wnab1q

We have used a lot of the advice and suggestions from here. Thank you!
We would like feedback and suggestions on the progress we have made.

Sunday ~ arrive 7AM in Frankfurt, pick up rental car, drive to Rothenburg. We are staying at "Garni Hornburg" just outside the walls.

Monday ~ drive the Romantic Road to Munich - staying at the "Hilton Munich Park" (using points)staying only one night - I love cities, he doesn't.
While in Munich we would like to take a bus tour of the city - any suggestions? Also would like to see the gardens and Residenz Palace. Is there something else that is a must see?

Tuesday ~ when finished in Munich - drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen by way of Linderhof. we will decide at that time if we want to tour it. Staying at "Hotel-Hilleprandt" Where for dinner?

Wednesday ~ Zugspitze - later drive into Switzerland toward Schaffhausen?

Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday are unplanned except for the general area. Staying 2 or 3 nights in the same place in the Black Forest taking short drives sounds good. Hechingen area? May want to take in Hohenzollern and Liechtenstein as was suggested to us here.

We are interested in your thoughts for these days on what to do and not do.

Through this planning we have kept in mind my foot is a problem (surgery when we get home)I can walk fine for a while, hike, no. Some of the time I will have to wear my big black clunky boot-like brace. (other foot will have a dainty sandal - fashion police will find me for sure)

Saturday ~ drive to Stasbourg for week two (post on that later - I will be on my own with rental car while he is in class all day)
THANKS!

PStuyvsant

Overall your itinerary seems evenly paced, so you won't have to spend a lot of time on the road.

The Hornburg is a nice place and the couple who own it can't seem to do enough for their guests.I think you will be pleased with your choice.

There is a lot to see and do in Munich and having only one day is going to force you to make some choices.

You can take a bus tour of about two hours which gives you a general idea of the city.There is no stopping, so if you see something you like you can always go back on your own.The tour leaves from Hertie's department store across from the main train station.

A trip up the Zugspitze, if the weather is good, is always a winner.I suggest taking the cable car up, and the cog train back down.Or you can take either one both ways.

The Black Forest is great for day tripping, if you have at least two or three days.Check out Titisee near Freiburg,the outdoor museum at Gutach,the glass factory in Wolfach, and Hohenzollern is an easy drive for a day of castle touring.Note...don't try hiking up the steep hill.Take the carriages.

Your plan should give you the most opportuntity, while going easy on the feet.Good luck.

TuckH

I don't understand the Schaffhausen part and isn't the Bodensee in there somewhere?

auntgrapes

Good to see PStuyvsant posting on this board. He is a source of good, solid advice. You can find additional advice on Bavaria Bens' site.

wnab1q

TuckH ~ Re: Schaffhausen: In the spring issue of "German Life Travel Issue" there is an article as well as the cover, about the "painted ladies" of this town. I am intrigued by the detail in the work on such a large piece of work.
I had not heard of Bodensee, since reading your post I looked it up. Is this an area we should drive through slowly or stop for a while?

curmudgeon

When we did our travels through Germany, we found the Black Forest area was not a highlight for us, perhaps because we are from California and used to more dramatic mountains and forest. Rothenburg was definitely worth a day to us, though not more than that. We greatly enjoyed the area around Salzburg, could have spent more time around Fussen/Garmisch, and will also plan several days in the Mosel region on our next trip (all of these would rank above Black Forest in our view).

twoflower

Agree with curmudgeon re Black Forest. Nice, but in a look-as-you-go-through sort of way rather than a stay-a-while way. Fussen, Garmische, Oberammagau, Berchtesgaden, Reit-im-Winkl, now you're talking. Munich is worth more and
Rothenburg is magic after the bus tours have left (which makes it better as an overnighter rather than a day stop).

bettyk

Bodensee, or Lake Constance, is a large beautiful lake bordering Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Lindau is a lovely town on the northern German side with a number of painted buildings. Meersburg is also suppose to be nice. I think either of these would be more appealing IMHO than Schaffhausen.

http://www.lindau.de/
http://www.meersburg.de/

TuckH

My wife is a native of the Black Forest and I know it fairly well; yet I have to agree with those above that your time might be better spent elsewhere. For instance, the Romantische Strasse has many scenic villages, other than Rothenburg, along the way worthy of stopping...Creglingen, Rottingen, Dinklesbuhl, Nordlingen, Harburg, etc.
[http://www.romantischestrasse.de/uk/index.php3] Look into Bamberg for you who loves cities (though it's not a big one).

