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Plan A, B or C - Which would be your back up?

Posted by (Columbus, USA) on

We have a trip planned for Germany in late Nov. through Mid Dec. of this year. I know this is a first world problem and I really feel badly about bringing this up when there are so many more people with bigger problems. However, I want to pick your brains. The original plan is to fly into Munich, go to Berchtesgaden/Salzburg, head for Dinkelsbühl/Nördlingen, Stuttgart, Ramstein, Buchen im Odenwald, then home from Frankfurt. I have been monitering the boarder crossing issue from Austria back into Germany and I know it is early, and hopefully this becomes a non issue if things change. In the mean time, I am thinking about having a back up plan for that stretch of the trip. I know if it is still this bad Nov 30, then I don't want to be underfoot adding to the chaos.

So here are my plans as a just in case.
A) Keep it as is and just hang out around Berchtesgaden. If it is better, venture to Salzburg. If we stay in Berchtesgaden, is there enough to do in the winter? I am not skiiers. I know there is the Königsee, but there is a chance that it could be frozen over. There is also the Salt mine and Documentation Center. What else is there? I am not finding much with my google search.

B. To only stay in Berchtesgaden 1 or 2 nights and move on spending an additional day or two in Dinkelsbühl/Nördlingen.

Or
C. To skip the area completely and find other areas between München and Nördlingen to explore. Do you have any places west of Munich that you really loved? Augsburg and Ulm caught my eye. I have been to Nürnberg. If I am not a skiier does it make sense to consider the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area?

I am going for the Christmas Markets, doing some Genealogy (the latter part of the trip). I am a huge photographer, really into history, and culture. This will be my fourth trip to Germany. While I would love to see the Alps at Christmas time, I can get over it, there are people with bigger issues out there.

Posted by
21164 posts

Garmisch should be fine. Its is very early in the ski season, so lodging deals should be available. If nice weather, head up to the Zugspitze for photo ops.

Posted by
14980 posts

"...really into history and culture." Fantastic! In that case you cannot go wrong with choosing Ulm and Augsburg. The cathedral in Ulm (das Ulmer Münster) would be worth your time regarding the photography, Augsburg is significant in German relgious and cultural history. If you stay in Ulm, you're within range (timewise) of doing a day trip r/t to Sigmaringen an der Donau to see Burg (castle) of Hohenzollern dynasty. I was there last in the summer of 2009, the town had changed a lot since my first time there in 1971. If you saw the town then, you would know immediately that the town had been spared the horrendous effects of the US. bombing.

Posted by
470 posts

Since you have already been to Germany these ideas may be redundant. Some day trips we have made from Munich that you didn't mention were Bamsberg, Regensburg, Herrenchiemsee and Wurzburg. In addition to the Christmas markets it should be a good time for concerts/music. There are also all the lovely cities along the Rhine. We have stayed in Oberwesel and made day trips(by train or boat) from there to the other cities along the river. We have also traveled to the Dolomites from Munich( albeit in the summer). I imagine it would be interesting to experience the Advent season there. Finally, it would take a day of train travel but you could still see the Alps by going to somewhere in the Berner Overland. We have stayed in Murren, and I imagine if the weather was clear the views would be even more spectacular in the early winter.
I realize you don't intend to go very far north, but for genealogy we loved the embarkation museum in Bremerhaven. We spent most of a day here. The displays are remarkable. The re-creation of Grand CentralEllis Island is spot on, and the simulations of what it was like on one of the boats an emotional experience for me as I could imagine my grandparents making that journey. There are computers for research, a place to eat, and a comprehensive view not only of the immigration to the US but the history of immigrants coming into Germany as well . Definitely put it on your itinerary for a future trip.
http://www.bremerhaven.de/experience-the-sea/objects-of-interest/museums-adventure-worlds/german-emigration-center-bremerhaven/german-emigration-center-bremerhaven.46859.html

Posted by
346 posts

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas!

@TravellingMom thank you for the idea about the embarkation museum. It is indeed on our list for a trip to Germany in two years. The German contingent of my husbands family plans a very informational family reunion every 4 years based on family history and the next one is going to be in Bremen. One of the branches of the family was a wine Merchant based out of Bremen in the 1600s. I am excited to learn more about both! I can't wait!

I know what you mean about imaging what your realtives went through. The last reunion was two years ago, and we flew through Newark, NJ and it was crazy to fly over the Statue of Liberty and knowing we were doing the reverse journey of what his great-great-great grandparents did.

Posted by
2981 posts

Hi,

We're partial to the Berchtesgaden area.
Just wanted to get that out of the way :)
We have stayed a total of 18 nights during 5 trips.

Do you plan on traveling by car or public transportation?

We love Berchtesgaden and the Christmas market there. A bit lower key than the Salzburg market. Love them both, as we did a late Nov. to early Dec. trip for these in 2010 and again in 2013. Berchtesgaden and many smaller towns open the markets on Thursday through Sunday only and some villages only one or two weekends during December. Best to check. I doubt the Konigsee will be frozen. Wasn't either time we were there, but could happen, but not likely.

Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee palace is midway between Munich and Salzburg/Berchtesgaden on an island in the Chiemsee by Prien. We enjoyed seeing it.

Basing in Garmisch or Mittenwald or even Fuessen would be a good choice also. We stayed in Fuessen twice and Mittenwald twice, a total of 5 nights in Fuessen and 6 nights in Mittenwald. Garmisch and Mittenwald are less than 30 minutes apart. Based here you could do the Zugspitze, Linderhof palace, Ettal Monastery, Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. The Karwendelbahn cable car in Mittenwald is very good and half the price of the Zugspitze. The old towns of Fuessen and Garmisch are worth visiting and Miitenwald is just extremely picturesque.

Hope this helps.

If interested, we have our pics at:
www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

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