Along the coast of the North Sea, neighboring Cuxhaven to the east is Otterndorf. It’s harder to think of what I’d rather do here first, spend it doing all kinds of outdoorsy stuff. Or, checking out some of the town’s old buildings and museums.
I keep having this problem. Flip a coin. Throw darts at the map. Pick a spot out of a hat. I’m running out of ideas. ;-)
Well, if I wanted to go mudflat hiking I had to do it according to the tides. You will too, since you got to wait for the tide to go out so you can walk straight out over the mudflats.
If you’re not familiar with how the tide table works, I really (really) suggest you get yourself a guide. Good thing Otterndorf offers frequent guided walks over the mudflats.
With that out of the way, I had all the time in the world for everything else. Too bad it wasn’t on the 1st weekend of August when the annual Altstadtfest (Old Town Festival) is held. Over the course of the weekend you’ll have lots of chances to shop at its Flohmarkt (Flea Market), hear local music, and eat.
Eating and drinking is also on the agenda during the annual Speckenfest (Bacon Festival), or even just at the Weekly Market held on Friday mornings from 7:30am–12:30pm.
A couple of calories never killed anyone — besides, you’ll have plenty of chances to burn it off while you’re walking around to the Doll House Museum, the Art Museum, the St. Severi Church, or to see what remains of the SS Kaffraria (which sunk off the coast in 1891 and moved onto dry land in the 1980s after years of pillaging).
Plus, with all the canoeing, kayaking, tennis and miniature golf playing — you’ll work up quite an appetite. So eat! ;-)
Three times a year Otterndorf has a nightly tour (on the 13th of the June, July, and August), which is another cool way of sightseeing around. But, I think seeing the Yellow Baroque House, the Kranichhaus (Crane House, built 1735), the 17th century brick castle Gatehouse, and the 18th century Hadler House (it’s now a museum) during the day is really nice too.
Oh, looks like the tide’s going out again — gotta get to the mudflats again!
