Set on a hill in northern Bavaria west of Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with its virtually untouched Medieval Altstadt, is everyone’s MUST-SEE list. Sadly, I think far too many people just show up, take a photo near the Plonlein, shop for a Christmas ornament at Kathe Wohlfahrt, and then hop back on their tour bus. Do yourself a favor…
Category: Travel to Germany
Things to see in Munich Germany – Just a Few of my Favorite Places
There are so many things to see in Munich Germany, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’m always surprised to find out that people show up in a place, and then ask, “what should we do?” Honestly, it’s best to go in with a plan. Especially if your time is short! There is much more to Munich than the Marienplatz…
What to do in Lüneburg Germany- Visit to this Beautiful Town
In July 2019, my daughter and I ended up in Lüneburg. This beautiful Medieval town in Northern Germany made a great “lay-over” spot between a city tour of Hamburg and our big day of hiking in the Lüneburger Heide. Lüneburg’s charm comes from it’s well-preserved Altstadt, along with a calming effect from being a Kur-Ort. Even better, it hasn’t been…
A Visit to Miniature Wonderland, Hamburg
I arrived in Hamburg on a Tuesday evening around 6pm after a long day of flights, delayed trains, and a harrowing drive, before I could check into my hotel. It was too early for bed, and I needed to do SOMETHING to off jet lag and sleepiness. After a quick double check for opening times, and I headed of to…
What is Smoked Beer? A Visit to Schlenkerla in Bamberg!
I admit, I had never heard about smoked beer until a few years ago when I was out to dinner with my parents. My father was so excited to find Schlenkerla Rauchbier on the menu! He had enjoyed it years before when stationed in Bamberg, but had never seen it in the US before. This summer I took a beer…
A German Christmas Market Tour – Magic, Food and lots of Glühwein
I spend more time regretting the things I didn’t do than I regret the mistakes I may have made. That’s why when I got an email about taking a German Christmas Market Tour only days before it started, I only hesitated long enough to clear it with my family. After all, a week away in December (well, 10 days with travel),…
Things to do in Bamberg Germany- A Franconian Gem
Bamberg needs to be on your “to visit” list. After years of hearing stories about the beautiful city from my father, who was stationed there in the 60’s, I finally had the opportunity to visit while on a Beer Tour. I’m so glad I did! We were there to sample the famous smoked beer, but there are many other things…
What is Reifendrehen- Making Toys at the Seiffen Freilicht Museum
Before our trip to Seiffen, my friend Richard told me that I should NOT MISS the Reifendrehen. I was confused… what is Reifendrehen? Wheel turning? Do people in Seiffen watch wheels spinning? Turns out Reifendrehen is a special technique for making toys and other small objects known mainly to Seiffen and the surrounding area of the Erzgebirge. When the…
Stolen Treasure of Quedlinburg- An International Treasure Hunt
These days, the treasure room of the Collegiate Church of St Servatius in Quedlinburg is kept dark, with low lights mainly reflecting off of the gold and jewel-encrusted books and containers. (It’s the kind of room where people whisper.) But it wasn’t so long ago when the rooms were empty, and the stolen treasure of Quedlinburg left a gaping hole.…
Castle Frankenstein in Germany- A Castle Swirled in Mystery and Legend
In 2019, my partner joined my daughter and me in Germany. Since he had never been to Germany before, and because I have a strange sense of humor, AND because Frankenstein was my daughter’s favorite book when she was younger, we decided to take him straight from Frankfurt Airport to the Frankenstein Castle. It was a beautiful Summer’s day (still…