Slowinski National Park
This remarkable landscape of wetlands and giant sand dunes, butted up against the Baltic Sea, is unique enough to be included on UNESCO's list of protected biospheres. The highlights here are the park's two lakes and the enormous, shifting sand dunes that rise to a height of 40m (131 ft.).
The park has something for everyone. The protected wetlands make it a great spot for birders. The area is on the spring and autumn migratory paths of a vast number of bird species, making it a paradise for ornithologists keen to see sea eagles, eagle owls, mergansers, and auks. World War II history buffs will be interested to hear how the Nazis used the unique sandy landscape as a training ground for Rommel's Afrika Korps. The Germans also conducted early experiments in rocketry here. About 3.5km (2 1/4 miles) from the park entrance is the Rocket Launchpad Museum (Muzeum Wyrzutnia Rakiet), where you'll find an early and eerie-looking launch pad. And, of course, there's the amazing giant dunes themselves, stretching for a length of about 5km (3 miles). The dunes migrate up to 10m (33 ft.) every year. Plodding up the shifting sands with sea wind gusting is somewhat arduous, but you're rewarded with a mind-jolting "I can't be in Poland" vista.
All in all, there's a lot of walking involved, so have good shoes. If you're pressed for time, at the park's entrance, there are bikes for rent (10 z/hr.): Pedaling will get you to the dunes in about 15 minutes. Those preferring to save foot power for scaling the sand dunes can take the electric-power trolley (15 z one-way). If you fast-track your visit, you can be done in an hour, but most visitors stay for around 3 hours. It can get blustery, even in summer, so bring a light jacket.
This remarkable landscape of wetlands and giant sand dunes, butted up against the Baltic Sea, is unique enough to be included on UNESCO's list of protected biospheres. The highlights here are the park's two lakes and the enormous, shifting sand dunes that rise to a height of 40m (131 ft.).
The park has something for everyone. The protected wetlands make it a great spot for birders. The area is on the spring and autumn migratory paths of a vast number of bird species, making it a paradise for ornithologists keen to see sea eagles, eagle owls, mergansers, and auks. World War II history buffs will be interested to hear how the Nazis used the unique sandy landscape as a training ground for Rommel's Afrika Korps. The Germans also conducted early experiments in rocketry here. About 3.5km (2 1/4 miles) from the park entrance is the Rocket Launchpad Museum (Muzeum Wyrzutnia Rakiet), where you'll find an early and eerie-looking launch pad. And, of course, there's the amazing giant dunes themselves, stretching for a length of about 5km (3 miles). The dunes migrate up to 10m (33 ft.) every year. Plodding up the shifting sands with sea wind gusting is somewhat arduous, but you're rewarded with a mind-jolting "I can't be in Poland" vista.
All in all, there's a lot of walking involved, so have good shoes. If you're pressed for time, at the park's entrance, there are bikes for rent (10 z/hr.): Pedaling will get you to the dunes in about 15 minutes. Those preferring to save foot power for scaling the sand dunes can take the electric-power trolley (15 z one-way). If you fast-track your visit, you can be done in an hour, but most visitors stay for around 3 hours. It can get blustery, even in summer, so bring a light jacket.
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