Alsace Wintermarkets

Thermal underwear, hiking shoes (wear them on the plane) that are big enough for thick wool socks over regular ones, a package of disposable hand warmers (REI has them, amazon.com also), wool-lined leather gloves. That's what kept me warm last year. You can get knitted wool hats when you get there - everyone was wearing them. I went to both Alsace and Germany and you can see my photos of the range of hats at picasaweb.google.com/pitzikat/XmasMarketHats . Either bring wool scarves or buy them there. I had a rain poncho with me and I used that when it was snowing to keep dry. I bought a long scarf to wrap around my neck and face. Though I had a thick wool sweater with me, I didn't wear it. 2-3 layers of thermals kept me warmer and was less bulky.

Thank you both. Great info.

Leave the thermal underwear at home. Although it's not in Germany, Alsace sits on the opposite side of the Rhine from Germany's upper Rhine valley, which is the warmest region of the entire country. A coat, sweater, scarf, hat and gloves are all the extra clothes you will likely need. Maybe pack some wool socks, but don't overdo it. I live further north in an extension of the same valley, but we experience the same general weather patterns. We had some early snow the first year I lived here, but for the most part, temperatures don't start to get too cold until mid December. If I would walk around in thermal underwear in November, I would start sweating through my clothes within minutes.

Like James, I liked the Alsace markets much better than the German ones. Hope for sunny balmy weather, but be prepared for cold and damp. You will be outside for many hours at a time, standing or walking slowly. Night comes early and when the sun disappears it tends to get cold. The early mornings will be cold too.

Merci. We will be in France the entire time. Thank you all for your suggestions. Margie

I just meant that I thought you made a good choice with France over Germany. In fact the German border is quite close and it's easy enough to have a jaunt or two to the other side.