Hi, I'm planning an August trip with my husband, 3 kids (ranging in ages 10 - 15), and my 75-year-old mom (German-born, lived in the US for the last 55 years.) Quite a range of ages and interests and I'm trying to plan a trip that will give my kids a sense of their heritage and educate them about another culture. And I'm trying to throw in some fun so it's not just a lot of museums. We are planning 3 days in Berlin, then 3 days in the Nurnberg - Rothenburg area and I've read all the good advice on this site about that area (thank you!). I'm really looking for advice about southern Germany. We have 3 days to spend before flying home from Munich. My grandmother lived in Freiburg and my mom and I both have sentimental reasons for being drawn to go back. Since we will have done time in the city as well as old Germany and villages, I'd love to focus the last 3 days on nature and hiking or rafting. Perhaps Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Lake Constance? We could be convinced to skip Freiburg if there other better ideas. Also, we are NOT driving and don't want to drive. So we need to find hikes, etc., that are accessible by train. And accommodations for six of us. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
If you're "drawn" to Freiburg and want outdoor activities, rent an apartment for 3 nights somewhere just to the east of Freiburg. If you stay along the Hell's valley railway route, you'll have easy access to Freiburg and to hiking opportunities. Hinterzarten ( in the mountains 30 min. east of Freiburg by train and 5 min. west of Titisee) is on this route and is a scenic and very popular place for outdoor enthusiasts. East of Hinterzarten via train and bus is the Wutach Gorge, also popular with hikers. If you want to be closer to Freiburg, try Kirchzarten, which is in a valley only about 15 minutes from Freiburg by train. http://www.blackforesthighlands.info/Discover/Region-Towns/Hinterzarten http://www.dreisamtal.de/en/kirchzarten/index.php?lang=en http://www.black-forest-travel.com/landscape/wutach-gorge.html Hinterzarten and Kirchzarten (unlike Freiburg) participate in the Konus program - you'll get a card from your hosts that offers you free transportation throughout the Black Forest on all trains and buses throughout your stay! http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/konus Use this page and the "select location" link on the right to search for accommodations. http://www3.toubiz.de/stg/en/result.php
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
My normal recommendation is not to go out of your way just to visit the Black Forrest (there's similar mountain ranges and scenery all across southern and central Germany)... but if you're going to Freiburg, you'll be right there anyway. I don't know of any specific hikes that would fit your criterea, but a good source is the Rother Wanderführer series. Although the books are available in German only, even if you don't understand a word of the language, the maps are pretty self-explantory. Many of the recommended hikes in this series start from a train station. http://www.rother.de/titpage/4217.php
Posted by
OP
Evanston
3 posts
Thanks, Russ, for your great ideas! I will definitely look into your suggestions and they sound like they are just what we're looking for. Also, Tom, I appreciate your comments as well. The one drawback I see of going to Freiburg/Black Forest area is that our flight home out of Munich is at 10:30 am -- perhaps we need to find a location closer to Munich for our final three days. What other spots would you suggest other than Black Forest with proximity to Munchen Airport? Thanks for any and all suggestions! I really appreciate it. Christa
Posted by
Kirn, Germany
331 posts
Bad Tolz. Near enough to Munich to get back for 10.30 flight, with an early start, and a very quaint town within striking distance of mountains. What about somewhere on the banks of Lake Tegernsee? Or any of the lakes south of Munich. Boat trips for the kids, lots of good breweries and Beer Gardens for the adults.
Posted by
Lawrenceville, Georgia
693 posts
You may want to check out Prien am Chiemsee. There's hiking and water sports, a lakeside steamship and a lakeside indoor-outdoor water-pool leisure center. Prien is approximately halfway between Munich and Salzburg and it may be possible to get to the airport early that morning from Prien or else you could spend your last night in Munich; there are several very convenient ways to get to the airport in about an hour (or less) from the downtown area.
Posted by
America's Vancouver and the First
111 posts
Shoni's lake region suggestion is very good. We just got back from a stay in Schliersee (near Tegernsee) last week. Stayed at a timeshare called AlpenClub that had a pool and was in walking distance to the lake. I think they rent rooms. Easily reachable from Munich by train in an hour. There's a great path around the lake (about 4 km). Boat trip, swimming beaches. I understand there's a path that goes to Tegernsee, too. Plus, there's a cable car for great views with a luge run coming down. Bad Tolz has a very cute pedestrian shopping area and a river runs through it so there is likely good walking there. They also have an adjacent nature park with cable car to hiking and two kinds of luge runs. (not within walking distance of town)