We're flying into Frankfurt for 15 days in June/July (booked a flight using miles). It's my first time in Europe, but my wife has already spent a summer in Germany and would prefer to see other countries/cultures also. We are totally open to various itineraries provided that we start and finish in Frankfurt. Probably leaning towards taking trains, but have not ruled out driving or even a one-way inter-Europe flight. We've been researching destinations and those below intrigue us the most:
Salzburg & Salzgammerkut region
Switzerland (Bernese Oberland)
Italy (Cinque Terre particularly)
Not sure if these could all be reached via a "loop" trip to/from Frankfurt? Italy might be dipping too far south, but getting a taste of Italian culture, food, scenery, etc. sounds really great (especially since all other areas on our list are German speaking).
About us: we're 30 years old, and our tastes usually dictate that 2-3 days in a city/area is usually enough to get a good feel for it -- we are not the "linger all day in a coffeehouse" or "spend the afternoon reading in our hotel room" type of travelers. Nor to we feel like we need to see the "major tourist sights" or every palace, museum, or castle in every city -- we are simply big walkers/hikers who love culture and nature and are energized by being on the move.
All that said, can anyone help out with itinerary planning and/or travel logistics to make this a fun trip for us?