Well, we want to see wonderful sites!

The Alps, Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland...
It all sounds so inviting.
Let's say, we will plan this trip to take us into wonderful places in Germany and Austria and possibly a short side excursion to France.

Hey!

Come To Think Of It

The Following Could Be Even

A Christmas Gift!

So, we need some suitcases!

Having suitcases standing around the house already makes things very exciting.
It's almost like being already on a trip!
We call it="TRAVEL FEVER".

But not so fast!

First of all we will have to do some paperwork!

We need a PASSPORT! Without it we cannot leave the country.
Since we are going to Europe, there are no vaccinations required. Isn't that great? I am never looking foreward toward something like that.

MAJESTIC - IMPRESSIVE

I am sure these are the kind of scenes going around in your head right now.

NOW IT IS TIME TO SEE A TRAVEL AGENT!

The best time to plan a European trip is before the end of March. That is when you will get the best rates for your flight. After the end of March, the same flight can be as much as double the amount. Do not rely entirely on your agent, especially if you don't know him/her very well. Be sure to make some of your own inquiries with the most popular Airlines. A direct flight from your airport into the main city (Frankfurt for this particular trip) is the most preferable situation. Another option is taking British Airlines to London and then connecting from London to Frankfurt. You should absolutely consider renting a car. Yes, renting a car can be somewhat expensive, but save up-it is definitely worth it! This way you are not dependent on any public transportation and you do not have to "schlep" your luggage around. I recommend that you plan your trip for a minimum of 29 days. The reason: You will get a monthly discount rate (be sure to request the discount when making your arrangements). EUROCAR or HERTZ are good choices. Request a medium size car with a closed trunk, air-conditioning, and automatic transmission. This will ensure your comfort while traveling. Cars you rent in Europe are in TOP CONDITION.

They are constantly required to undergo testing. They have top quality tires and brakes. In addition, do not let anyone scare you! Driving over there is a breeze! If you stay out of the SPEED LANE you can drive with leisure. Road signs are the same Europe as they are in the US and many are in English.

O.K. now we have our Passport, Flight tickets, and Car Rental and we can slowly think about what we are going to pack.

This picture says:

"BLACKFOREST"

and that is where we are headed right now!

We still got plenty of time to pack, remember, it is only the end of March and you'll not be leaving before July, August or even September.

First of all now get yourself a driving map of Germany and Austria. Your Travel Agent can possibly get you one.

O.K. You've got it?

Let's make a preliminary route.

If you arrive in Frankfurt in the morning you can just pick up your luggage from the luggage counter, proceed to the car rental area and pick up your car. If you arrive in Frankfurt in the evening, then I suggest you have your travel agent book you into a moderately priced hotel, where you'll stay overnight and have the car rental agency deliver your car to the hotel.

Let's say you have arrived in the morning. You have picked up your luggage, your car key and your car in the Airport Car Rental Hall. Now, before you just take off, make sure you know where everything is in that car. The windshieldwipers; the turn signals how to set the mirrors; how to operate the windows; set your seats properly; know where everything is and how this car operates just as you would when you have to drive someone elses car or if you rent a car in the States. In other words, take your time to familiarize yourself with you Rent-A-Car. Remember, you have TIME! You are on vacation and no one tells you when you have to leave the car-hall. It is open 24 hours a day. You are NOT in a rush.

But, we are jumping the gun. After all, we are not there yet. We are planing a route!

_________________________________________________

From Frankfurt we want to drive south!

Follow with your finger the Autobahn (freeway) south and you see under others the City of Heidelberg.

A travel agent in a bus tour would now stay there overnight to look at the castle and the old town. But we are not going to do, what any tour would do. That is boring.

If you follow the Autobahn farther south you get to the major city of the State of BADEN, which is KARLSRUHE. Karlsuhe used to be the Residential City of the State of Baden and it is located right at the northern edge of the Blackforest. This is an excellent location to stay a few days and use it as a base to explore the southwest part of Germany.

It depends on your taste. There are many fine Hotels in Karlsruhe itself. For instance the KAISERHOF, located right in the center of the city and on the big Marketplace, from which even the castle is in walking distance. There you are in the hub of a great shopping grounds, if you like to shop. And while you are there, do not overlook a visit to the STADTGARTEN (City Park and Zoo) it can be a project for a full day if you'd like. It is so pretty there.

