The North of the Moscow region is a great destination for a long weekend with children. Here you can find a thousand amazing places to relax actively and with a sense of maximum unity with nature, but this time we will go north to Dmitrov. Unforgettable walks in nature, riding horses and ATVs await us, and this is only a small part of the trip. Route developed with the support of [Volkswagen Multivan](https://www.volkswagen-commercial.ru/ru/model-overview/multivan.html?utm_source=Multivan&utm_medium=cpm&utm_content=Multivan&utm_campaign=LCV_Road_Travel&tc=oa-LCV_Road_Travel-Multivan-cpm-Keyword_Multivan-banner).
The first day of the mini-journey you will spend in glorious Dmitrov. On the way there you'll have a look at the sluice No.6 of the Moscow channel: if you're lucky you'll witness the sluice of the ship (amazing spectacle!). The heart of Dmitrov is the 12th century Kremlin, surrounded by a rampart. Let's visit it, too. And in the afternoon you can go to the paintball club to compete in accuracy, cunning and endurance.
The gateway in the Stalin Empire style is an important sight of Iksha village. In the chamber of the airlock № 6 on the channel named after Moscow the ships rise / fall by 8 meters. Above the airlock, from the Moscow side, is the Iksha reservoir. The airlock was built in 1937. There are figures on its towers, and above the lower gate there is a footbridge covered with a fencing net (safety first!). The monumental structure is impressive in scale. You can admire the process of boat locks in the period from late April to mid-November.
If we believe the chronicles, the first fortified point on the site of the Dmitrov Kremlin was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1154. The citadel was destroyed many times, burned and destroyed by the enemy troops, but it has survived to this day. [Kremlin](http://dmmuseum.ru/%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%ba%d1%82%d1%8b/) surrounds a shaft 990 meters long and 7 to 9 meters high. It is believed that it was created in the XII-XIII centuries. In the heart of the complex there is a beautiful Assumption Cathedral, and the most elegant building here is Elizabeth Church, built in 1898.
You can have lunch at the grill bar "Hippopotamus and Mouse" - it's a handful from the Kremlin. This is a real paradise for meat lovers: burgers, juicy steaks, sausages, and children will be delighted by darts and table football. Work schedule: Monday to Saturday 12:00 - 20:00 Sunday 13:00 - 20:00
One of the few places in Dmitrov, where you can practice marksmanship and agility, is the paintball club ["Rubezh"](https://www.vtoru.ru). The base provides everything you need for a fun game and recreation. Pre-registration is obligatory. Phones for registration: 89037875277, 84957761215.
Dinner is delicious and highly recommended in the cafe ["Coffee Time"](http://coffetime.info/). The cozy coffee house in the city centre offers not only invigorating drinks, but also hot dishes. Children will love a turkey kebab or chicken pocket with mashed potatoes, and for dessert you can order an apple treble or a chocolate cup, which can be eaten entirely.
In the morning we go to a cozy Taldom, a town that has been famous for producing excellent shoes since ancient times. Then we visit the reserve "Crane Motherland" to see with our own eyes these and other amazing creatures.
You'll have to leave early today to make it. The first item in the plan will be the town of Tuldom. Here you will not find luxurious royal palaces and the Kremlin: until 1918, Taldom was considered a village, famous for its skilled shoemakers and lush fairs. Highlight an hour for a morning stroll around Taldom: park near the Church of the Archangel Michael, walk along the old Saltykov-Shchedrin Street, admire the merchant houses and see the local souvenir shops.
Stop by a bakery to pick up a muffin or cake to take on the road. You're sure to want a snack during your three-hour walk.
"Crane Homeland is not a zoo, a nursery or a farm. These are carefully protected forests and marshes, where wild birds and animals live. You can't just go for a walk here, and it's necessary to arrange a visit at least 2 days before the excursion. The format of the excursion is not ordinary. The cars with tourists drive in a caravan at low speed. Along the route (which length is about 50 km) there are frequent stops. Tourists are given binoculars and spyglasses, with which you can see cranes, waders, birds of prey and other beautiful creatures. Tours begin at 11 a.m. with a lecture about the reserve. After the briefing at 12:15 the excursionists leave for the park. The tour ends at around 16:00. Attention! In May excursions are only a couple of times a month, there are no excursions in June due to the bird nesting season. It is easiest to get on a tour between July and September, then the cranes fly away. There are no official tours in October, but there is a legal opportunity to drive along the same roads along the reserve that are used for tours in September as well. From the beginning of November, however, there are guided and informative excursions in the reserve. To book an excursion, write to the e-mail address listed on [official website](http://www.craneland.ru/).
Pretty and cozy place in Dmitrov. Laconic interior, polite waiters, large menu with European cuisine. Pay attention to the promotions and offers operating in [Restaurant "Provance"](http://www.cafeprovans.ru/). You'd better reserve a table in advance by calling 8 925 353 10 45.
Evening can be held in one of the most picturesque places in Dmitrov - the park of culture and leisure "Birch grove". Its territory is quite a wooded area with tidy paths, benches and a fountain in the center. At different times of the year there are various events and holidays, there are bicycle rentals, and in the warm season there are rides.
Half a day you can safely spend in "Boyarsky Estate" - a complex with lots of entertainment for the whole family. In the afternoon, visit "Rancho" farmstead for a horse ride through the picturesque surroundings of the Yakhroma reservoir. And you can finish a beautiful day at the Marfino Restaurant Complex.
Boyarsky Estate" has everything you need for both active and relaxing holidays. Of the free ones there are table tennis and badminton, a visit to the mini-zoo, basketball and volleyball court. Bike and ATV rental, trampoline and even paragliding for an extra fee. In the wellness centre, guests can recover and use the services of sauna, steam room, modern simulators, as well as try various spa treatments. All details can also be found [on official website](http://boyarskoe.com/).
You can have lunch here, at Boyarsky Estate. The restaurant menu includes a mix of the most favorite Russian and European cuisine. And don't forget to taste vitamin drinks from forest fresh berries!
We'll continue our active rest at the Rancho farmstead. Horse rides, a zoo, sports grounds - all against the backdrop of the impressive scenery of the Yakhroma reservoir. You should book horse and ATV riding (if you haven't tried it at the previous manor house) in advance on [official website](https://www.gorizont.su/).
After such adventures in the fresh air a beastly appetite awakens. On the way home we stop at the restaurant "Steamboat" - a picturesque complex, which is perfect for a family dinner. It's better to book a table in advance through the official [website](https://skparohod.ru).