Springtime seems to be slow to arrive this year in Washington and yet, I’m getting the itch for some sunshine laden day trips. I almost have to think a bit what’s in the area, especially as this time last year, I was on a day trip frenzy. We were soaking up what we could of Denmark with the kids before our departure. And rising to the top of the list, even after all this time and multiple visits, were the chalky cliffs of Mon. (pronounce: Muuuuun).
Mon is such a good day trip from Copenhagen because it’s got a perfect mix of things : not too far, kid friendly, super cool scenery, great nature center…
Speaking of which, if you can time your visit with the Nature Center (or geo center), it’s absolutely worth the trip. It opens for the year right around this time in March (check the schedule for details). You can still absolutely visit in the winter time (we have! bundle up!) but then it really is just for the brisk walk along the cliffs. Once the weather turns a bit milder, the Geo Center (nature center) has tons of interactive exhibits for children to learn about the rocks and formations and the history behind that chalky precipice that keeps falling into the ocean. From what I recall, most of the exhibits and language are in Danish but that didn’t stop us from learning a ton and guides are happy to translate as needed.
Part of the whole fun of course is taking the stairs all the way (and I mean all the way, there are over 600 of them I think) down to the ocean to get a closer look at the cliffs and collect plenty of chalk rock (and look for fossils!). Take it from me, this keeps kids entertained for hours. The only things that will drive them off this beach are high winds and hunger, and you’re likely to witness both.
Equally as beautiful though are the forest walkways and the wooded path down, before you actually get to the beach. It’s amazing how twisted and craggy all the trees get from the sheer force of the wind – and if you visit in the wintertime, you won’t have any questions as to why.
In the summertime though, the wooded areas provide a bit of shade and a bit of cool breeze – particularly welcome once you start taking the over 600 stairs all the way up!
I’ll be back tomorrow with some specific tips on visiting the cliff areas with kids, based on what we learned over our few visits. But in the meantime, I’ll leave you with a few last pics of our drives around the island. If you play your cards right, the nature center plus hike down and up to the cliffs will leave your little ones completely exhausted. Which means that sometimes, the best part of a day trip is the quiet exploratory drive home!
