What might Hanover offer of interest

Regardless if Hannover is not mentioned, the place is still worth going to based on your level of research. If you have the time, I would not dismiss Hannover or its immediate environs.

Almost every trip I am at Hannover central station, very advantageous and convenient.

If history is of interest to you, I would suggest seeing the Herrenhäuser Gardens. The S-Bahn from Hannover Hbf goes out there.

Near Hannover if you're after a smaller place, I would suggest Celle, a town that survived the war unscathed to visit the Bormann Museum in the Schloss, Minden, and Hildesheim, which was bombed in March 1945, ie the Zentrum.

I was also going to mention Celle, a beautiful town that is part of the Half-Timbered Route in Germany (in my opinion a better route than the Romantic Road).
Bergen-Belson is sort of near Hannover if that is of interest.
Do a bit of research on the city and you may find lots of things to see and do there. Even the Wiki article about Hannover will get you started.

Frankfurt airport (FRA) has better flight options than Berlin (BER). It's about 2-1/2 hrs by train and 3 hrs by auto from FRA. About 3 hrs by train and 2-3/4 hrs by auto from BER.

Goslar in the Harz Mountains is a little over 1 hour ftom Hannover. It is home to the Imperial Palace and the Rammelsberg silver mine.

I like to add Marienburg castle close to Hanover and really worth exploring is the Hartz mountains area close with Wernigerode, Goslar and mount Brocken.

Further tourist highlights in the city you will find on the visitor website of Hanover.

A beloved and geologically special summer location is lake Steinhuder Meer, North-East of Hanover. It has an area of around 29 sqkm but a maximum depth of only 3 meters - average depth of 1.35 meters. It is the 9th largest lake of Germany.

"September": every year at end of June you could visit the world's biggest shooting club festival.

Hanover has an own airport (HAJ) by the way.

Watch your belongings around the main station and in the pedestrian area. Hanover ranks #4 in Germany's list of crime cities - still save for visitors in absolute numbers over the year.

Parts of my family had also roots in Hanover - nearly around the same time. Years ago I lived there for a 3 months internship but never found an emotional access to this place.

Thinking Berlin will be our flight destination and we will tour there first for a few days.

In general a very good idea for your interests (around 170 musuems) but book hotels early because annually in September IFA fair and Berlin Marathon raise hotel prices.

My aunt lives in Hannover and I have been there many times, as recently as this past October. It is a nice city with an interesting downtown/old town. Don’t miss the Maschsee. There is the large Eilenreide City Forest just at the end of my aunt’s street that has wonderful walking paths, Biergarten, etc. The Herrenhäuser Gärten is worth a visit as well. Celle has been mentioned and if it is of any interest to you Bergen Belsen, the camp where Anne Frank and her sister perished, is not far away. They have a very well done visitors center.

Thank you all! Your input helps motivate me. There truly are lovely new places to tour! I love the half timbered villages and beautiful countryside you suggested! And Hannover itself sounds interesting. I am seeing I left an “n” off. We do not tend to rent cars in Europe. Trains, cruise, buses and tours preferably.
We have already experienced the regions of Germany I previously mentioned along with some Rhine, Danube and Main River cruises and Romantic road stops. But its time to experience Northern Germany where our families originated. We have not yet been to Berlin and hoped to fly into and visit there…but do know Frankfurt has best routes. I have only just began looking. And Andrea… my name as well…the visit to site where Anne Frank perished would be meaningful! We just toured her museum house in Amsterdam this past August….also Corrie Ten Boom museum home in Haarlem. So very moving and inspiring!

Thank you MarkK. Just checked the dates of the Berlin fair and marathon. My window of dates there is between them both! Its why this forum is so helpful!

You don't mention how much time you intend to be in Hannover. Re: activities lots of options and places to check out., culturally and historical.

If beer is of interest to you, not too far from Hannover is a brewery, ca one hour or so, located in the town of Einbeck.

You may want to visit that. Einbeck beer is available in SF, not easily but there.

all2alb, Hannover is the German spelling; Hanover is the English spelling.

Hanover is known for the over four centuries old Gilde brewery. Likely our ancestors were drinking this beer already.

Great! Thank you for your brewery suggestions. My husband loves trying local beer. I am the wine drinker. So many good whites there!