Q Do you have any suggestions for things our granddaughters, ages 10 1/2 and almost 8, can do in Berlin?
Almuth Payne
Fairfax
A "Berlin is very child-friendly," says Kirsten Schmidt of Berlin Tourism Marketing North America. "There's an abundance of things [for children] -- parks, museums and indoor adventure playgrounds."
For example, kids who like heights (and speed) can zip up Europe's fastest elevator at the Kollhoff-Building on Potsdamer Platz or take a spin around the spiral walkways at the Reichstag's Norman Foster-designed glass dome. They might also enjoy the Radisson SAS Hotel's new AquaDom, an elevator that slices through an aquarium. For sightseeing that won't tire little feet, ride a double-decker bus (No. 100) or a boat on the Spree River. The Story of Berlin organizes guided tours tailored for kids, including "Childhood in Berlin during World War II and after War" (suitable for ages 8-14). Info: 011-49-30-887-20-100, http://www.story-of-berlin.de .
You can also visit the 155-year-old Berlin Zoo, which has a petting zoo, an adventure playground and the nearby Steiff Shop for top-shelf teddy bears. At the Museum for Technology and the adjacent Spectrum Science Center, children can make paper and finally get the answer to "Why is the sky blue?" Also, the Museum of Natural History houses the world's largest mounted dinosaur skeleton, while the Machmit! Museum for Children offers art labs and a 21-foot-tall wooden maze that kids can scramble through.
For battles and Cinderella stories, visit the Spandau Citadel, which has a dungeon, a puppet show and dining in the Gun Powder Chamber, or the ornate castles and gardens in Potsdam, just outside Berlin. Finally, every kid can be a clown at the cabuwazi or ufaKindercircus, a children's circus.
For more children-friendly attractions, check the Berlin Tourist Information's Web site, http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de .
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