The Black Forest Feature

Extraordinary regional specialties: Dig into Black Forest cake, Schwarzwald ham (only authentic if smoked over pinecones), and the incredible Tannen-Zäpfle Pilsner from the Rothaus Brewery.

Freiburg Münster: One of the most beautiful sandstone churches in southern Germany, the Cathedral of Freiburg survived the war unscathed. The view from the bell tower is stunning.

Going cuckoo: Look for a cuckoo clock from Triberg (or a nice watch from Pforzheim).

Healing waters: More than 30 spas with a wide range of treatments await to make visitors feel whole again, but nothing beats the 3½-hour session at the Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden.

Libations at Kaiserstuhl: Enjoy a local wine in the wine-maker's yard or cellar with Black Forest ham and dark bread. It's especially nice when the grapes are being harvested.