cyndee8

Hello Everyone ...thank you for all your recent posts and help. I think I am getting my arms around this trip. Here are my thoughts. First stay in Frankfurt 9/29 visit the local areas Schweizer Strsse, Boorheim, possible to Frankfurst romer for the jazz festival of 10/3, Main Tower Operal House. Is there anything else you would recommend? is there an area in Frankfurt to purchase any Christmas items? The day trips for the balance of the trip (departure 10/6) Heidelburg, Rotherbug, Wursburg, what is the distance from Frankfurt, have been on google maps etc., and cannot find, also if I had a GPS would I need a definitive address? Would I be able to do Mainz BAdHomburg, the Rhein Valley area? Badden Badden? Kronberg? or is this too aggressive. Will be renting a car. Thank you all so much for bearing with me on planning this tirp...will give full report...I am sure I will be posting again once I finalize the agenda...thank you again...c

Mainhattengirl

Yes, you can get handmade, quality wooden Christmas items in Frankfurt. There are 2 stores, one of them is on Braubach strasse, right next to the Roemer. These items are made in the Erzgebirge and are simply wonderful to look at. The website is in German, but you can look at the photos to get an idea.
http://www.nussknacker-frankfurt.com...maennchen.html

Mainz is a 30 minute ride from Frankfurt city center to Mainz city center on the S-bahn. Bad Homburg and Kronberg are also a 30 min. ride on the S-bahn. Wuerzburg is 1 hour 50 min. on the Regional train, Heidelberg is about 1 and half hour on the Regional train. The Rhein Valley begins not far from Mainz and Wiesbaden so add another 30 min. Cologne is only 2 hours away.

Can't help you with the driving times. Only know the trains. Sorry!

spassvogel

You should not miss an late afternoon or evening in Sachsenhausen. Try a typical pub and eat "Schaeufelchen mit Sauerkraut". It's delishes for carnivores!

Haven't you the chance to update you home Navigation system to include Europe/Germany. That would give you the advantage of hearing the advise in English.
Or ask you rental company to fit a GPS so that you at least have all the maps/directions.

The driving times from Frankfurt (best be driven between 10.00h and 15.00h in order to avoid the rush hour)
Mainz - approx. 20-30 min
Würzburg - 2 hrs
Rothenburg (ob der Tauber?) 2 hrs
Rhein Valley also 2 hrs - but the Rheingau is much closer. Look for Alzey and surrounds
Baden Baden - 2hrs
Kronberg (im Taunus) - 30 min

You don't have to speed the Autobahn. There are nice drives to all these locations. Just ask the guy at the rental comp to put in "scenic route" instead of Autobahn.

Good luck and enjoy Germany!

SV

lavandula

There is a Käthe Wohlfahrt shop (Christmas items) in the town of Rüdesheim on the Rhein (in the Rheingau, nr Wiesbaden). If you were going to explore the Rhein this is one place you could stop off.

Lavandula

cyndee8

Thank you all so much for your help, being from NJ, I depend on others to help when travelling and you all have been so helpful...as I get closer will send final agenda..and will write a trip report upon my return...again thank you so very much your time and effort is truly appreciated...c

traveller1959

cyndee, you misspelled almost every place name in your post. No wonder that you could not find travelling times... GPS-systems and route planners are unforgiving in that respect.

For driving times, use a route planner. I suggest www.viamichelin.com. Look on the map to learn the proper place names. Other posters have written them correctly so I won't repeat.

cyndee8

Traveller 1959 Thanks for your input!

lavandula

Adding to Traveller1959's comment: in German ä can also be represented to ae, ö by oe, ü by ue, ß by ss. This may help you out, also when surfing on the internet.

Lavandula

lavandula

oops, that should be 'represented by".