Barefoot Park

During the last few years, some dozen barefoot parks have been founded in Germany and Austria. They are open to the public and offer the opportunity to walk some distance (up to three miles) on natural ground and to feel a variety of materials with the bare soles.

Moreover, visitors can enjoy balancing or climbing exercises and walk through rivers. Some barefoot parks include playground sections designed for barefoot use. This healthy combination of barefoot hiking and playing has become a real touristic attraction.

We had a great opportunity to spend time with friends at our local Barefoot Park - a very German idea. We got to experience all sorts of textures as we walked around the 1.5 mile course. There were some weirded out expressions as we entered a mud-path and had to walk in ooey-gooey mud ... not my favorite part. The kids had a blast and the weather was fabulous. 3 families joined us and everyone had fun chatting and encouraging each other to press on when tired or hesitant to try a new texture.