If you don't want to stay in the city , I can also recommend another place. It is about 20 minutes outside the city in a little town called MOOSBRONN. The Gasthof ZUM HIRSCH can only be highly recommended. Here you feel you are already in the Blackforest. It is so quaint and if you like to can make many nature hikes there. And is is just a short drive ito the city. Not to mention the great home cooking. It is known and treasured by the German natives. This location is great. From here you can explore the Blackforest in a one day outing. Go to BADEN-BADEN to the Casino, to STRASSBURG (France) and see the big Cathedral. Make a day trip to HEIDELBERG and also, and I want to impress this, make a day trip to the PFALZ, where the wine grows. The Pfalz is a wonderful part of Germany and always missed by the tour busses. After just these few days there, you feel your trip has already been worth it.

If you shoud decide to stay in te Hirsch in Moosbronn, I suggest to make reservations before you leave. It is a tiny town, but it still is a town where people come from all over to go to the little Church that is known far and wide and for the good food the family ABENDSCHOEN is famous for.

_________________________________________________

Have you ever seen the Waterfalls in Schaffhausen ?

Leaving this area behind, follow the roads on the map southeast toward the BODENSEE (Lake of Constance). Driving along the Lake is an experience and you can also , if you are interested, visit the old ZEPPELIN-MUSEUM in FRIEDRICHSHAFEN.

As you follow this road on the map keep in mind, that the distances are not as great as here in the Staates and you can travel far in one day. Also you are going to be on vacation and as I had mentioned bevor, since you have your car you can stop any place you want and stay overnight if you so desire.

From the BODENSEE we go farther east to the city of KEMPTEN, the beginning of the Alps and soon you will be leaving Germany behind.
Now, look on the map toward the southeast you see the towns of NESSELWANG, FUESSEN, REUTE.

These are the first towns of the beautiful alpine Regions in Austria. Bevor you get to REUTE you'll see a sign: NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE(which by the way again is in Germany). This highway practicly devides Germany from Austria, so if you go south you are in Austria, if you go north you are in Germany. Forget about going to the castles until you are at a "BASE" again.

A place pretty as a picture, missed by most tourists in cars and perfect for you to stay and from here explore the surroundings and the CASTLES. The little town is called BERWANG.


Click here!
to take a look at this little town.


If you follow the road from REUTE going east, as if you would drive straight to GARMISCH, you'll see a small town called HEITERWANG. It will be very tempting to stay there, and of course you can if you want to. But I suggest that you go on a little bit farther east until you see on the right a sign toward BERWANG. Watch closely, once you are really there and driving, or you will miss it. Well, there is something that might help you once you are really driving there. On the right hand side, just bevor you have to make your turn in, you see a Mountain SLIDE. When you see that slide, you know the intersection is not far. There is also a small sign that leads to the town of BICHELBACH. You'll have to drive through that, so that's where you would turn south, going up the mountain road.

I really suggest you print out all this instruction bevor you leave and take it with you.

On a clear day in BERWANG, you can see the entire ZUGSPITZ-AREA. The Zugspitze is the tallest Mountain in Germany. It is quiet a sight. Be sure, as long as you are in the BERWANG take some hiking time. It is so beautiful and peaceful in the mountains there. Once I took my youngest daughter and her husband to this little town and still today when you talk to them about it, they will tell you, that the most amazing thing they had experienced was on a late walk home from one of the parties (there are always parties) at on of the hotels. They said, that everything was dark and very quiet, but in the distance, up above them on the mountain, you could hear the cowbells softly ringing, as the cows turned in their sleep. They had never experieced something like this and they say, it was like in a dream, unreal and beautiful.

No reservations are needed to stay here. There are Hotels build for the Ski-Season up there and you'll find plenty rooms. You may want to stay at a private Bed and Breakfast though. I prefer these instead of any Hotel in Bavaria and Austria.

People have signs on their houses "ZIMMER FREI" (rooms for rent). There are also little signs on each house with a double bed on one side and a single bed on the other. It is either red or green. Red means occupied, green means still for rent. You would stop and look at the accomodations, people and surroundings and decide, if this is where you want to stay overnight or not. If not, just say thank you and drive on to look at another place. While you are in Berwang, you can also, if you wish, catch a train from there to MUENCHEN. It leaves right from the little town of BICHLBACH, just a few km from BERWANG. Take a taxi to the train-station.

