Großer Wannsee
When summer arrives in Berlin, it’s practically a civic duty to head to a lake. With no air conditioning and an impressive number of beautiful swimming spots accessible by public transit, you pack up your towels, toss in some beach snacks, and hit the road. This weekend, we did exactly that, chasing sunshine, sandy beaches, and a water slide that looked slightly sketchy in the best way.
Straight Into the Water
The lake was perfect. A long stretch of sand, plenty of shaggy trees offering shade, and cool, clear water that made you gasp a little before you gave in and dove under.
The kids wasted zero time. Linus immediately got to work on his usual mission: spotting fish. Goggles on, face in the water, narrating every suspicious ripple and leaf like a tiny, enthusiastic marine biologist. No actual fish sightings this time, but several convincing sticks and one submerged rock kept him busy.
Juji was after something else entirely. His goal for the day was to make the biggest possible splash off the water slide. There were cannonballs, creative flailing, and one proud belly flop that echoed across the lake and left him red in the chest and grinning from ear to ear.
Meanwhile, Silas spent the afternoon quietly building his confidence in the water. He’s getting stronger every swim, paddling out farther with his floaties still firmly in place but showing off that determined “I got this” attitude. Watching him paddle between our outstretched hands, just a little braver each time, might have been my favorite part of the whole day.
Snacks, Boardwalk Wandering, and Lakeside Games
After a few hours of nonstop water play, we wandered over to the boardwalk for the essentials: ice cream, sausages, and pommes. The kids debated ice cream flavors before settling their local favorite, the Bum Bum. Glenn and I grabbed a crisp pilsner because supervising water antics is thirsty work.
We rounded out the afternoon with sandy snuggles and a fiercely competitive game of Connect Four.
Sunset Drive Through the Forest
By the time we packed up, everyone was sun-soaked, sandy, and gloriously tired. The drive home wound through forest roads lit with streaks of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the trees. Windows down, damp hair sticking to shoulders, and random German pop songs on the radio made for the perfect ending.
It was one of those simple, perfect days. A little water, a little sunshine, kid laughter, and a sunset drive. Berlin’s lakes definitely know how to deliver, and we’re already making a list of the next ones to explore.
