Thanks to Fodorites' feedback, I'll be making Regensburg my "home base" for a week in November/December.
I might travel to Nuremburg, Passau, or Munich from there, but I'd really like to visit some smaller towns or villages with charm and/or history..places I can get to by train or local bus.
Any suggestions?

Landshut
Altmühl Valley: Eichstätt, Weißenburg
Bayreuth
Ingolstadt

You might want to check out Bamberg. It has a lot of original buildings that escaped bombing during the war and the Rathaus is unique in that it was built on a bridge in the middle of the river, to avoid some kind of tax, I believe. It's a lovely place.

I second the Bamberg suggestion.

I agree with quokka's list except for Ingolstadt. I lived in Eichstätt for several years and think it is much more interesting. Straubing is another possibility. Bamberg is another larger town you might want to visit
Weltenburg Abbbey near Regensburg is a great trip via boat from Kelheim in summer (famous beer, beer garden, amazing altarpiece by the Asam brothers)I am not sure whether you can get there via bus in winter

Amberg has been on my list of small towns to visit for quite awhile. Haven't made it yet, but maybe next trip. Distance wise, it's only about 68 km northwest of Regensburg.

http://www.amberg.de/index.php?id=4044

http://www.amberg.de/index.php?id=1302

http://www.amberg.de/panoramabilder/...marktplatz.htm

Bamberg is 4+ hours round trip from Regensburg by regional trains (can use a single Bayern ticket for the whole route at 19 euros). It can be done by ICE in 3+ hours rtd but the cost ranges up over 90 euros. It could make for a long, expensive day.

The Bahn.de website will show both train and bus schedules (though not always prices unfortunately) for comparisons. I like the following template:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Landshut is less than 1.5 hours round trip and can be done on a Bayern Ticket.

I liked the small town of Freising which is about an hour each way. The compact main street and the monastery on the hill (Domberg) are an easy walk from the train station. Domberg has a beautiful chapel and a decent museum with a collection of manger scenes. It also claims to have the world's oldest operating brewery.

http://www.freising.de/

Regard, Gary

On my last trip, around Bavaria, I spent a night in Burghausen (www.burghausen.de) and toured the castle there. It was worth it. I actually spent more time there than I did at Bamberg or Passau.