Germany Travel

Is there anything to see between the two cities?

Assuming that your starting point is Birkenfeld near Baumholder: Of course. You could easily spend a week along that route without getting bored. Personally I'd include in my stops at least Heidelberg, Ulm (imposing gothic cathedral; at the southern city border the baroque monastery library of Wiblingen), then the abbey Ottobeuren, one of the main works of southern German baroque and finally Kempten (a curious combination of a Protestant medieval town and a baroque prince bishopric).

It’s a slight detour but at about your halfway point along the way is Tübingen. Beautiful town to explore but I’d check the town’s website to see when are their Christmas market dates.

Heidelburg is along the way. You could also drop down into The Alps and hit Tirol on the way around to Salzburg area.

The Eagles Nest will not be open in the Winter. It may snow while you are in the Alpine region and driving can be a problem without chains or winter tires.

Also, touring in Germany around Christmas, it gets dark at 4:30. It will be cold, wear a heavy winter coat, hat, gloves and warm shoes.

Thank you sla019 for the cities and information you mentioned. I will definitely check those out. Mona, thank you for suggesting Tubingen. I will check their website as well. David - thanks for your suggestions. I wonder/worry about the snow around the Alps. geovagriffith - thank you for your suggestions as well. Keeping warm will be new to me since I come from Southern California. I knew going this time of year that we might not get up to The Eagles Nest. Thank you everyone for all your help. Gives me something to research before going.

I consider your plan to be high risk-- a lot of tourist events in the Alps will be closed, others you may have to share with skiers-- packed into cable cars like sardines, you won't see anything because everybody will rush for the windows, and Germans are masters at bullying their way thorough crowds. And the weather is iffy. You want to see mountains, come in summer or fall. Can't see mountains in rain, snow, or clouds-- check the climate of the Alps in winter. Having a car, you do have the option of escaping bad weather to see other stuff in the region

Somebody suggested a swing through Austria, if so, be sure your car meets Austria's winter regulations (odds are it wont). If you are up to dropping the Alps at the worst time of the year to visit them, look into this binge on Christmas Markets & stellar old cites: Heidelberg to Rothenburg o d T, detour to delightful Schwabisch Hall to Nurnburg, Rothenburg, and Passau on the Danube and homes of some the most famous Christmas markets in the EU. If Passau tourist info says its OK to drive to Scharding (10 miles) in Austria, do that too.

Absoulutly read this11/10/19 discussion on General Europe Forum "Are Michelin Green Guides no longer being published'

The best route from Birkenfeld is to go to Mannheim, pick up Autobahn 8 and take that to Munich; then take 95 south to Garmisch. That's going to be clear and dry if anything is. The two major towns on the way are Munich and Ulm, both of which are worth visiting on their own. you should expect snow, possibly heavy in Garmisch. Skiing is the main attraction and quite good. (They held the Olympics there a few decades back.)

If you don't want to ski I highly recommend you look over the MWR site for the Edelweiss and use them for local tours. Innsbruck has a better Chistkindlemarkt than that in Garmisch; I expect MWR has a tour that hits that. I know they have them to the castles and Oberamergau and Ettal.

KGC - Great into! Thank you so much! We are headed there in about 4 days so I’ll definitely look into those towns. Thanks!

This early you probably won't have snow. I've skied there in Nov., but usually the snow comes later.

If the weather is clear get up the Zugspitz! You can sun on the decks up there, but if anybody burns easy remind them that high up they will burn faster. If there's a choice you're only an hour or so from Salzburg or Munich (maybe 2); Salzburg is the better day trip. Innsbruck is really nice though, so you really don't have to do either of those.

Remember it gets dark early in those valleys.

Thank you! Yeah, that has been the drawback for going this time of year - gets dark early! But the Christmas markets have been fun and the gluhwein keeps us warm! We bundle up every morning to go out for the day, that’s for sure! This Southern California girl is not used to all these layers! I like it and am wishing to see ‘some’ snow!