Hi,
Trying to plan a two week road trip through Germany. We're flying in and out of Frankfurt. The original plan is to take a train to Berlin, than train to Dresden, than to Munich. In Munich rent a car and drive up to Frankfurt. I know there are plenty of gorgeous places along the route, however, I need help to actually pin point the days and where to stay as base for exploring the castles. I also would like to visit Baden Baden and Black Forest. Thanks,

Why the train from FRA to Berlin, when you are already at the airport and there are frequent flights? The route really is not particularly scenic, especially because the high speed stretches are often in tunnels, ditches, or blcoked off for noise abatement.

Berlin - Dresden by train is fine.

Return trip Munich - FRA: Since you mention you want to see the Black Forest, here is my suggested routing. Either take the direct Autobahn A-96 Munich - Lindau (with a possible side trip at the Ammersee/lake to Herrsching and Andechs); or a more circuituous (Sp?)and scenic route to Lindau: Munich - Autobahn A-95 south to the Oberau exit, the B-23 for a short stretch to Ettal (impressive abbey and monastery), and then an unnumbered (but well marked) road to Schloss Linderhof. This is one of King Ludwig's palaces, IMHO, more interesting and - in Ludwig's crazy ways - more authentic palace than the castle Fuessen/Neuschwanstein.

Continue from Lindetrhof on the same (scenic) road to the (Austrian) route 179 and the border at Fuessen.

From Fuessen to Lindau head past Reutte to Weissenbach, on route 198, and from Weissenbach take the route 199 to Nesselwaengle, Oberjoch, Hindelang. All very scenic, and couple of easy passes.

In Hindelang pick up the German B-308, part of the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German Alpine Road network) and follow it almost to Lindau. There is a short stretch of autobahn that takes you to this island city.

To get to the Black Forest follow the B-31 along the north shore of Lake Constance to Friedrichshafen - Meersburg. Between Lindau and Fr. you might also amble along some of the smaller roads, closer to the lake shore.

Meersburg has a real old castle and is a nice town.

Then follow the lake shore road (rather than the busier B-31) to Stockach. From here, get back on the B-31 and follow it to Engen, and then take the road that paralells the autobahn to Geisingen. Back onto the B-31 to Hinterzarten/Titisee. You are now in the Black Forest.

Turn north on the B-33 to Triberg, Hausach. Don't miss the Vogstbauernhof nearby, an outdoor museum of Black Forest buildings and culture. Cut over on route 294 to Schiltach, and then take the B-294 to Freudenstadt, and from there the B-462, the Schwarzwald Taelerstrasse (Black Forest Velleys Route) north to Gernbach, and cut ovewr to Baden - Baden. The valleys of the black Forest are more interesting than driving along the B.F. ridges.

>Why the train from FRA to Berlin, when you are already at the airport and there are frequent flights? The route really is not particularly scenic, especially because the high speed stretches are often in tunnels, ditches, or blcoked off for noise abatement.

Actually the part Fulda-Göttingen of the high speed line is pretty scenic - forested hill country with entire valleys crossed on high bridges, giving a good overlook.

More scenic than the ICE route via Kassel, though a bit longer and probably with one train change in Leipzig, would be the route through Thüringen via Eisenach - Erfurt - Weimar - Leipzig.

Thank you!

Avaya - do you work for Avaya?