocaching is not about getting rich. There are the occasional people who hide money or something valuable (then the question is who finds it first), but that is the exception. Do not expect too much! Think about this: Lego brick (only one), bracelet, gum, Play-Doh, pen … In the waterproof cache container, you will also find a list of all the people who have already found this cache. Write your name and the date here.

But that’s not all: to take is to give, and to find is to hide. When you go geocaching, be sure to bring your own “treasures” to leave in the cache.

Tip: Bring gifts of different sizes. The cache may consist of a tiny can as a box.

Discover your holiday destination with a treasure hunt

Geocaching on vacation in the Rhön

How productive and interesting your GPS scavenger hunt will be, depends on how active the local community is. For example, the user “Azra3l” has hidden a cache in the Kaskadenschlucht in the Rhön mountains and embedded the search in a series of questions about the colors of the rocks. Matthias Schulze Dieckhoff of the STURM recommended this “geocaching highlight” in nature. He is always happy to offer treasure hunters an accommodation in his sustainable hotel.

In addition, there is a group of hobby geocachers in the Rhön region called Wildchicken, who also like to search for caches during their vacations. In May 2023 they were in Albania:

“For fun caching (…) exciting caches in interesting places are inviting. So we were able to discover, as we often did on our travels, some exciting places that we would never have visited without a cache”. – Wildchicken

Off the beaten path or right in the middle of the action

The owners of the ECO-APARTHOTEL THE DREAMERS’ CLUB on the Croatian holiday island of Korčula have also noticed that tourists are taking advantage of the “modern treasure hunt” at their holiday destination. “Geocaching is a popular activity on the island,” they tell us. “The caches are hidden on hiking trails, in parks and at landmarks.”

Alexander Thurm from the family-run Hotel Das Rübezahl in Schwangau near Füssen has been searching for hidden treasures in the area himself. He says the GPS treasure hunt is especially interesting for hikers. “There is also a geocache right next to our own mountain hut, the Rohrkopfhütte,” he reveals. The hut is located at an altitude of 1,300 meters against the picturesque backdrop of the Alps and is a popular destination for hikers. Here you can enjoy the panoramic views and a hearty meal of Kässpatzn or Kaiserschmarrn.

Geocaches at Josephskreuz

If you’re staying at the Naturresort Schindelbruch in the southern Harz Mountains, you’ll pass Joseph’s Cross on your way to the forest – and there are two hidden geocaches right there! Of course, we will not tell you where exactly 🙂

Geocaching in numbers

• In May 2000, American Dave Ulmer hid the first cache and posted the coordinates of the treasure (a plastic container filled with knickknacks) to an Internet group.
• In November 2000, Jeremy Irish, Elias Alvord and Bryan Roth founded the company Groundspeak and the website Geocaching.com.
• 2002: GPS devices become more common and the media hypes the new trend.
• 2007: 500,000 hidden caches worldwide
• 2010: 1 million caches
• 2013: Astronaut Rick Mastracchio found the first geocache in space on the International Space Station (ISS).
• 2015: The number of caches hidden worldwide is 83 million.
• In 2019, the hype has died down and there are “only” 67 million.
• In 2022, the geocaching trend gains momentum again. There are now 83,720,498 registered caches.
• In 2023, according to Search Logistics, there are over 200 geocaching organizations, with Geocaching.com being the largest with over 3 million active players. The app is available in 24 languages.
• 2024 is set to be the year of geocaching mega-events.
• 2025 Geocaching will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Professional geocaching tours from tourism associations

An alternative to the Groundspeak app are GPS tours offered by tourism companies. The advantage is that these are professionally planned routes. You don’t have to descend into lost places and you can be sure to find a cache. (Not all hobbyists maintain their caches on a regular basis, which is especially disappointing when geocaching with children).

7 Geocaching Tours in Bad Herrenalb

The tourist office of Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest has created 7 geocaching tours and lends out GPS devices. The tours have different themes (e.g. “Monastery Trail”, “4 Seasons Trail”, “City Cache”) and are designed for hiking or biking with a length of about 4 to 12 kilometers. Along the way there are puzzles to solve.

For accommodation in the Black Forest, we recommend the sustainable Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. The team there also suggested the geocaching tours. 

City rally in Timmendorfer Strand

The company CityHunters from Nuremberg has developed GPS city rallies in different cities in Germany, which you can book for 12.99 Euro per person. The GPS treasure hunt in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea, where our Green PearlsⓇ partner Lifestylehotel SAND is located, takes about three hours. The tour takes you through the center of the town and presents you with interactive team tasks. This event is mainly for adults and companies that organize the city rally as an incentive for their employees.

