To think through a journey with a child is not a task of lungs, because the children should be interesting, but not tiring. It is better to prepare for such trips in advance, so we have made a selection of Russian directions for relaxing with children for you: it has unusual museums, a scout school, master classes and a park with revived dinosaurs.
Resort “Rosa Khutor”
Sochi as a whole and Rosa Khutor in particular is an excellent choice for traveling with a child at any time of the year. Until the very frosts for children from 7 years old, the resort is a “survival school”, a kind of scout club. Professional instructors are taught to properly collect a backpack on a hike, navigate the terrain, put up a tent, provide first aid and distinguish edible berries from inedible ones. Acquaintance with wildlife is surrounded by mountains, stormy rivers and relict forests.
Also at the resort, master classes and workshops are constantly being held, for example, soap-breeding (manufactory “Krasnopolyanskaya Cosmetics”), pottery (the Algiz workshop), archery and crossbow (Tire on Lavender embankment). The cultural program should also include the interactive ethnopark “My Russia”, telling about the traditional crafts of different regions of Russia.
At the end of November, the ski season opens in the mountains. Local slopes are an ideal place to introduce the child to ski or snowboarding: experienced instructors are accessible and clearly explain the wisdom of skiing and monitor safety. For preferring less extreme types of winter leisure, the center of sanarium sports operates.
You can also get acquainted with the animal world here: for example, go on a hike, accompanied by dogs – the Husky Khutor wards (not only Husky, but also malamuts and likes live there), feed deer, rabbits and chinchillas on a deer farm, see the demonstrative flights of wild birds – naginas, holly, and a curtains – cake and orth The “Vouvarium”, stroke the goat and try farm cheese and rustic pastries in the ethno -basier “Shishin Yard”.
Where to stop:
In the three -star hotel Azimut Freestyle (rating 9.7) – from 2,700 rubles per day.*
In the four-star apart-hotel “Mountain Residence” (rating 9.1)-from 3,300 rubles per night*.
In the four -star hotel “Golden Tulip Rosa Khutor” (rating 8.7) – from 4,100 rubles per day*.
How to get: By plane to Sochi, and from there by bus or taxi to the resort.
Myshkin
Fairy -tale Russian towns is a great option for traveling with children and the first acquaintance with the history of our country, especially with a life of past times. The city of Myshkin in the Yaroslavl region not only perfectly retained its pre -revolutionary image, but also acquired many unusual and very interesting museums for young travelers.
The most popular of them is dedicated to the mouse and refers to the name of the city: here you can see the most diverse figures and images of this animal, as well as learn about the history of Myshkin. The information is presented in an exciting and simple form, understandable and interesting for children. Nearby were the “Russian felt boots” (a museum dedicated to felting from felt) and a museum of flax, where they tell what path lies between the linen seed and clothing from this fiber. In the gallery of Olga Pavylycheva dolls, pre-revolutionary and modern author’s dolls are presented, the miller’s house will show how the old steam mill worked, in the living crafts museum you can try yourself in forging and creating ceramic products, and at the Museum of Retro Technology “Old Garage”, visitors will see ancient cars, motorcycles and even gas stations. The Myshkin’s chambers are theatrical excursions, and at the Mahayevsky court, the Museum of Myshkinsky merchants, a tea party with traditional Russian sweets included on the tour.
The city of masters deserves special attention – numerous workshops are held here, who show that even children can work with clay, wood, metal, glass.
Where to stop:
In the guest center-hotel “Tyn Ton” (rating 9.1)-for 2,300 rubles per day*.
In the three -star hotel “Koshkin House” (rating 9.5) – from 3,100 rubles per night*.
How to get: There is no airport or station in Myshkin, so it is more convenient to drive here from Moscow by car. Travel time will take 4-5 hours. You can also get by train to the Volga station 18 km from the city and call a taxi.
Great Ustyug
This tiny old town in the Vologda region, founded in the far of 1147, everyone knows as the estate of Santa Claus and the capital of the New Year. However, it is not necessary to wait on December 31 to come here, because the atmosphere of the holiday here is all year round – even in the summer and autumn in Ustyug you will meet Santa Claus in its complete vestments. A trip to Veliky Ustyug can be planned for November 18, when Santa Claus is celebrated in the city. On this day, a solemn performance with traditional master classes takes place in his residence. In the possessions of the wizard there are also a zoo where you can see and feed deer and other northern animals, a glacier with icy sculptures, several slides, from which they ride on sledges or cheesecakes as soon as snow appears (and he falls out in the Vologda region already in October!), The observatory with the telescope and the winter garden.
The city itself is also advised to study. Look at the old churches, go to the Museum of the New Year’s toy and get acquainted with local attractions. For example, in Veliky Ustyug there is a monument to a lapchi 2.5 meters high, cut out of aspen logs. The child can be occupied with master classes on wood carving, birch bark weaving, and blacksmithing. The city is also known for its folklore groups, which will delight the listeners with the performance of Russian folk songs and, of course, Christmas carols.
Where to stop:
In the Hotel “Standele” (score 8.9) – from 2,900 rubles per night*.
In the two -star hotel Sukhona Hotel (rating 8.8) – from 4,600 rubles per night*.
How to get: By train to the Kotlas station (for example, at the Polar Strela express), and then transfer to the bus directly to Ustyug.
