We are using FF miles flying into Frankfurt and out of Amsterdam in mid August. Total of 14 days. We will be travelling with our 8 year old daughter. Other then a few business trips my husband has made to Germany and a vacation to Great Britian, we have never visited Europe. Can anyone offer some ideas for a good itinerary? We are not opposed to moving frequently. Don't care for the big cities as much as the smaller town and countryside. Love food/wine. Need to balance adult/kid activities. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Your mention small town and wine suggests you should include in your itinerary the Rhine River valley, including St Goar and Bacharach. Then, as you continue west toward Amsterdam, you'd come to the Mosel River valley. The Rhine destinations mentined above would be some of the first places you'd come to as you leave Frankfurt and head west. Rick describes the area in detail in his book Germany & Austria.
Posted by
Charlestown, PA, USA
193 posts
In addition to Kent's ideas, while you're going through Belguim to Amsterdam you might think about stopping for a couple of days in Bruges it would be worth it.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I second the suggestion of the Mosel and middle Rhine. However, after that, I would go north from Frankfurt to the Harz, which is an island of mountains, including the Brocken, No. Germany's highest, on the otherwise low plain of northern Germany. Some of the towns (Goslar, Wernigerode, and Quedlinburg) on the northern border of the mountains are particularly worthwhile. I spent 5 night last November in Braulage, which is in the heart of these pine-forested mountains and only a few minutes by bus from Schierke, from which you can take a narrow gauge steam train to the top of the Brocken.
From there you will be a little closer to Amsterdam.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
135 posts
Amy, there is a miniature town near Amsterdam called Madurodam, google it and see the pictures. I bet it would be fun for your daughter and the adults, as well. Once your itinerary is set, you might google the towns you're staying in for toy museums. Also, in Holland, you're not that far from the North Sea beaches.