Leisure tip for Hamm – fun and action for young and old
Is there anything to do in Hamm? Are there destinations for families, young people and Hamm visitors – in short, are there leisure tips for Hamm? Oh yes, there are!
Even though my visit to the city didn’t last that long, I tried out some leisure activities and got to know Hamm from the active side.
Water ski
Not far from the center in Hamm is a small lake. Here is a large water ski cableway facility with several offers, a leisure tip for Hamm, which I tried.
Although it was chilly and uninviting, we made our way to the facility in the morning. My last water skiing experience was about 30 years ago and to be honest, I was more under than above water. I didn’t really ride at that time. Accordingly, I was curious whether it would work better this time.
From the parking lot it was only a few steps to the registration. After we received a wetsuit, we went with our coach to the briefing and ski handout.
We were supposed to get our first water skiing experience at a cableway running straight ahead. Here you ride to the end of the track and walk back along the shore.
On the boardwalk we put on the skis and then there was no turning back – the handle in the hand, off in the squat, a friendly “you can do it” and with a slight jerk the cable car pulled… and I went… first in the squat and then standing … to the end!!!! There I let go of the handle and took off my skis in the water and went swimming to shore. Wow, it worked, what an experience!
At the cable car we rode a few more times until we ventured the next step after about an hour.
The water ski facility in Hamm has two more ropeways that are set up as a circuit. The longest loop is about 800 meters and this was to be the next challenge. In contrast to the first course, you now also have to drive curves in the circuit. It is important to always drive between the markings of the buoys and to intercept the train loosely. So far, everything is clear in theory, but in practice?
In practice, even the start was completely different. You are pulled away from the jetty in a slight curve and the track also goes faster. The result – my first two attempts ended after a few meters. Lucky for me, if I had gone further, I would have had to run around the whole lake. So I could almost at the start already leave the water again.
On the third try it worked out. I was able to hold the start and slowly straighten up. Until the first turn I was fully occupied with keeping control and the turns also worked out very well. I stood on my skis for a whole lap and reached my personal goal. After 1.5 hours, tired arms and legs, wet and a bit freezing, the experience of water skiing in Hamm was over for me.
What a great experience and a super leisure tip for Hamm!
For me, a visit to the zoo is always associated with a leisurely walk, where I enjoy watching animals and people.
The zoo is about 9 hectares in size and is a popular leisure tip for Hamm and the surrounding region.
We were able to visit the zoo at a very unusual time. Night tours by flashlight are offered on the grounds and so we experienced some of the animals from a completely new perspective.
Over dark paths we first went to the porcupines. Did you know that they like to crack and eat walnuts? We were not only allowed to feed the animals, but also to stroke them. I would not have thought that the quills feel quite soft.
Next we visited the communal enclosure of the antelopes and zebras. Here there were carrots for the animals. The antelopes pushed themselves cheekily into the foreground, while the zebras approached very carefully. With a carrot in my hand, I was able to stroke the mane of an animal. It felt like the standing mane on a fjord horse.
The meerkats were not impressed by our visit and the offered food. They slept in their cave. So we moved on to the Bactrian camels. In addition to the adult animals, a young animal also lives in the Hamm Zoo. With a lot of patience and delicious carrots, the staff of the zoo managed to lure even the young animal to open up in the corral. From then on, there was no stopping it. The carrots disappeared into the mouth and we were able to carefully stroke the very soft Bactrian camel.
After a nighttime visit to the zoo’s playground, which we all visibly enjoyed, a small group went to see the Mandrill monkeys. Standing in the enclosure, we distributed raisins as bedtime snacks for the animals, who carefully ate them from our hand.
The Hamm Zoo is definitely worth a visit during the day. Who has the opportunity to participate in a night tour, should use this leisure tip for Hamm in any case. For me in unforgettable experience!
March – October: daily 9-19 h October – March: daily 9-17 h
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve until 1 pm
Admission fees:
Adults: 7,50€ Children (3-17 years): 4,50€
Visit to Maximilian Park
The Maximilian Park recreational area was created on the site of the disused Maximilian Colliery in 1984 for the State Garden Show. Today the area is one of the most varied leisure tips for Hamm.
Concerts, children’s theater and cabaret are offered in the former Waschkaue and the Elektrozentrale or outdoors. Numerous children’s playgrounds attract families and paths lead past beautiful flowerbeds, meadows and small lakes.
The park is home to the largest butterfly house in North Rhine-Westphalia. Hundreds of butterflies flutter around the visitors in a 600 m² jungle landscape at a humid and muggy 26°C.
We were drawn to the landmark of the city of Hamm, the large glass elephant. The artist Dr. Horst Rellecke created the world’s largest glass elephant as a walk-in sculpture in 1984. The sculpture is 35 meters high and has a viewing platform at 29 meters. Integrated into the structure are the remains of the former coal washing building.
If you would like to look into the head of an elephant, it is best to get into the elevator in the trunk of the animal and go up. Here, in the head, moving art objects, laid out beds with green plants and picture exhibitions await you. The view of the Maxipark is beautiful.
In the evening, the elephant is illuminated and thus shows all its beauty. Remark: The emergency exit of the elephant is in the tail of the animal.
Address:
Alter Grenzweg 2 59071 Hamm
Opening hours:
Cash desk: 9-19 h Park: 9-21 h Elephant: 10-18 h Butterfly House: 10-18 h
Admission fees:
Day ticket park Adults: 5,-€ ( during special events possibly increased)
The stay in Hamm took place as part of a blogger trip. The article about this was written independently of the visit.
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