Since a train goes right into the center of the city of MUENCHEN, it is kind of fun and you dont have to worry about the traffic in this big city. It s a shopping Mecca. The best of the best.

With memories like this embeded in our minds we roll along with eaze!

From Berwang the road leads slightly southeast to the towns of LERMOOS and EHRWALD. What a view awaits you there!

The whole WETTERSTEIN Mountains with ZUGSPITZE lie right in front of you. That is a sight you will never, ever forget.

Click here!
and feast your eyes!



If you look south on the map now, the PASS goes right over the Alps to the town of IMST. If you look on the map north-east, you see the tow of GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN. That is the road
I suggest you take on this trip. But not bevor you have experienced these two little towns of Lermoos and Ehrwald. That also means, if the weather permits, a ride with the cablecar up to the Zugspitze.

Going on from there you would follow the road through the now German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, (since the Bodensee, rihgt after the town of KEMPTEN, we had followed the Freeway on the map into Austria.) After a stop in this charming city I suggest the road leading to the town of MITTENWALD (still Germany). Both of these German towns are some of the most famous towns in the Bavarian Alps.

At Mittenwald you look up to the world-reknown WETTERSTEIN-GEBIRGE (Wetterstein Mountain Range). But it gets better! Right at the edge of the town of Mittenwald a switch-back road leads up to the LEUTASCH. As the road ends at the top, entering the valley of the LEUTASCH, you enter Austria again. It is the upper valley from which the Wetterstein Mountains, of which the Zugspitze is part of it, rise up. This is the valley I want you to visit. Again, it is missed by most visitors. They usually come in from the other end of the valley (from Innsbruck) and get as far as SEEFELD, the prestiges town for the European-well-to-do. Like I said Seewald is on the other end (the south end of the valley) and what is in between Mittenwald and Seefeld is usually missed. Yet, this is the most beautiful part. For those who are interested in skiing, it is one of the best cross-country skiing areas known in Austria.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE FLOWER:

"ALPINE ENZIAN!"

A treasure, if you are able to get a hold of some, but remember, they are under protection.

If you like mountain climbing, about half way into the valley is a small elegant Hotel, called HUBERTUSHOF. It is a beautiful quaint Hotel and from there the climbers go all the way up to the Zugspitze. Of course I never made it that far, but I went so far up that I could see and photograph the entire valley. Again I want to remind you that there are alot of private bed and breakfast places that are thoroughly enjoyable. From here you can explore the entire INNSBRUCK valley.

People always ask me: "Why do you like this place so much?" Well, my answer to this is: "Here the world still seems to be whole!" I can go mountain climbing and not worry that someone will assult me. All that I will meet are other climbers or deer or montain goats or once in a while a stray cow.

YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE VALLEY FROM UP THERE!

With All The Hub Of Tourism, You Can Still Find Places Like These!

I know you are listening to my story, but let's take a look at the map again.

Leaving this area always makes me feel sad, since I know, it will be another year until I see the splender of these mountains again.

We leave the Valley this time at the western end.
If you look on the map, you can see the little town of WEIDACH. once we are through there we soon will see the highway that leads from INNSBRUCK
to MUENCHEN.

We follow this road as far as BAD TOELZ, make a right hand turn and go on toward ROSENHEIM and from there follow the road heading for Salzburg.

If you have left early in the day then I suggest you experiene Salzburg a little, bevor going on to our next "BASE", which will be St,Wolfgang am Wolfgangsee. (Lake Wolfgang). Here is another one of my most favorite places in Austria.

There are many Bed and Breakfast places in this town, as well as many Hotels. A couple of the most famous Hotels are of course the Castle and also "DAS WEISSE ROESSL", where the famous operetta with the same name was written.

St. Wolfgang and the Lake with the surounding Mountains and all the other small towns around the lake are as charming as can be and I am sure you just want to stay there awhile and explore and ride the various cable cars up to the top of the mountains, go swimming, hiking, boating etc.

