Cologne/Nurburg

He's a man now. A young one indeed, but young men are all different... give us some more to go on besides his age. What other interests does he have? And what kind of stuff do you and he like to do together? And is there anything special about Germany that you'd like to explore?

What Russ said.

Also, have you decided on a base where you will stay?

thanks for your replies!!

To be honest, travel to Germany is new to me. I am very green about that part of Europe. I will be renting a car so we will be mobile. At this point I am just saying Cologne as a starting point since it is closest to the track. We will fly into Cologne from Toronto. Planning to stay at the track on the weekends of the races. If there is some other towns to stay in we are game. Hoping to go on day trips as well to drive around to see German landscape and towns and of course experience German food.

Cologne Zoo is on the list. Anything WWII? Prehistoric findings? Museums? Food?

Cologne:
WW II Nazi Documentation Center: https://www.cologne-tourism.com/arts-culture/sights/detail/ns-documentation-center

Remagen, south of Cologne on the Rhine River:
WW II "Peace Museum" at the site of the former Bridge at Remagen. You might want to view the 60's movie with that title starring Ben Gazarra, George Segal, and Robert Vaughn:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g642105-d2165317-Reviews-Peace_Museum_Bridge_at_Remagen-Remagen_Rhineland_Palatinate.html

"...drive around to see German landscape and towns"
Mosel River Valley, near the Nürburgring: https://www.mosel-inside.de/en/travel-guide/mosel-villages.html

The Rhine River is unspectacular at Cologne. But if you continue south past Remagen to Koblenz, that's where the Rhine River cliffs begin to steepen and the river becomes super-scenic. This part is called the Upper Middle Rhine Valley or the Rhine Gorge. Just south of Koblenz are the town of Braubach and Marksburg Castle, an intact medieval castle which you can tour (English tours at 1 and 4 pm.)

Marksburg:
https://img.fotocommunity.com/marksburg-braubach-bc203e81-d606-4f2f-bb8d-17e275e8ba88.jpg?height=1080
https://www.marksburg.de/en/circuit/#/

Braubach, beautiful town:
https://delveintoeurope.com/braubach-germany/

Good place for German food on Braubach's Marktplatz (Market Square) (closed Wed & Thu.) :
Zum Goldenen Schlüssel
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g642094-d8452318-Reviews-Zum_Goldenen_Schluessel-Braubach_Rhineland_Palatinate.html

Most visitors in this area want to take a river cruise past dozens of castles and castle ruins, vineyards, etc. You can do this too - for efficency, drive to Bingen or Rüdesheim, cruise north to St Goar or St Goarshausen, catch a train back to whichever town you boarded in. Map of this area with towns, cruise boat docks, ferry crossings, and train lines:

http://www.loreley-info.com/eng/rhein-rhine/walking-hiking.php

You can find rooms in pretty much all the small towns south of Koblenz if you find time to overnight in this area. The above-named restaurant in tiny Braubach has rooms. A bigger, livelier town across the river from Braubach is Boppard, which has lots and lots of hotels, apartments, restaurants - and a very cool chairlift ride as well. Take the young man out for a beer and check out the scenery at the top of the lift at Gedeonseck, an outdoor terrace/restaurant:

Boppard: https://www.boppard-tourismus.de/media/was-ist-wo-broschu__re_en_190219.pdf

Gedeonseck: https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/T9oxNMwLvt_-r5nCsce-jg/o.jpg