For many people in Germany, free time is necessarily spent outdoors – whatever the time of year. This is why there is never any lack of things to do. Of course, people in Germany love long, sunny summer days. That’s when nature-lovers really get their money’s worth – days on the beach in the North Sea and Baltic coastal regions, cycling and boating in the countryside of northern and eastern Germany with its meadows and rivers or rambles through the idyllic mountain scenery of the Alps are what many families choose to do with their free time at that time of year. Besides these activities, numerous lakes and open-air swimming pools, summer toboggan runs and rope courses also attract plenty of people on hot summer days. In the winter, most people head to regions where there’s plenty of snow. That’s the skiing and snowboard season in the south of Germany and the regions with low mountains. However, even right outside your own front door, frozen lakes and snow-covered slopes offer great opportunities for ice-skating and sledging enthusiasts. Cold is no problem with a drink of hot tea, mulled wine, non-alcoholic punch or grog (a hot drink with rum). You’ll find the right equipment as well as warm, waterproof clothing in any large sports store.