There are many other beautiful lakes in this wonderful region that you want to see and of course a more extensive look at SALZBURG.
Ooooh, I almost forgot. When you are in St. Wolfgang, have someone show you the walk to the HUPFMUEHLE. It is a Restaurant on the Mountain in the forest on a waterfall. There you can eat the best smoked trout ever. They are so good, that sometimes I drive to St. Wolfgang just because I want to eat some.

Waterfalls Are Roaring Down Steep Slopes!

Leaving St. Wolfgang and the lake behind you, will not be easy either. I am sure someday you will want to return.

If you look on the map now you will see another lake called: TRAUNSEE.

You would leave very early in the morning, because this day will be a beautiful scenic, but very long drive.

First of all we will follow the road along the Traunsee to GMUNDEN, the small city at the north end of this lake. This drive is dreamy, wonderful, hard to express!

From GMUNDEN we turn slightly northeast. You'll pass the town of LAMBACH and there on the map you see the freeway that leads to WIEN.
We look for the highway 137 (near the freeway,) that leads us toward the cities of SCHAERDING and the beautiful city of PASSAU.

In PASSAU we will cross the river DONAU, make a sharp left hand turn on the other side and if you are driving there, you will see the #85 painted right on the freeway you are now on. The -85- is a long highway going north, along the czech border and right through the beautiful BAVARIAN FOREST.

As I said the road goes north toward REGEN and VIECHTACH. Still on the -85-you see northward the town of CHAM. However if you look very closely just bevor you get to CHAM you see a small town called CHAMERAU. Just bevor you see the sign for this little town, on the right hand side, is a quaint roadside Hotel called SCHWALBENHOF. It will be toward evening when you get there. I suspect at least 5:30 p.m. So, time to rest, and no better place than this one. This is always my stop on the way north. Rooms are nice and the food is home-cooked by the owner.

The next day you will take the road through CHAM and catch highway -22- northwest.
Here you'll enter the OBERPFÅLZER WALD.
The next town you are headded for is WEIDEN, the CRYSTAL-TOWN. Here you can buy all the crystal you want. From WEIDEN on you would stay on the -22- and you would be driving toward BAYREUTH, but not into.

Just bevor BAYREUTH you see a crossing near the town of KEMNATT. Here you turn north going toward the town of TROESTAU on highway 303.
The turn would be left and a little ways up there is an intersection going left into the town of FICHTELBERG and from there following the road you'll get to OBERWARMENSTEINACH and the Gasthaus zum GOLDENEN HIRSCH, another "BASE".

Here you are in the heart of the FICHTELGEBIRGE.

Your excursions from here will take you to the finest porcellain Companies of Bavaria. Also, you may want to make some wonderful Forest walks.
And a drive to the OCHSENKOPF Mountain with the experience of the lift up to the top will be something to be remembered.

From up there you can look over the great land. During the time when the wall as still up, we would go up there and look into EAST-GERMANY.

After all this you will most likely have about 20+ days left and will slowly have to think about headding west.

It's Wonderful Places Like These, That We Will Never Forget

Someday I am sure we will be back!

It is best to leave Oberwarmensteinach right after breakfast, driving through Fichtelberg toward the -303-. Make a left hand turn (west) and follow this road toward KRONACH, a very old city, leaving KULMBACH to your left.

Still on the 303 you will drive to COBURG, another one of these beautiful old cities.

Leaving Coburg you turn southwest toward SCHWEINFURT and looking farther south on the map you'll see WUERZBURG, and that is where you would be headding now.

WUERZBURG is worth an extended stop. Eat there or have coffee-time, whatever is most current.

Whenever I have scheduled these long scenic drives always means with break-stops, coffee-stops or luncheon-stops of course included. We just can't miss out on any of this good food!

Southeast from Wuerzburg you see on the map ROTHENBURG. Even though it takes as a little east again, we cannot miss this town while we are in Germnany. It is a town dating back to 1000 and is today called the "German Christmas Town!"

So leaving Wuerzburg we head southeast on the -13- until we hit the -470-.Turning RIGHT, into the 470 which is west and then south to ROTHENBURG.

the northwest of Rothenburg (actually in walking distance of the town) is the small village of DETWANG. That is where I recommend you stay in the only Hotel/Restaurant SCHWARZES LAMM. You will really like it there. It is just far enough
away from the hustle and bustle of Rothenburg, and close enough to go there and experience this unique town.

