We will be visiting Freiburg for the third time in late December. Have been to Baden-Baden, Strasbourg and Colmar. Any recommendations for day trips by train from Frieburg?? Thanks!

Staufen is a really charming little town. I highly recommend it.

Basel for its museums.

I second Staufen. We were there in September. A few of our photos:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/575...PlKyZ?start=12

You can take the train through the Höllental up into the Black Forest. There will be snow in late December, especially at the Feldberg (which is a ski area). You may leave the train in Titisee - which is a lively town with a lake, shops, restaurants, hotels etc. - or in quieter Schluchsee. Schluchsee is charming, with an interesting church, a lake (you can hike along the shore), restaurants, typical Black Forest farmhouses and nice scenery. Or you leave in Bärental and take the bus up to the Feldberg.

Here a few pictures of Black Forest in winter:

http://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.inf...ktionen/winter

And here the tourist office's site in English:

http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/

For train schedules, see www.bahn.de

The train to Schluchseee takes 1:02 and it departs from Freiburg every hour at 8:10, 9:10...

Gengenbach in the Kinzig valley (via Offenburg)

Thank you all for your replies! I had forgotten Basel was a possibility and I have not been to Staufen. Staufen looks charming.
We have been to Titisee and Munstertal.
I need to look up Gengenbach, now!

http://www.stadt-gengenbach.de/en/tourism/old-town/

We stayed in Gengenbach for 3 days back in 2006 and found it to be lovely. Don't know if it's as easy to get to as some of the other places, but it's definitely a great place to spend some time.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/554...yxotU?start=24

Thanks quokka and BettyK; Gengenbach looks so charming!

Gengenbach is connected to Offenburg by the Ortenau S-Bahn, this means hourly local trains. Offenburg is on the main route. Connections on the already quoted www.bahn.de

Good to know, quokka!

Ordered my railpass this week. Tentative plans include a return to Strasbourg and first time visits to Gengenbach and Staufen. Thank you posters for your suggestions!

"Basel for its museums"

Please, there's more to Basel than that! How about Basel for its Roman ruins (Kaiseraugst), for its historic St. Alban and Spalentor districts, for its many festivals, and so on.

bettyk: just back from Deutschland. Spent a day strolling through Gengenbach. It was lovely. Thank you for the recommendation!

minnehappylis, so glad you enjoyed it!