Good day everyone!

I posted a while ago while in the beginning stages of our trip and got some great advice. Things have changed since then I was inquiring for some help in the planning department.

Quick recap: In our late 20's, travel often, we love to drink, eat, and drink some more. Very active, love to mix some history, nature, hiking,off the radar things to do. We really aren't into "touristy" things to do but of course don't want to miss the "Don't miss!" highlights.

We land on a Friday Dusseldorf at 9am and plan on renting a car. We fly out the following Friday from FMM (Allgau)at 6pm and dropping the car off at that airport.

Friday--> Gummy bear factory in Bonn (worth it??),Eltz castle, stay in cochem area or a wine tavern? We don't have much time for wine tasting but I would be willing to move my schedule around if someone can suggest an idea or have a recommendation. I would love to take a few hours even for tastings.

Saturday--> Heidelburg for the day and then rothenburg de ober tauber (want to get their for the night watch tour) again, worth it?

Sunday--> wurtzburg all day then drive to bamberg

Monday-->bamberg breweries and surrounding area. I've heard of "Fränkische Schweiz"(Fancoanian Switzerland) hiking to breweries and wanted to know if someone had tips/advice/english maps

Now this is where things get a bit hairy.
On our days left, these are some ideas are a thinking about but I know we need to cut some things. Wish list: Munich, Dachau, Berchtesgadan, Salzburg, Fussen,


tuesday-->
wednesday-->
thursday-->
friday--> fly out at 6.


Any ideas? I was thinking we would go to Munich Tuesday-Friday and one of those days maybe take a train to Salzburg, another day Dachau or maybe do that on our trip down to Munich. They have tours at 9am and 11am so we need to figure that out. On Friday we would get up early and drive to Fussen, hang out there and then drive to the airport. Obviously we miss Berchtesgadan then.


Ideas? Thoughts? Am I missing something that's fun to do?

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate it.

Or should I we spend time in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area? It sounds lovely

You can also always visit Dachau on your own anytime during the day and there are lots of explanative signage throughout.

To the above Garmisch and Dachau, which should not be missed, consider the village of Oberammergau with fascinating shops and a chance to climb Tofel

About your Friday - I have a comment and a question. You might consider doing your wine tastings close to Wiesbaden, in the Rheingau. Beautiful area, and lots of small taverns with the local wine in each little village, as well as Schloss Johannisberg, Schloss Vollrads, where you can also try wine and enjoy beautiful views. All connected by the rail line through the area so you don't have to drive. Also home to Kloster Eberbach, the fomer Cistercian monastery where they filmed part of The Name of the Rose, and where they have vineyards and ancient wine-presses. A really nice area, across from Mainz (the sun is better for wine growing on the Wiesbaden side of the river), so it would be at the end of your Rhine visit.

Now my question - a gummy bear factory? Really? Oh wow, please give details! I have never thought of visiting a factory but it definitely appeals to me. I have a sort of industrial recipe for making gummy bears but I have never tried it because it looks like it would really foul up saucepans. Do tell!

Lavandula

Haribo is in Bon.. I don't they give tours proper but they have a huge store there that sells everything! Very excited

Regarding the Rhine visit, I am having a tough time planning a route since it's really only going to be half a day. Is there an area you can recommend that is most concentrated with vineyards or tasting rooms? I know it's not like Napa with the big tasting rooms etc but I would be content visiting 1 or 2 and hopefully staying overnight in the area that has a local bar/restaurant with great food and an extensive wine list. Nothing very fancy as we will be exhausted but we do enjoy good meals

If you are only on the Rhine for half a day, you could take the boat from Bonn down to Rüdesheim (the most scenic part of the river is Koblenz to Mainz - Rüdesheim is across the river from Bingen / Mainz) and visit some of the taverns or tasting rooms there. Stay the night in Rüdesheim. Here is an article with some ideas:
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10...+in+Ruedesheim

You will find many good restaurants in that area. If you want something really flash, Die Krone in Assmannshausen is close by.

Rüdesheim is touristy but there is a lot to see and do there, and if you get bored of it you can venture into the Rheingau a little further by train (easy). In the morning you can take an easy drive to Heidelberg.

I only just saw that you will have a car. You can drive down the Rhine, no problems, but it makes sense to stay in the same town that you will be doing the wine tastings!!

Lavandula

Regarding the Rhine visit, I am having a tough time planning a route since it's really only going to be half a day. Is there an area you can recommend that is most concentrated with vineyards or tasting rooms?>

2-hour cruise Rudesheim to Boppard - the best of the Rhine - the rest to Mainz to the south and Bonn to the north is ho-hum and boring for many. www.k-d.com for schedules.

For vineyards head to the Mosel and Cochem - the Mosel is more gorgeous to many than the Rhine and it is carpeted by vineyards whereas the Rhine has spotty vineyards - Cochem is a nice place to stay - the romantic town of your dreams with a castle of your dreams popping out of vineyards in the town center. - Hieronimi Winery right in town gives tasting and tours.

For lots of info on the Mosel and Rhine check out www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com as they have great coverage of those two gorgeous river valleys.

Cochem: We stayed at the Alte Thorndecke back in 1997. Old place but quite nice. We enjoyed Cochem and the Moselle area.

Dachau: Yes, historic. Other than that, depressing. My wife and I have been twice...once in 1970 while in the Army and again in 2001 with friends. It will put a damper on your mood but it is an historic site.

Salzburg: One of our favorite cities to spend time. The Bristol hotel is great and close to Old Town. We last stayed there in 2007 and will be back.

Oberammergau: Someone else mentioned this town. Go see it. Home to all the wood carvers. Shop after shop. Scenic. On the way down the mountain stop at Ettal Abbey to see the church.

Berchtesgaden: Very close to Salzburg and easy drive. The Salt Mines are fun, especially on a rainy day as you will be underground. The trip to see the Kehlstein is also great as is a ride on the electric boats on Lake Koingsee.

Bottom line: I would eliminate Dachau unless you feel you have to see it. There is no tour and only a few reconstructed barracks along with the main building and crematorium.

Everyone loves Cochem! A great base for the Rhine and Mosel - by car or train/boat.