We spent two excellent weeks in Schmactenhagen, just outside Oranienburg. For a family with kids, it was ideal to stay close to Berlin, but still in a big, comfortable house with a nice garden in a quiet neighbourhood. We drove to the train station in Oranienburg (max 10 minutes) and got to central Berlin in half an hour. It is a very green area, we walked in the forest, biked, paddled kayaks and went for swimming - either straight from the house or just a short drive away. A grocery store and bakery is nearby, but though there were some buses, it is certainly easier to have a car to reach Oranienburg. No problem with communication, neither with Ingrid and Axel, nor with their relatives, who met us at the airport and even provided a child seat for one of the bicycles. Highly recommended!