Day Trip to Berlin

Our first few weeks in Prague have been full of firsts. One of the most exciting being our first road trip to Berlin, Germany!

The great thing about Europe is the close proximity of the surrounding states. Berlin was just a three-hour drive from Prague with lots of beautiful scenery along the way.

My husband had mentioned possibly heading to Berlin a few days prior, but we never made any concrete plans.

Friday night we were still undecided, as it had snowed that morning and we were unsure about making the drive the next day.

The drive to Berlin

Saturday morning, we woke up, threw an overnight bag together and decided to hit the road and figure out the rest later!

I never thought we’d be able to make a spontaneous road trip with three little ones, but we are completely throwing out the “rule book” and embracing this new, adventurous lifestyle!

We detoured off through Usti Nad Labem, one of the larger towns outside of Prague, to fill up and take a look around. There wasn’t a lot to see, but I did get a shot of some pretty pastel buildings before we hopped back on the highway to continue our journey to Berlin.

One thing that seems to be pretty common in Europe so far are the many underground tunnels that you drive through.

Just before we crossed the German border and drove through yet another tunnel, we were pulled over by the Czech policie. The funny thing is, they pulled in front of us with their lights on so we thought they were after someone else.

In the U.S., police pull you over from behind, so we were clueless until we kept driving past them, and they had to flag us down.

The cops were pretty friendly, and simply wanted to see our passports and vehicle registration. The girls were in the backseat shouting “hi” the entire time, bringing a smile to our female cop’s face. Once we were done, she bid us farewell and they sent us on our way.

When we crossed over into Germany, we could tell the difference in the quality of the highway, and of course the speed limit.

I always envisioned the famous autobahn as a stretch of road much like a race track, with cars driving over 100 mph.

While my theory wasn’t completely wrong, I was surprised that the entire highway throughout Germany was the actual autobahn, and there were speed limits in certain stretches.

I would say a little over half of our drive didn’t have a speed limit, and we tested the waters just a bit. I mean, you can’t drive the autobahn without hitting 100 mph, right? (Or in our case, 115)

Overall, the drive was pretty easy, and we made it to Berlin by 2:30 p.m. On our way there, we had decided to check out the Mall of Berlin, since the weather was quite cold to get the kids out in.

As we drove through the main strip downtown, it was no surprise that the traffic moved pretty slow with all the major attractions in the area. Part of the Berlin Wall, Postdamer Platz, and the Reichstag Building to name a few.

We witnessed demonstrations in the street with groups of young adults protesting and marching up and down the strip. I’m not sure what cause they were fighting for, but they seemed pretty passionate. The police were in full force, but the throngs of tourists and locals passing through didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

The Mall of Berlin (Part I)

The Mall of Berlin was right in the middle of downtown, with a convenient parking garage that made it really easy to get in and out with our three toddlers.

I had researched the mall a bit, so I knew it was split into two buildings (side-by-side), with a variety of stores to check out.

We started on the side that seemed to cater more toward families with kids. As soon as we began exploring, the girls spotted an indoor play area that they begged to try out. We held them off with promises of letting them play before we left. There was so much to see throughout the rest of the mall!

I was like a kid in a candy store with all the clothing, accessory, and beauty stores that were completely new to me. I’m not a big shopper, but I could totally see myself making the drive to Berlin when I’m ready to add to my wardrobe.

Besides the amazing shopping, the mall was just so sleek and whimsical with its black and white design aesthetic, and unique ceiling fixtures. The girls loved the horses hanging from the ceiling, which was even more interesting from the third floor.

We made our way up to the third level because the girls had their sights set on a three-story slide that all the kids were going crazy over!

I was beside myself with excitement when I ran across an amazing craft store right behind the slide entrance!! Of course, I had to check it out before we slid back down to the first floor, and I’m glad I did because the selection was great!

My husband waited with the girls and watched the other kiddos slide while I looked around, and by the time I made it back, they were amped up and ready to go.

Maci (my 4-year old) was ready to slide all by herself of course, and Malia wanted me to go down with her. Daddy and Maya waited for us on the first floor, and we had a blast sliding down!

Since becoming a mommy, I’ve been able to bring out my inner-kid every now and then, and it feels good! My girls love it when I’m crawling through obstacle courses, sliding and jumping with them. Pretty much anything that requires me to get on their level and take part in their world for a little bit.

In order to get to the second half of the mall, we had to cross a short connecting walkway between the two buildings. It was a little chilly, but seeing the beautiful architecture was so worth it! Several people stopped for photos in the breezeway before crossing over, and of course I joined in on the fun!

Mall of Berlin (Part II)

The second half of the mall was just as nice as the first, with a variety of stores, some familiar and others brand new to me. Sephora, H & M, Foot Locker, MAC, Toys R Us, and of course most luxury brands were represented; Armani Exchange, Lacoste, Hilfiger, etc.

One thing that took us by surprise was how animal-friendly the mall was. We ended up in an elevator with a couple and their huge dog. Luckily, he was friendly, but we ran into another large dog in the mall that had a pretty aggressive bark.

So far it seems that Europe in general is a dog-loving country because in Prague EVERYONE has one, and they are welcome to go wherever humans can in most cases.

Before heading out, we let the girls play at the indoor playground as promised. The simple things in life bring them the most joy!

The mall offered a great selection of restaurants and fast food as well, but we opted to find a hotel for the night and eat once we got settled in.

Our Berlin Hotel Accommodations

We chose a Holiday Inn outside the city center to get away from the action, and I’m so glad we did. The hotel was immaculate, complete with a restaurant, bar, and rooftop deck. The manager upgraded us to the executive suite, and we enjoyed dinner in the restaurant downstairs.

The restaurant decor and ambiance were amazing, and the food did not disappoint! We both got the burger with fries, and the girls had chicken bites with mashed potatoes and peas. Kids eat free, so this is a great option for families who are hungry, and tired from traveling when you check in.

Our experience in Berlin was great, and I can’t wait to get back and explore Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, and all of the other attractions we skipped this time.

Heading to Berlin soon, or been before? What are you most looking forward to doing, or what was your favorite thing there?