Munich Planning

Why stay in Munich if you're not seeing anything there? Driving in most German cities is not difficult, but Munich is a big exception. Parking is rather scarce. If you're going to rent a vehicle and all your interests lie elsewhere, consider staying somewhere outside the city, like Freising, Erding, Starnberg, Oberammergau, Rosenheim, Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Prien.

Munich is a great large European city, and it's worthy of a 4 day visit--just for attractions within the city.

Dachau is a stop everyone needs to see. Neuschwanstein less so.

Nymphenburg Palace and the Residenz (downtown royal apartments) are not to be missed. The Deutsches Museum is a great stop. The Englischer Garten is great to visit in the Summer, and beer halls to visit anytime. See Wikipedia under Munich for details on this city.
Salzburg is another popular stop, and it's worthy of 2 nights stay. Eagles Nest is now a restaurant on top of the mountain, and is not actually a tourist stop, but Berchesgarten is a beautiful place.
Roads around Munich are well paved and easily navigated. I just caution you that commercial parking lots within Munich can get expensive if you don't stay somewhere that has parking.
I just hope you can find more than 3 days to spend in the region. You cannot even hit the highlights with that amount of time.

My wife and I have been to castles but the rest have not (my adult children and spouses) so it would be for the benefit of some. We have been to Salzburg as well, but thought if we could squeeze in Berchestgaten in the morning we could spend the afternoon/evening in Salzburg. We want to day-trip to Rothenburg as well. I guess we will let the others decide what they want to see and go from there. Everyone only have two week and as many have not been to Europe before we are heading over to Paris and then on to Amsterdam. Thanks for the feedback and I guess the kids will have to decide what they want to see... Steve

"the Eagles Nest is now a restaurant on top of the mountain, and is not actually a tourist stop"

There is a restaurant in the Eagles Nest, but you don't have to eat there to visit. However, I found the food prices very reasonable, and I have always eaten there on my visits (3). I would call it a tourist stop, and it is certainly worth visiting if the weather is good. The view of Berchtesgaden and the Alps from the Nest is spectacular on a clear day. There is a souvenir shop in the octagonal room where Hitler entertained foreign guests. The octagonal room also has a marble fireplace that was a gift from Mussolini.

The Dokumentation Center, at the foot of the mountain contains historical exhibits about the rise of the Nazis and is worth visiting.

Thanks for the info everyone. I wish I would have asked about staying outside the city.. At the time I made the commitment I hadn't decided about the car yet. We are staying by the Octoberfest grounds so yes, the train would have been more than convenient. the B and B says they have parking in back so hope it works.

Tom, good idea. I thought I could not cancel my reservation for my B&B but I can (Hotel Uhland). Do you have some suggestions? I am assuming that I might as well stay south as I can always loop around to get to Rothenberg.. Thx, Steve