I did Schwerin as a day trip from Berlin and loved it - on a large lake with castle of your dreams - rather small one - lovingly overlooking the lake.

but a visit to Colmar is easy by train, everyone heads to the canal part which is lovely, but wandering off the beaten path was just delightful, beautiful buildings all around. Or>

track down the scale model of the Statue of Liberty standing at a highway entrance to Colmar - executed by the same sculptor I believe who did the original one made here and shipped in piece to NY Harbor!

North Germany looks full of delightful places.>

Even in Berlin check out Potsdam - a neat town in its own right with the famous Sans Soucci Palace - the Prussian Versailles and the immense park full of follies it sits in - a day out in Potsdam I would highly recommend. Short S-bahn ride from Berlin.

thanks Adelaidean...we are going to Strasbourg for the cathedral and see a bit of small town France. I've seen an organised day trip to Colmar and Riquewihr so we are keen to do that.
The walking trail around Neuschwanstein is a great idea.

We did a 1/2 day Regioscope tour (pick up in Strasbourg)that visited Riquewihr, Hunawihr and Bergheim and the fortress. Fantastic. The villages are so close and a few is enough (Riquewihr is packed, but the others were quiet). Gorgeous area. Colmar is an easy visit on your own, 1/2 hr train ride, 10 min walk, then just wander around. Strasbourg is compact and easy to stroll, cathedral, boat ride, nice squares.

..we are going to Strasbourg for the cathedral and see a bit of small town France>

Strasbourg is sweet but it is hardly a small town but a large city - one of the largest in France - for small town feeling try Colmar or one of the villages on the Alsace Wine Road.

thank you PalenQ - great suggestions. I have not heard of the Castle Road so will check it out.

Some good info on the Castle Road:

http://gogermany.about.com/od/sights...astle_road.htm

The trail from the Tegelberg is called the Reitweg.

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