Based in Colmar wanting to do a daytrip to Germany

1) Freiburg im Breisgau (note spelling, NOT Freiberg, and there is more than one Freiburg in Germany).
Nice old town, cathedral with market surrounding it. streets with (small) rivers running through them. (photo here). Use a Park and Ride if driving.

2) Basel (not Germany, but a lovely city with old parts, cathedral etc.) If kids get bored take them to the toy museum at corner of Barfüsserplatz. Again, no cars in city centre, use P+R.

3) Écomusée d'Alsace. Not a city, but a reconstructed village with live demos of how they lived. Very child friendly.

4) Drive up into the Black Forest. Lots of Cuckoo-clock architecture villages. Stop off in one for lunch (Black Forest Gateau). Let kids run wild in forest.

Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Baden-Baden - all too far
Lots of wine villages in and around Breisach.

Hi,

Heidelberg is really too far. I would suggest doing a day trip in Rastatt, Ger.

I do have 1-2 days 'd like to spend in Switzerland as well and Basel is on my list. As far as Germany goes, is there a reason Heidelberg isn't on the Rick Steve's itinerary? I realize it's a 2 hour drive and I'm ok with that if i's worth visiting. Freiberg sounds good as well. Just trying to make sense of cities worth visiting with limited time. Would you only stick to Freiberg?

Are you suggesting Rastatt over Baden-Baden which is the same distance from Colmar? Between the 2 cities which has more to offer? Heidelberg is only 30 minutes further away from Rastatt. What would you do there? I've never been to Germany and want to see what I can and not waste time in the car...what do you think?

Hi Kate- You might try Gengenbach instead of Baden-Baden. Some have called it Rothenburg for Germans, although it is a little smaller. I was underwhelmed by Baden-baden. To me, Stuttgart is just another big city. Heidelberg is nice but it is farther than the other cities you have listed. And Heidelberg is pretty large to be dragging 2 children through...

Have a great trip!!!

Kate, Freiberg is in eastern Germany, south of Berlin. You want Freiburg im Breisgau.

Why are you restricting yourself to cities? Many of the nice places in that area are small towns, or areas you can tour by car.
See: http://www.alsace-wine-route.com/en especially the towns of Kayserberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé

And, talking about places in France. Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle: http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/
26 km north of Colmar and perfect for kids and adults.

"...would like to take 2 day trips to Germany... will have 2 children with me so don't want to drive more than 2.5 hours one-way."
Of your selections, Freiburg is nice enough. The others are IMO too far or too big or too dull.

The Black Forest village of Gutach is a treat. The Vogtsbauernhof is outstanding. A summer bob run is next door. Check the Gutach tourism page.

Gutach is 1.5 hours from Colmar. Use www.viamichelin.com to find routes and enter "77793 Gutach" as the destination.

Visit the Dorotheenhütte glass-blowing facility in nearby Wolfach.

Visit the old walled town of Gengenbach.

Schiltach has some especially nice half-timbered buildings.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I'll look in to all of the places you've noted and am very excited about this trip! Thanks again!

is there a reason Heidelberg isn't on the Rick Steve's itinerary?

Mr. Steves seems to have an old heckle against Heidelberg that none of us who know the town understand. It's a beautiful, vibrant old university town. I don't think it's outside the range of daytripping from Colmar (I used to live just to the north of Heidelberg, and I daytripped to Alsace on occassion), but there's other equally worthy destinations in Germany closer. Freiburg im Breisgau has much of the same vibe.