Kostroma
If the great Ustyug is called the birthplace of Santa Claus, then Kostroma is the city of his granddaughter. Here is the tower of the Snow Maiden, where interactive excursions are conducted in the company of fairy-tale characters-Kota-Bayun, Brownie and Domovikha. We also recommend going to a puppet performance that tells the story of the Snow Maiden itself from pagan times, because it appears in Slavic myths and legends. Especially small guests like the ice room in the tower, where the temperature minus 14 is maintained all year round°C: Here you can see the personal belongings of the Snow Maiden (not real, but very realistically carved out of ice) and even try old -Russian drinks from ice spells (children are sweet, and adults are fortified).
From other curious places to visit the children, it is worth mentioning a museum of wooden architecture in the open air, which looks like a small settlement: you can go to all houses and touch any exhibits – objects of ancient life. In the Museum of the theater costume at the Kostroma Drama Theater, children’s performances are held at noon on weekends. If you arrive in Kostroma by car, be sure to visit the Sumarokovskaya Loseferm in the suburbs: its inhabitants can be fed with bread.
By the way, a tourist train connecting the great Ustyug and Kostroma is going on from Moscow in winter: this route makes it possible to spend the day in each of the cities.
Where to stop:
In one of the fairy-tale houses of the Berendeevka park hotel (rating 8.3)-from 2,000 rubles per night*.
In the three -sewing hotel Azimut (rating 9.5) – from 2,400 rubles per night*.
In the Hest House Skvorechnik (rating 9.6)-from 4,300 rubles per night*.
How to get: Most travelers choose to get to Kostroma by train: a high -speed “swallow” is sent daily in this direction from the Yaroslavl station.
Kaliningrad
A trip to the Kaliningrad region itself is already an adventure, because this is the most western region of the country, real Russian Europe. In almost every city, the old castles of East Prussia have been preserved here. Not everyone is in perfect condition, but local enthusiasts try to support them as they can. For example, in Chernyakhovsk, at the castle of instrust, reconstructors settled who conduct costumed excursions and arrange knightly tournaments. The nature of the region is also rich in treasures: what is at least a Curonian braid, which on the one hand was washed by the Baltic Sea, and on the other – the Curonian bay: it is the famous “dancing forest” with bizarre curved trees and one of the highest dunes of Eastern Europe – Efa.
In Kaliningrad itself, children of any age (and adults) will undoubtedly be interesting to the World Ocean Museum. These are not only a lot of aquariums with the most bizarre inhabitants of the rivers and seas, but also a submarine, the acting ecological station and two vessels – Vityaz and Cosmonaut Viktor Patsaev. We advise you to lay on a visit to the museum all day.
Where to stop:
In the three -star IBIS Kaliningrad Center (estimate 9.9) – from 4,000 rubles per night*.
In the four-star hotel Kayzerhof with its own spa center (rating 10)-from 6,300 rubles per night*.
In the four -star Radisson Blu Hotel (rating 10) – from 6,000 rubles per night*.
How to get: By plane to Kaliningrad.
Kazan
The capital of Tatarstan is an original and colorful city, here children can be introduced to the culture of this region. Be sure to take a walk along the Staro-Tatar settlement with a scoop tour, look at the Tugan Avalym ethnic village for a photo in national costumes and visit a tea party at the Chuck-Chak Museum. Young travelers will like the performance of the Puppet Theater “Ekiyat”, the building of which is like a palace from an oriental fairy tale. Another interesting location for a family visit is the temple of all religions telling about which representatives of which religions are inhabiting Russia. And, of course, the impressive Kazan Kremlin will not leave small tourists indifferent.
In Kazan, there is also one of the largest water parks in the world – Rivier, which works all year round (there are closed and open pools). Roll on the Wheel of the Ferris “Around the World”, where each cabin corresponds to one of the tourist capitals of the world, spend the day in the Kyrley Park or simply walk along the Gorkino-Ometievsky forest.
Where to stop:
In the five -star hotel “Corston Royal Kazan” (score 9.9) – from 6,600 rubles per night*.
In the five -star Kortyard Marriott Kazan Kremlin (estimate 10) – from 8,000 rubles per night*.
In the four -star Riviera Hotel with a water park (estimate 10) – from 8,700 rubles per night*.
How to get: On an airplane or a two -story train.
Kirov
One of the most ancient cities in the North-East of Russia is known as the center of the Russian province. On Spasskaya Street there are three interesting museums here-Dymkovo Sloboda, where it is worth visiting a master class on making the famous Dymkovo toy, as well as museums of ice cream and chocolate, where tastings and master classes on the preparation of sweets are carried out. Of the other mandatory places, the Vyatka Kunstkamera Museum, a planetarium and a children’s center at the Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky. In total, 10 kilometers from the city is the Yurkin Park: as you can guess from the playful name, there are mock-ups of dinosaurs that can move and make very realistic sounds. In addition to them, the park has attractions, gaming rooms, a contact zoo and a skating rink (in the summer there is a pool with water slides).
Where to stop:
In the hotel “Old Courtyard on Oryol” (score 9.7) – from 3,900 rubles per night*.
In the Alpha business hotel (score 9.3)-from 4,000 rubles per night*.
In the four -star Four Elements Kirov (estimate 10) – from 7,300 rubles per night*.
How to get: On an airplane from Vnukovo or Domodedovo or by train from the Yaroslavl station.
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication
