5 Tips for the Perfect Farm Holiday with Children
A farm holiday with children is a dream for the whole family. Naturally. What could be better?
The youngsters have plenty of room to roam, get to interact with animals, and can play with other children, while Mom and Dad relax in the magnificent outdoors and find some time for themselves. Quality family time isn't neglected either: during exciting excursions in the Dolomites, precious memories are created that will resonate long after you've returned to your daily routine.
Many families arrive at the Glinzhof with this ideal vision of their holiday tucked in their luggage. And every day, we put our heart and soul into making this dream holiday a reality.
However, let’s be honest: while a child-friendly organic farm in the Dolomites, located in the beautiful Hochpustertal and featuring a stunning infinity pool and a diverse sauna landscape, provides the ultimate setting for a successful family getaway, making it truly "perfect" requires a little something from you as well. What exactly? You’ll find out in our 5 golden tips for the perfect family holiday:
Table of Contents
- Tip 1: Don't expect your farm holiday to be a "do-it-all" miracle!
- Tip 2: Discuss everyone's expectations before the farm holiday begins!
- Tip 3: The children are involved, but the parents decide!
- Tip 4: Start your family holiday on the farm stress-free!
- Tip 5: Focus on the positive experiences of your farm holiday!
- Bonus Tip: After the family holiday is before the family holiday
These tips are designed to help you and your family ensure that every single family member can enjoy the holiday in their own way, returning to daily life happy and recharged with new energy.
Tip 1: Don't expect your farm holiday to be a "do-it-all" miracle!
Many parents book a family farm holiday assuming it is the "silver bullet" of travel—a magical solution that will make every family member happy and content in one fell swoop.
We get it. Honestly! The advantages of a farm holiday in the Dolomites are so obvious that they can easily win anyone over:
The good things are so close and so beautiful:
For families from Switzerland, Austria, and Southern Germany, the journey to a mountain farm in the Alps is usually just a stone’s throw away, compared to the seemingly endless drive to the Mediterranean or the Baltic Sea. And our region itself? Well, what can we say? The Dolomites are breathtaking! But the Mediterranean vineyards surrounding the capital Bolzano, or the rolling hills and glowing valleys around Brixen, also enchant guests from all over the world.
Plenty of room to roam:
Children can move around freely on farms, as they are often located far away from traffic and have clear, easy-to-navigate grounds. On top of that, there are usually many other children around for your own kids to play with. Since the little ones are so well-occupied entertaining themselves, parents can finally put their feet up and enjoy some space for themselves.
Farm holidays are a learning experience:
There is so much new to discover and learn on a farm. Especially on organic farms, children and adults alike get to see just how labor-intensive species-appropriate animal husbandry and organic farming really are. It often leads to a major "aha!" moment for children from the city: food doesn’t just appear on supermarket shelves. No, it is raised with great care and hard work in the stable and in the fields first.
Knowing how to interact with animals:
How do you properly handle our furry and feathered friends? How do the two- and four-legged creatures behave, and why? At the Glinzhof and other farms in South Tyrol, children and adults can pet, feed, and groom the farm animals, or even take them for a walk. Through this direct contact, our guests not only learn to understand animal behavior better, but can also overcome any shyness they may have around them.
New taste experiences:
On an organic farm, the topic of food and nutrition is on the agenda all day long. The cows must be fed and milked to get fresh milk every day. The chickens need their grain, and eggs are gathered by hand in the coop. One's relationship with food changes fundamentally, and everyone can immediately taste the difference compared to the bland, mass-produced items from the supermarket.
More creative than any other kind of holiday:
On a beach holiday, you spend most of your time on the sand; on a ski trip, you’re on the slopes; on a hiking holiday, you’re constantly on your feet; and on a cultural trip, you’re rushing from one sightseeing spot to the next. But on a farm holiday with children, there is no fixed schedule—instead, you have a wealth of possibilities to choose from.
Would you like to go hiking, cycling, or climbing in the summer? Are you more of a culture enthusiast, or perhaps a passionate winter sports fan? Whether you identify with one specific group or prefer a little bit of everything—during a family holiday at our farm in South Tyrol, no preference is ever overlooked.
Farm holidays mean closeness and time:
On a farm, life simply moves at a different pace. The day is set by the natural needs of the animals and plants. You get up with the rooster’s crow and go to sleep when the world grows quiet. At least sometimes. And if you feel like it, join us for a tractor ride and rediscover the beauty of "slow travel." Because you gather so many intense impressions together as a family, you find a new closeness to one another and strengthen your family bond.
Despite these many, many advantages of a farm holiday, there can still be friction and flare-ups, just like in any other family vacation. But why? It’s simple: because the expectations of Family Member A suddenly clash with those of Member B and Member C (or D or XYZ), causing the dream of a paradisiacal family holiday to burst like a bubble.
Therefore, our second tip is:
Tip 2: Discuss everyone's expectations before the farm holiday begins!
Many problems during a family holiday only surface once you’ve reached your destination. Suddenly, conflicting interests are on the table during daily planning, and compromises must be found within a very limited timeframe. This causes frustration levels to rise rapidly, often leading to a sudden storm of arguments.
To avoid bad moods during your family getaway, it is vital—even for the most spontaneous people—to talk about your expectations before the farm holiday begins. The best way to do this is to hold a "family conference" about the upcoming trip. This works perfectly even with toddlers:
Take time for holiday planning and truly sit down together as a family—whether on the couch or at the dining table. The most important thing is that you are all together!
To get started, take a look at the photos of your holiday destination together—in our case, you’ll find plenty of pictures on our website and Facebook showing the Glinzhof and the magnificent nature of the surrounding Dolomites. This gives everyone a first impression of the holiday farm, and younger children in particular can better visualize what to expect.
Next, ask each family member what they would love to do most. Feed the cows, collect eggs from the chicken coop, go for a tractor ride, or ride a donkey? You’re more than welcome! We appreciate every helping hand from our guests and are happy to answer any questions about farm work.
But take note: If you are traveling to a different holiday farm, make sure to check exactly what you are allowed to do! Not every farm allows guests to help care for the animals or let children enter the chicken coop. It would be a great shame to arrive and face disappointed faces because the promised activities aren't possible.
Once you’ve talked about everything you can experience directly at the Glinzhof adventure farm (or your chosen destination), it’s time to get down to your specific wishes for the family holiday. Does Mom want to relax for a while in the adults-only quiet zone? Has Dad always wanted to try out an infrared sauna? Does the 4-year-old daughter want to stay on the farm the entire time, while the 8-year-old son wants to race down into the valley on the Fun-Bob?
Differing interests are the sticking point of any family holiday. If they only come to light during those few precious days off, there is—as mentioned—often no time left to find good compromises. However, if they are addressed in advance, you are sure to find a great solution without the time pressure, while simultaneously building up the anticipation.
Those of you who love planning and structure can go ahead and create an activity program (tailored to different weather conditions). There really is so much to experience in San Candido and the surrounding area! But keep in mind that flexibility itself is a major part of holiday relaxation. Racing from one attraction to the next feels a bit too much like everyday life.
For the spontaneous souls among you, we recommend a "holiday wish list." At the top of the list are the most important wishes of each family member. You unpack the list once you arrive at your destination, and depending on the mood of the day and the sunshine, those wishes come true throughout the holiday.
And no matter how you plan to meet everyone's expectations: dear parents, let us give you Tip 3 straight from one parent to another:
Tip 3: The children are involved, but the parents decide!
This is a huge mistake that parents make, and not just during family holidays: they lose sight of themselves and put the happiness of the child or children above everything else. True to the motto: "If my kids are happy, I am too."
In reality, the exact opposite is true—and that applies to more than just the parent-child relationship. When parents pay attention to their own needs, they are automatically more relaxed in dealing with their children and their partner.
So, dear parents, take some time just for the two of you to talk about what you need most from this holiday and how you can make it happen. Can Mom have a whole day to herself while Dad has fun with the "wild bunch," and then you switch? If your farm stay is just a short break with the kids, this "me-time" might naturally be limited to just a few hours.
And how do you manage to find time for yourselves as a couple? In an ideal world, of course, the children are so tired by the evening that they simply fall into bed and slumber peacefully until the rooster crows.
However, reality can sometimes look a bit different. A change of scenery can be internally unsettling, especially for small children, which might manifest in more frequent tantrums or crying fits. Suddenly, they want to sleep in Mom and Dad's bed again because the holiday bed just feels too unfamiliar. When that happens, it’s: "Goodbye, romantic quality time!"
Because of this, you should definitely have a Plan B in mind for your time as a couple. While we do not offer formal childcare, if you don't feel comfortable leaving your children alone and urgently need some breathing room, please talk to us! We are sure to find a way to grant you some couple time. We know firsthand how beneficial even the smallest window of time together can be.
Once the family and you as parents have discussed everything in advance, nothing stands in the way of the perfect family farm holiday. Or does it?
Tip 4: Start your family holiday on the farm stress-free!
“Start my holiday stress-free? How is that even possible?” you might be thinking right now. Images are likely buzzing through your head: the frantic, late-night packing the evening before departure, and those agonizing hours stuck in motorway traffic, criticized relentlessly by the unmerciful audience in the backseat.
Yes, the journey can be like that, but it doesn't have to be. The same goes for the journey home. “Oh,” you might be thinking, “traveling relaxedly with children is a challenge that only 'master-level' parents can handle. And I’m definitely not one of them.”
“Wrong!”, we reply. Planning ahead is child’s play and ensures relaxation—not just during the holiday itself, but starting right from the journey.
So, if you want to spend the evening before your holiday in joyful anticipation of the good times ahead instead of frantically packing suitcases, try this:
- Create a packing list and clarify with all family members how much space each person has for their "bits and bobs." Even if your daughter loves cuddling with that giant stuffed elephant from the last funfair, it simply won’t fit on the backseat. The same applies to your son, who might want to travel with his entire car collection that would fill half a suitcase. If the kids know the rules in advance, you’ll avoid those heated discussions right before departure.