Then the Garmisch area has many things to see and do other than the Zugspitze. And, Yes the Bodensee area will invite you to make a number of pleasant stops.

jmw44

Hi wnab. If you are interested in painted buildings, do try to take a look at Stein am Rhein, which is just east of Schaffhausen. Either of these would be nice places to stay; Schaffhausen is a small city, Stein a.R. a village. If you're interested in staying at the northern end of Bodensee, you might consider Uberlingen. Backing up a bit, Mittenwald near Garmisch has exterior murals as well. Your trip sounds great. J.

LynnP

I agree with jmw re Stein am Rhein, really nice for a few hours trip. The Bodensee has some lovely scenery. There is a cable car in Bregenz, sorry can't remember the name of the mountain, that on a good day gives you a great look around. In the area of Rothenburg I found Nurnberg to be a very interesting and scenic town.

Have fun

DavidD

wnab,

It's a shame you'll have but a day to dedicate to Munich, as it's a most appealing and stop-worthy city.

Do, however, try to spend some time in Marienplatz, Munich's pedestrians-only square. It's a colorful, lively place, featuring street art and music, quality shopping and sightseeing. Make a point of visiting at least a couple of the area churches, perhaps most notably the onion-domed Frauenkirche. This 500-year-old church is well worth a visit, as is the nearby St. Peter's which, from its "summit", offers splendid views of downtown Munich and beyond.

While at St. Peter's, consider Rick Steves' advice, "Try to be two flights from the top when the bells ring at the top of the hour, and, when your friends back home ask you about your trip, you'll say,'What?' "

Finally, for a touristy yet nonetheless fun treat, see the glockenspiel "jousts" at Marienplatz's Neues Rathaus. The only cost for the visual hijinks is a slightly strained neck. Shows are at 11:00AM, noon, and 5:00PM.

wnab1q

Great ideas ~ Thanks!
I just got back from a few days in Savannah GA and discovered cobble stones were hard on my foot. Good to know since I realize I won't be able to avoid them, wearing my "boot" on them will help prevent problems.

What about Freiburg for a base for a few day trips?
I have been looking at the Lake Constance area, I hadn't realized it had a second name!
More fun research to be done!
Thanks again!

Chris9

Rothenburg is a really neat city that I'd at least spend 1/2 a day before driving on. I highly recommend doing the "Nightwatchman's Tour" there held nightly, I believe. It gives you interesting history of the famed "walled city". It's quaint and has great shopping and walking the wall is a neat experience, too. Garmisch is quaint with good shopping, as well - very picturesque city with nice murals on the buildings there with the Zugspitz making a striking backdrop. We were only there a half day, though, so can't help with recommending an excursion there. I definitely agree with spending at least a half day in Munich going to the Marienplatz and watching the Glockenspeil - a unique experience! Toured Linderhof and enjoyed it - there's also a grotto there that Mad King Ludwig created, I believe, that was kind of cool, although a bit contrived - he was "mad", afterall! We did a city bus tour of Munich that went by the Olympic grounds and Hitler's headquarters (those are the highlighs I remember from having been 5 years ago), but it really wasn't very good. We were whisked by everything, on a large motorcoach that was full, and it was quick and very impersonal. You'd be much better off spending your time in Munich downtown at the Marienplatz if your time is limited there. If you're going to Salzburg, which I highly recommend (beautiful city!), the "Sound of Music" tour is wonderful! Yes, they play the music as you ride around, but you're in a minivan, so there's not many of you (we only had 4 people) and it's more personal and you see a lot more like the surrounding Lake District which is gorgeous! Anyway, you will love your trip and the places you're going. My only advice would be not to schedule your time too tight, so you get at least half a day or more in each area to get out and walk the town - walking all the cities and towns was my favorite activity in Europe!