McAllister

Hello all!

This is my fourth (and last) trip with my in-laws who are living in Switzerland currently. Before all the others, I was constantly on Fodors getting tips and ideas. Unfortunately, life has been very busy lately and I have not had the chance (my husband even asked if I had advice from "the website I am always on before a trip" haha!)...if any of you kind hearted Fodorites have the chance, I would greatly appreciate any tips or advice for our trip...what to take, what not to take, where to eat, must sees etc...below is a VERY brief synopsis...

We fly out of Washington Dulles (barring any weather problems with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hanna) and land Sunday morning in Zurich. From there we are road tripping it through Riquewihr, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rothenberg, and Lake Titsee.

Thank you all!!!!

Pegontheroad

If you're going to be in the Black Forest, I'd suggest that you visit Freiburg (im Bresgau). It's a very interesting city with a beautiful square, the Münsterplatz, across from which is a colorful (literally) gothic structure, the Kaufhaus.

My other favorite place in the Schwarzwald is Staufen, a really charming little town with a sort of curved pedestrian mall, more-or-less bounded by tiny canals. I loved this town!

I had a wonderful trainride to Titisee through hilly, forested country. It's been about 10 years since I took this train, so I hope you find it as I remember it.

McAllister

Thank you for the tips on what to see...I am so looking forward to it and hope I love it like you did!

I must go try and organize all the stuff I am packing...any other tips or advice is more than welcome!

Reisender

If you like castles there is a great one south of Strasbourg well worth a visit.

http://www.tourisme-alsace.com/en/ca...igsbourg-.html

laverendrye

I agree with reisender. Haut Koenigsbourg is not to be missed.

McAllister

I LOVE a good castle!

bilboburgler

worth searching for alsace and wine route on this thread lots of great ideas from the usual suspects. Oposite the black forest (other side of the rhine is Pfalz region. World's bigest wine festivel is in Bad Durkheim at the end of next weekend

BTilke

Try the local federweisser or new wine...it should be available about that time. It's a light, fizzy beverage that can only be drunk fresh in the region.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A13900105
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federweisser

quokka

The new Federweißer is out and available now! I had this season's first one this week.

The typical food to accompany it is either "Zwiebelkuchen" (onion cake, similar to quiche) or, in the Pfalz, "Käschte" (chestnuts).
In case of the Zwiebelkuchen, I recommend making sure that everyone in your party eats it so that no one can complain about the others afterwards because of the, erm, backfiring it causes.

laverendrye

Neuer wein mit Zwiebelkuchen is one of the fondest memories I have of autumns in Southern Germany and Alsace.

oinchats

Will be in Meersburg 9/17/08. Can anyone recommend some wine festivals. I have a car. Went to one in Boppard last year. I will never forget the experience. Unbelievable. Had a great time and I don't drink.

thanks,
Orrin

bilboburgler

Well you just missed the wine festival in meersburg. The easy way is to visit the region tourist info web site and dig out all the festivals. In good organised manner these will be alphabetical.