- Pack the suitcases bit by bit during the week leading up to the holiday. When you’re folding laundry during those days, put the clothes you’ll need directly into the waiting suitcase instead of back in the wardrobe.
- Think about what you’ll need within arm's reach during the drive and pack those items separately. For example, if your child is prone to motion sickness, store an extra outfit and any necessary medication in a way that you can grab them quickly.
“Alright. Maybe I can avoid the packing stress,” you might reply. “But what about the drive? My kids get bored so quickly, and then they just get cranky.”
True, keeping children entertained during a long car journey is certainly trickier than avoiding last-minute packing. Of course, you should definitely plan for regular breaks. But how do you keep the family mood in the "green zone" while on the road? You can find plenty of great activity ideas online for every age group. Here, we reveal our 5 favorites:
1. Listen to audiobooks:
A classic that works for any age, as you can choose stories to suit everyone. Ideally, the whole family listens to the same story—this gives you instant conversation topics. What was your favorite part? What did you think of the heroine's reaction? Would you have acted the same way as the hero?
And if the age gap between the children is too wide to enjoy one story together, each child can have their own headphones and dive into their own world of imagination.
2. Listening to music:
Music ensures a good mood—even on boring car rides. For younger children, action songs work wonders. Although they are forced to sit still, they can still wave their arms and kick their feet to the beat. And singing along is always an option! It’s even better when the whole family belts out a catchy tune together; singing as a group strengthens the family bond, which is exactly what a farm holiday with children is all about.
3. Talking and Storytelling:
It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly effective. Silence in the car or everyone being occupied on their own can weigh heavily on children's spirits and cause their mood to plummet. However, when you talk about shared experiences or tell stories together, it has a positive effect on the entire travel group. Note: This doesn't mean giving monologues—and that goes for both children and adults!
4. Playing verbal games:
This includes classics like “I’m packing my suitcase,” “I spy with my little eye,” or “Who can count the most cars of a certain color within 10 minutes?” You and your children are sure to think of even more games. Just brainstorm some ideas together!
5. Milestone surprise bags:
For longer car journeys, small surprise bags containing sweets, riddles, little brain teasers, or similar treats work wonders. These are handed out once a certain distance has been covered. Everyone loves a small, sweet surprise—it’s just human nature—and it’s a guaranteed way to give the mood an instant boost.
By the way, we intentionally left out watching films or reading books in our selection, as both can often cause motion sickness.
Once you and your family have finally arrived at the Glinzhof, quality family time is guaranteed. At least, that is what we wish for you and your loved ones! But if the odd argument does crop up here and there, is your perfect family holiday truly ruined?
Tip 5: Focus on the positive experiences of your farm holiday!
In this blog article, we’ve been talking about the "perfect" family farm holiday with children. But what does that actually mean? Does every single minute, from start to finish, have to be perfectly harmonious for everyone to return home happy and satisfied?
Is the perfection of your holiday instantly ruined just because your four-year-old daughter has a tantrum on the first morning because she wants to go outside wearing pajamas and wellies? Or what if your children were unexpectedly shy and barely left your side?
Don't lose heart! Every day is a fresh start. Just because one moment—or even several moments throughout a whole day—went poorly, it doesn't mean the rest of the holiday is ruined. The best thing to do is sit down together and talk about what was difficult that day and what could be done better tomorrow.
While you're at it, question your priorities. What is actually worth arguing about? For the record: we have absolutely no problem with seeing children in the chicken coop wearing pajamas—and, just in case you were wondering, we do have a washing machine here as well.
If you are hoping for many wonderful memories from your farm holiday with the kids, then focus on those: Did you and your children marvel at the reindeer on the Rotwand? Did you enjoy the cable car ride up the Haunold "Family Fun Mountain" and have a cheerful hike back down into the valley? Did you curiously follow Olperl’s tracks on Mount Helm? Did you manage a moment alone in our infinity pool, soaking in the panoramic views to the fullest?
All these unique moments are part of your perfect family holiday at the Glinzhof in the Dolomites. Notice them mindfully, take them to heart, and let the discordant moments fade away!
Bonus Tip: After one family holiday is before the next
Finally, one last piece of advice from us to you: To keep that holiday feeling alive in your daily routine just a little longer, why not look through your photos together? Pick out your favorites to have printed or to compile into a photo book to preserve those memories forever.
At the same time, it’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about what everyone enjoyed most about their time on the farm and what wishes you all have for your next family holiday.
What’s that? Your daughter and son already want to come back to see us next year? Dad is dreaming of another round in the infrared sauna, and Mom wishes she had an adults-only quiet zone at home, too?
Really? That truly makes us so happy. You are more than welcome to come back and visit us anytime!
Just ask us quickly and easily via our contact form and we will contact you as soon as possible!
