seeking guidance Frankfurt-Paris, London-Frankfurt, & Frankfurt w/o a car

The ICE to Paris leaves right from the Frankfurt main train station. I suggest getting your tickets as soon as it is 90 days before your trip, to get the cheapest fares. Check the Deutsche Bahn website for prices and schedules. It only takes a bit under 4 hours on the train. For traveling to the Rhine, there is a train that leaves every hour from the Frankfurt main train station that travels right along the Rhine all the way to Koblenz, stopping at Rüdesheim, where you can get on the boat. Take the train back to Frankfurt from the other side of the Rhine. There are some non-stops, or you may have to change trains in Wiesbaden or Mainz. The bus tours to the Romantic Road do not have a very good reputation, as they are run by ETS and expensive for what you get. You can take a train to all of these towns for a lot less money. What would you like to see? If it is beautiful, quaint villages, those abound all along the Rhine as well as all around Frankfurt itself. Have a look at the towns on the Fachwerk Strasse, such as Idstein, Büdigen, Seligenstadt, Marburg, Michelstadt, Eppstein, and so on.
http://www.deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de/uk/index.php A visit to Mainz, Wiesbaden, Bad Homburg or Heidelberg could also go on your list as they are all close and all well worth visiting. The cathedral in Mainz especially. I like this one more than the one in Cologne.

Jo,
Thank you, so much, for the great information. It sounds as if you have an excellent understanding of the area. Actually, I was mistaken. We are flying into Frankfurt, but will be staying and working in Wiesbaden. We depart (from Wiesbaden to Paris) on June 23rd, so will not get the big discount you mentioned. Would it be best to start the Rhine trips from Wiesbaden, or Frankfurt? I'm assuming one or the other would be back-tracking? I went to the db bahn railroad web site to book tickets for our next leg (to Paris) and was bewildered/stunned by the drop-down lists of all the Wiesbaden options, as well as a good number for Paris. We will be staying at Army Lodging in Wiesbaden, and have reservations for an apartment near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Any suggestions for which departure and arrival stations we should select? Also, I don't understand the difference between "Standard" and "Savings" fares on the train web site. Am I correct in assuming that "Standard" is not for a specific date and time? I apologize for so many questions, but am really at a loss with all this, and do not know anyone in Europe whom I can ask. Thanks again.

Wiesbaden sits directly on the Rhine, so for trips along the Rhine, this is perfect. You will want to take a train a bit farther though, like up to Bingen or Ruedesheim. Every city has multiple stops where you can get on and off the trains, all you need is the major stop. For Wiesbaden it is Wiesbaden Hbf. or the main train station. You can take a taxi to the Hotel. Wiesbaden is a very beautiful city, the architecture will astound you. Mainz is right across the river, so this will be easy for you to visit in the evening after you are done working. The cathedral, St. Martins is 1000 years old and just magnificent. If you have time, try and go to St. Stephens. The windows in this church were made by Chagall and when you enter the church, you WILL go Wow. I also like the Isis Temple there. If you want to see quaint towns, filled with old buildings, city walls, etc. you don't really need to go as far as the Romantic Road. There are plenty of that sort near Wiesbaden. Lee is the train guy on this forum, but for the cheap train to Paris, you may have to take the train to Frankfurt or the airport. I am not sure where it stops.

You can get Europa-Spezial Frankreich fares from Wiesbaden to Paris via Frankfurt. The €39 tickets are gone for 23 June, but if you book today on the German Rail site you still can get a fare of €89.

Jo and Tim, thank you, both, for the great information.
Jo's info about Frankfurt makes me anxious to see the city and surrounding area. Tim, the fare you found sounds wonderful. Do you happen to have a URL to the E. 89 fare, or the names of the destination and arrival stations? That is what is throwing me more than anything else on the rail web site. Thanks again!

Thank you, very much. I'm hoping to secure our reservations to Paris today, and all the great advice really helped. Hopefully, I'll also be able to book the Rhine boat/train trip today, or tomorrow, as well. The great advice on this site has been a wonderful help.

For the English version of the German Rail site go here. Enter Wiesbaden hbf as your departure station and Paris Est as your arrival station.

Thank you, everyone, for the great advice and guidance. I have obtained tickets on the ICE train, to get us from Germany to Paris. Was also advised to purchase the RD cruise and the train tickets on the day of the excursion, so I think we are all set. You all have helped more than you know, and I appreciate it!