GPS treasure hunt for a children’s birthday party in Ailingen

The tourist information office in Ailingen at Lake Constance offers a GPS treasure hunt that is especially suitable for a children’s birthday party. For the price of 6 Euros, the children receive GPS devices, as well as balloons, pens, certificates and a box of apples.

At the Naturresort Gerbehof, you can also spend a wonderful nature vacation with your children – including pony rides and proximity to Lake Constance.

Update: The geocache that was hidden in the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s, and for which the owners had called for help in the search, has now been discovered! But don’t give up – new treasures and adventures await!

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*Terms and Conditions

Duration: From the publication of this blog post to the first discovery of the geocache at Hotel Okelmann’s

Organizer: Green Pearls® Unique Places & Hotel Okelmann’s

Description/Participation: There is a geocache hidden at or near Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe, Lower Saxony, Germany that has not yet been found by its owners. The first person to find it after August 29, 2023, 9:00 a.m. can look forward to an additional small surprise from Kristin and Maren Okelmann after showing a proof photo. After that, the campaign is over. We will be happy to publish the winner’s photo on social media and here on the blog.

Minors may not participate without the consent and presence of a parent or guardian. Legal action is excluded.

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In August, we organized a trip with six bloggers to watch porpoises. Together with WDC (Whale & Dolphin Conservation), Kim Hartwig of the tourism cluster Schleswig-Holstein and Marion Muller of the Lifestylehotel SAND we spend half a day looking for porpoises and were lucky, we spotted a mother with calf. Porpoises are extremely shy and hence one must be concentrated to see the short flashing of the dorsal fin in the waves. We were so lucky to see a mother and her calf! 🙂

Endangered habitats

According to estimates only about 450 animals still live in the Baltic Sea, because the small whales are threatened with extinction. Bycatch with gillnets, the chemical soiling of the Baltic Sea, underwater noise and climate change leads to the fact that the natural living space of the porpoises becomes more and more destroyed.

In recent days, a terrible message has also made the round: In August this year, NATO carried out a blast in the Baltic Sea in a maneuver and defused naval mines laying on the ground still from the time of World War I. In the following weeks, a total of 18 porpoises were found on beaches around the Fehmarnbelt, according to NABU. Although the cause of death of the mammals has yet to be finally clarified, but hardly anyone doubts that there is a connection. Porpoises have a very fine auditory sense and such a blast in the ocean is very loud. According to SPIEGEL Online, a mine tore a crater of about five meters in diameter and one and a half meters deep into the protected reef. Because yes, you can hardly believe it, but the region is a designated marine reserve! It gets even worse when you know that during that time each year the porpoises are giving birth. Or to put it in the words of marine biologist Fabian Ritter of WDC:

“Military exercises in protected areas, even during the breeding season of porpoises, in the most sensitive time of the year? Isn’t that forbidden? The answer, unfortunately, is NO. ”

– Fabian Ritter, WDC

WDC has been committed to protecting marine mammals in the North and Baltic Seas for many years. Learn more about their great and valuable work on their website, where you can also sign up for sponsorships, learn exciting things about the animals and currently even participate in the advent calendar – this way!

Engagement for the environment

For many years, owners Marion and Lambertus Muller from Lifestylehotel SAND are involved in the protection of the environment at the Baltic Sea. Not only because they supported the blogger trip to raise awareness about the porpoises in August 2017. This year, they have a special activity planned for the Advent season: on their Christmas tree, there are little bags with cookies in the form of porpoises that guests can buy. 50% of the revenue goes to the WDC. They are also giving away a weekend in the advent calendar of the WDC – so try your luck!

SAND as far as the eye can see

The Mullers transformed the traditional Timmendorfer Hof into a stylish and sustainable place with a lot of charm. The abbreviation SAND stands for “Sand Aspires Natural Design” and connects a modern lifestyle with a focus on naturalness and sustainability. The natural material SAND runs like a red thread through the hotel. And so you want to sit on the terrace with your deck chair directly in the sand and never leave. All rooms are designed in maritime colors, with suitable, maritime accessories from the beach and flotsam. The focus is regional wherever you are and lets you feel at home during your precious vacation.

Deliciously vegan

The restaurant spoilt us with a vegan menu – simply delicious! The SAND not only offers an excellent kitchen but still a lot more for active vacationers, beach lovers or a relaxed time out.

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Anyone who is spending his vacation at Gut Nisdorf experiences pure luxury. But not in the sense of precisely prepared food on porcelain plates, but the luxury of not having to think of preparing anything. A baby monitor to rent, so mom and dad can enjoy the sauna together in the evening? This is just as natural as baby food on the buffet and play areas on each floor. Also, a high chair with bibs in the dining area as well as in your own apartment or the possibility to prepare a lunch package after breakfast are included in the services – and you will find the cans for your lunch package at the kitchen cupboard in your spacious apartment.

