Tag: #badweather

We Explored the Grillenberg Show Mine – A Real Adventure for All Ages!

We finally explored the Grillenberg Show Mine – a true adventure for both young and old!

Although we had seen it from the outside many times beforetimes before, we now had the chance to experience the impressive tunnels and chambers from the inside. The Grillenberg mine features a fascinating network of long passageways, stalactites, and striking rock and ore formations. The nearly 90-minute guided tour is child-friendly and was a great experience even for the youngest members of the group.

Just before we left, the rain started again – but with our bikes, we reached the parking lot below the mine in just 10 minutes, and parking was easy. The entrance was about a 10-minute walk from there, and once inside, the rain didn’t bother us anymore. Thick sweaters turned out to be a good idea though: the temperature inside the mine was around 8 °C 🥶.

So what did we experience? Long tunnels, stalactites, ores, and a real cave-like atmosphere. We didn’t see any bats or native cave crickets (Höhlenheuschrecken), but we did spot many tiny (not yet spotted) fire salamanders. 🦎

The mine is open to visitors from May to October with guided tours only. Admission (as of 2025): €12 for adults, €7 for children (ages 4–15); children under 4 are not admitted. The German-language tour lasts about 1–1.5 hours. Regular group tours start every Saturday at 2:30 PM; additional dates are available upon prior request (Phone: +432666/52423-12, weekends and holidays: +43676/4027078). Helmets and flashlights are provided.

Bad weather? Off to the Heindl chocolate factory in Vienna!

Excursion tip with the Lower Austria Card

When the weather doesn’t cooperate, we love to grab our Lower Austria Card and head to one of our favorite destinations: the Heindl chocolate factory in Vienna. It’s super easy to organize and a highlight every year – not just for the kids!

From where we live, it takes about an hour by train to get to Vienna. We get off at Vienna Meidling, then take the Badner Bahn for about 10 more minutes to the Inzersdorf Lokalbahn stop. From there, it’s a short five-minute walk – and we’re already standing in front of the Heindl chocolate factory.

You can drop by spontaneously, taste some chocolate, explore the small but charming museum, and of course browse the shop. If you want, you can also book a workshop in advance – for example, for children. It’s fun, educational, and, of course, delightfully sweet.

For us, it’s a true all-round excursion: relaxed, delicious – and best of all, independent of the weather. We’re always happy to go back!

We explored the Hermannshöhle – a weatherproof family adventure

When the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor activities, the Hermannshöhle in Kirchberg am Wechsel is a great alternative: It’s about a 25-minute drive from here. From the parking area, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the entrance.

The Hermannshöhle is the largest dripstone cave in Lower Austria. The passages extend for about 4 km over several levels, with a height difference of 73 meters. The cave is one of the most important winter shelters for bats in the region – up to 17 species are known to hibernate there. In spring and autumn, there are also special bat-themed tours.

The guided tours last about one hour, are only offered in German, and usually start at 9:30, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00, and 16:30. Visiting the cave is only possible as part of a guided tour.

On a rainy day, the Hermannshöhle is a lovely option for an outing. For families with small children, it can be a bit of a challenge, as the tour is more geared towards adults and not specifically designed with kids in mind. However, with a little patience and preparation, the visit can still be enjoyable. With the NÖ-Card, the classic tour is free.