Frankfurt to the Black Forest

You might consider this. Start in Pforzheim (on the way to Stuttgart). Go up the Nagold river to Bad Liebenzell, a small spa town, further up to Calw, birthtown of Herman Hesse, a pretty little avant garde town with lots of Fachwerk buildings, then on to Freudenstadt, called the capital of the northern Black Forest. Freudenstadt has what is considered one of the largest town squares in Germany and another spa. From Freudenstadt, go on down the Kinzig through Alpirsbach to Hausach and the Black Forest open-air museum. Then take the Schwarzwaldbahn up the Gutach to Triberg and from there to Donaueschingen, headwaters of the Danube. From Donaueschingen you can go either west via Titisee to Freiburg or east to Bodensee.

Thanks very much! Will research those towns and train accessibility. Really appreciate it.

I've been to all of those towns except Triberg, which I only went past. They are all on train lines. There is a train line from Pforzheim to Freudenstadt . Bad Liebenzell and Calw are on it. The Black Forest open air museum is a short walk from Hausach, but the rest, Triberg, Donaueschingen, and Titisee are on the rail lines. Alpirsbach is a pretty little town of less than 7000 people on the Kinzig river between Freudenstadt and Hausach. I stayed here, at Schwanen Post in 2000. If you stay at a hotel, etc, in the Black Forest, you will get a Konus Card, which is valid for costless, unlimited travel by train or bus in that area.

Lee,
Thanks for the information you gave me last year about the Black Forest. Due to a change in plans, it looks like this year may be the time I travel to Germany. Of all the towns you listed, do you have a favorite? If I was to go and remain stationary for a couple days? Triberg? Alpirsbach?

Freudenstadt and Alpirsbach are very close together. It takes less than a half hour between them by direct bus or by train with a change at Freudenstadt Hbf. (Note, the Freudenstadt Stadtbahnhof is a few blocks from the town square, on the rail line that goes from Freudenstadt Hbf to Rastatt, near Baden-Baden. The Freudenstadt Hauptbahnhof is farther from the town square, down a very steep hill. I recommend using the Stadtbahnhof.) The fare between them is 3,40€, but wherever you stay, you will probably get a Konuskarte, which will give you free use of transport in the area. You could stay in either place, but Freudenstadt is a larger town, with more to do without taking transportation. If you like shopping, there are lots of shops on the Freudenstadt town square. There is also a Spa in Freudenstadt, but it is not for the inhibited (coed & clothing free). Alpirsbach has a well known brewery, Klosterbräu, with tours. I don't think the place I stayed in Freudenstadt is on their list anymore, but, in Alpirsbach, I stayed here.