Holiday with and not from the children

Children are not only tolerated at Gut Nisdorf, but also explicitly welcome. Here everybody relaxes together enjoying the free time. This makes the holiday so special and in many thoughtful details you can always notice that the owners are parents themselves. When Sabine Stange and Jürg Gloor bought the old manor at the end of the 90s, her daughter was at primary school. Until the opening, the family faced some challenges: “We still lived in Berlin and had no idea about building,” says Jürg. “But we did have a big dream: a family hotel at the Baltic Sea.”

Much has evolved through the years and while the two were still cooking dinner at the beginning, they now have a team that supports them. Whether gluten-free or vegan, everything is taken care of and I have never eaten plant-based food at a hotel that was so delicious and diverse before. Here, I didn’t have to beg for soy drink for my coffee, quite the contrary: I had a large selection of everything!

Sustainable and organic in all areas – quite naturally and without compromise

Above all: the food! “You have to try the cake, it tastes like a piece of heaven,” greeted me my son’s new friend in the afternoon in the dining room. And I had to agree with the nine-year-old boy, the vegan cherry cake was really delicious. For me, the best thing about eating at Gut Nisdorf: The children play happily in the large playroom next to the dining room or in the garden, while the parents drink their coffee in peace, have a chat or read a book. If you are as surprised by the many free time as me and run out of reading material, no problem: The family hotel has plenty of library cupboards for all ages all around the house.

Incidentally, all foods are in organic quality, Jürg and Sabine make no compromises when it comes to organic foods. The importance of sustainability can be felt everywhere in the family hotel: For the furniture, the couple only used oiled solid wood, the recycling toilet paper supports sanitary projects, and thanks to the creative kitchen team, food waste is kept to a minimum. That, too, is a luxury for us because we want to continue our own sustainable lifestyle on vacation.

A garden for young and old adventurers

Although I could continue to rave about the food for a long time, the nature around the manor house was another highlight: The large garden invites big and small children to play and there is plenty to discover, no matter the weather. In addition to the playground with tube slide and sand toys, there is a large trampoline (which also adults can use, successfully tested by me 😉 ), swings, scooters and large Kettcars, that we were particularly enthusiastic about. We went to the Boddenküste every day by Kettcar and we loved the autumn wind that was also perfect to fly a kite.

My tip: Take one of the adult scooters on a late autumn afternoon to the coast and watch the cranes fly at dawn. Beautiful!

There’s also a natural swimming pond in the large garden which welcomes guests in summer with frog concerts. During summertime, children can splash around and play at the small sandy beach while parents soak up the sun. However, we even enjoyed the swimming pond in fall and relaxed in the hammock next to it, watching the colorful autumn leaves around us. The garden is also home to the sheep and ponies on which children are allowed to ride with a riding instructor – and they can even go for a ride at the Boddenküste.

Feels like home – from the very beginning

My husband and I not only enjoyed the family time but also the time together. Our son has never been bored and together with his new friend he explored every corner of the manor and the garden. The two boys also really liked the childcare where they crafted Halloween decoration. Meanwhile, they have been taken care of my husband and I finished our breakfast in peace and then went for a walk.

By the way, after one day at Gut Nisdorf we felt so comfortable that we walked around in socks and slippers, had chats with the staff while dinner and just felt so relaxed. “Mom, can we stay here forever?”, my son asked me on the last day at the family hotel and the question is not whether we’re coming back, but when.

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Der Beitrag A hotel for everyone: Arrive and unwind at Gut Nisdorf erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

From manor to a country estate covered by limes

After a fire in 1898, it was rebuilt by its then-owner in its present shape. Nevertheless, the landowners were expropriated and expelled after the second world war; in the mansion refugees or resettlers from the Eastern regions were accommodated. The land reform provided for a subdivision of the extensive area and the agricultural production co-operative took over the building, stopped the renovation on account of lacking material. The mansion house became more and more ruinous.

The dream: A family hotel at the Baltic Sea

At the end of the 90s, Sabine Stange and Jürg Gloor were in search of a house in which they could realize their dream of a holiday home for families at the Baltic Sea. In 1997 after 1 1/2 years of intensive search they discovered Gut Nisdorf. It was a quick decision to purchase the house and a year later they started with the renovation. However, the funds which were promised to the family were not granted, a setback for both.  Sabine and Jürg stuck to the idea and with a small bank loan, regional workers and a lot of internal labor they finished the first five flats in 2003. In the summer of 2004, another seven flatlets followed. Since 1999 the family itself lives in the old walls and loves the atmosphere. And also, when the renovation of the manor was extremely challenging and lasted longer than expected: For the construction and renovation only sustainable and non-toxic materials were used.