It all depends now on how much time you have left until your Flight leaves. You'll have to have one night left over to stay near the Airport.

For this I suggest the city of LANGEN. I look at it as a subburb of Frankfurt. It is located just 10 minutes south from the Airport and the fastes way to get to, since it is right at the Autobahn.

There I recommend the family-owned Hotel "DEUTSCHES HAUS".

So as you leave Rothenburg you would head right back to Wuerzburg where you catch the -8- toward
ASCHAFFENBURG. If you look straight over to your left on the map (west), you see LANGEN just south of the Airport on the Autobahn.

You'll have good Food right in the Hotel and not to far away from the Hotel is also a wonderful Coffee Haus. Make the best of your last day!

ON THE AUTOBAHN AGAIN FOR THE LAST TIME - BACK TO THE AIRPORT

Depending on when your flight leaves you would schedule to leave the Hotel at least two hours bevor. Even though it is only 10 minutes away from the Airport, you never know what you might run into.
Remember, you still have to return your car. Even if you have a little time left over at the Airport, it is always better, than if you'd have to rush. Just relax and reflect on the wonderful time you have had.

Now let's talk a little bit about other details of the trip.

I have been told by other Americans, that what they most enjoy is the breakfast. And they recommended, that I mention that.
The Breakfast rolls are something to rave about and I think that long after your trip you will get a craving for them. If you are in a place where a breakfast buffet is served you'll have everything from cerials to fruit cold-cuts, cheeses. Everything your heart desires. But remember one thing. You can eat us much as you want at a buffet, but never take anything with you out of the breakfast room. That is frauned upon.
There is a difference in bed and
breakfast places. Most will serve European continental breakfast= Rolls, Pretzels in some areas, butter, jelly, eggs, cheese, cold-cuts. If you want anything else you'll have to ask for it. There also you will be usually given a certain number of rolls per person and if you cannot or don't want to eat it all you may fix up the rolls with whatever and take them with you.
Remember, even though you cannot take anything from a breakfast buffet, you can always stop during your trip at the many fine bakeries and sausage places and pick up something for on the road. You will see that it is even better and not expensive at all.

O.K.

So we finally can talk about packing! That is something that most of us do wrong. Why? Because we all take entirely to much with us. And on top of it, we seem to leave some of the most important
things at home.
First of all, throw everything you want to take on your bed and then start an elimination process. On this first step you have no idea what all you will put back.
Keep in mind, that you spend alot of time in your car and you want to be absolutely comfortable. Canges of little pullovers, that can be easely washed, is a very good idea. You'll never know about the weather and they can also serve if you have to layer. If you are a woman, don't take too many dresses. A cute Jeans-Dress will last a long time and is also easely washed by someone in a Bed & Breakfast place. Otherwise stick to jeans and other comfortable wear. You will see, much of the extra cloth you'd take you'll never wear and just have to carry around.
A good way is to limit yourself to one 29" suitcase. Pretend you are going on a bus tour and you are alout only one suitcase. You'll see, you CAN do it!

One thing you must not forget is a little foldup umbrella. Also one warm sweater and a wind-jacket. Weather is unpredictable even in summer. After all, part of the time you will be in the ALPS.
Now about underwear. That is what you will never
be able to pack enough or too much. First pack all the underwear that you may be ready to through away. Because that is exactly what you can do with it when it is dirty. Something less to carry after that. Don't forget stockings and socks and a change of
shoes. There is also no law against buying something you need while you are traveling. There are stores everywhere and in the cities you'll find many Department-Stores that offer items very reasonable.

I don't think I forgot anything, but if I did, I can always come back and tell you about it.
Also, please feel free and e-mail me if you should have any questions.

Remember, I don'tGUARANTY anything, I just want you to have a pleasant vacation on your first trip to Europe and I hope with this article, that by the way we ourselves have experienced many-a-times, I have helped you to have just that.

Meanwhile Remember, That Daydreams About Places Like These Are OK. Too!

If You Come Accross One Of These Creatures In One Of Your Daydreams You'll Know, That Reality Cannot Be Far Away!

AND NOW, CHECK OUT OUR LATEST TRIP TO EUROPE IN THE YEAR 2000

EUROPEAN TRIP IN THE YEAR 2000

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