Build and live climate-friendly without fuss or quibble

Sustainability and organic management are important for Jürg and Sabine not only with the choice of food but in all areas of their family hotel. „We are simply always sustainable and green “, tells Jürg laughing. „Maybe we are a bit special because we have an old mansion and pay attention to the preservation of the substance. But elsewhere we would make it the same way. “

Again and again, the two let their creativity run free during the renovation process – and today, there are some really impressing upcycling projects to be found at the family hotel. In the past, wooden shutters were used inside the rooms to darken them. Unfortunately, these did not fit for the new windows. What to do now, throw them away? “No way!“ said Jürg. “We have built a wall paneling and the buffet furniture from the wooden shutters in the dining room.” Timber, which could no longer be used because of woodworm damage, also found a new purpose: as a small castle next to the natural swimming pond.

Surprise visit with consequences

In late autumn of 2004, the then Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Otto Ebnet surprised Sabine and Jürg with his visit bringing along a positive note of the required funds. With the funds, the playground and the wellness area could be rearranged and the roof further extended. As a qualified electrical engineer and information scientist Jürg put the focus on low energy consumption of the sauna and wellness area. Besides the sauna is operated on with only 60 degrees and air humidity: That is enough to sweat and is still pleasant for children.

Wood to feel good and relaxed

For the furniture (with a few historical exceptions) the couple only used oiled solid wood „We had to produce most of the furniture especially for ourselves, so it optimally fit in the flatlets – particularly in those in the attic – “reports Jürg. „It happens that pieces of furniture are painted by children or scratched, but thanks to the solid wood can be repaired easily: roughen and oil, ready. We have the furniture now for 15 years and they still look like on the first day. “We can only confirm this and the wood provides for a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. By the way: The ceilings are made of 16-meters-long trunks.

Many of the board flooring dates back to the construction year of the manor in 1898 and is made of Canadian pitch pine (very hard, robust pine) or oak. „The pitch pine floorboards are originally 3.5 cm thick, “reports Jürg. „They have survived so no need to exchange them with modern click parquet “

Clay paint on the walls and the wonderful old doors and door frames which were restored by Sabine and Jürg affectionately also contribute to the special climate.

Natural materials for a long lifespan

Who builds sustainably, benefits as demonstrated by the playground of Gut Nisdorf. 14 years ago, it was built by a local company, with trees and regional wood. „We have used natural, long-lasting materials, have used short routes of transportation and have supported local jobs “, Jürg reports. „The playground is intensely used by our guests and still is in great condition. It only needs every few years – for optical reasons – a new painting with natural colors. And maybe one has to exchange aboard sometimes, but this is it. “

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Der Beitrag Renovated sustainably: Organic children and family hotel Gut Nisdorf erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

How it all began

Topics such as mass tourism were already present during her studies of tourism in the 80s. During that time, Marion became more and more aware of the impact the tourism industry has on the environment and intensively dealt with sustainable travel. The idea of her own hotel that consistently pursues a green approach was born.

From lecture hall to the own hotel

So, in 1995 she decided to buy a hotel at the Timmendorf Beach. Since then she has made a great – and above all green – contribution to the tourism industry. However, the road was not easy until the opening, as the SAND was still in need of renovation when it was purchased. Then as now, Marion’s husband, Lambertus Muller, has always been a source of inspiration for her and the sustainable development of the hotel. “Exchanging thoughts with a partner is the basis for taking risksand invest in alternative business activities,” as Marion Muller describes the joint work. The two decided to replace the original hotel name “Am Timmendorfer Hof” with “Lifestylehotel SAND,” thus laying the foundation for a sustainable lifestyle combining alllevels of the hotel.

Keep up with the times

The inspiration of the partners does not run dry. Since the opening of the hotel in the 90s, the hotel has been constantly developing new ideas: from solar systems to a combined heat and power unit in the 2000’s to 30 more sustainable rooms in May 2018. The expansion of the spa area, in particular, reflects the holistic approach of the Muller’s: you can relax in the sauna or whirlpool while enjoying the wonderful view of the Baltic Sea and savoring a delicious cocktail at the spa area on the roof top newly opened in 2018. Other offers include yoga courses and individual massages.

Appreciate home

Supporting the region plays a special role at the Lifestylehotel SAND. Particularly the cuisine is mainly regional and seasonal. That’s why the Muller’s buy cheese, organic wine and sustainably sourced fish from regional retailers that meet the standards and philosophy of the SAND. In addition to regional cuisine, Marion is also committed to the nature of the area: In 2017, SAND organized a media event on Timmendorf beach drawing attention to the endangered harbor porpoises – including a Beach Clean Up, of course 😉

Der Beitrag Sustainability pioneers: Marion Muller from Lifestylehotel SAND erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.