I am brainstorming for a trip to Germany next August and am looking for some ideas about where to go - we don't have to stay just in Germany, but we are doing to spend some of our time there. This trip is a ways out still, but I want to get a rough itinerary worked out before we get airline tickets - and we are hoping to be able to use frequent flyer miles, so we need to get on the ball.

My husband will be turning 40 next August and he as asked to spend his birthday sitting in a beer garden in Munich. We want to visit Bamberg as well. We'll have about 2.5 weeks for the trip and would like to travel by train rather than renting a car. Originally my mom was going to go on the trip too, but due to health reasons, Europe isn't in the cards. So it will just be my husband and myself.

I figure we'll spend about 4 nights/3 days in Munich - we've been there before so a few days should be sufficient. For Bamberg, I am thinking 3 nights/2 days, which will give us time to see Bamberg and then do a day trip to Wurzburg or another town in that region. That leaves about 9 days to play with, not including travel days to and from California.

Our interests are neat towns, the outdoors, cities, castles, beer, wine, good food, photography, hanging out soaking up the atmopshere, museums, palaces, local festivals, bike tours, walking tours. We are pretty low-key, laid back sort of travellers. No death marches or anything, like to have at least 2 nights in each location - prefer to base ourselves someplace for day trips as opposed to moving each night.

On a previous trip to Germany, we've been to Munich, Nuremberg, Ansbach, Rothenburg o.b.T, Fuessen, and Hohenschwangau. We've also seen a small part of northern Austria, and last summer we went to Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, and Delft. We enjoyed them all. Well, Ansbach wasn't terribly exciting, but my husband was stationed there when he was in the Army, so he wanted to see it again.

Ideas that I have been throwing around are the Mosel Valley, Berlin, a few days in a resort area for pure relaxation (in the Austrian alps? along the north coast of Germany? not sure), Prague. I am all over the map, as you see. What do you guys think? What would make a good addition to a Munich and Bamberg itinerary?

We did spend 2 full days in Bamberg and didn't need any day trips to fill the time.

Parts of the Mosel are not very convenient to get to without a car, although there are certainly enough interesting places you can get to by train. We did enjoy the Mosel a lot. You could combine the Mosel and the more famous Rhein River sights (though we enjoyed staying on the Mosel more than on the Rhein).

We also had a great time with almost 4 days in Berlin (one day used on a day trip to Potsdam). I don't think you could go to far wrong with any of your options.

Here's one trip we did a few years ago: Flew into Frankfurt, took train to Bamberg--3 full days in Bamberg, but one was spent visiting a friend's parents; train to Munich--3 full days in Munich. Rented car and drove to Hohenschwangau with several stops along the way (e.g., Oberammergau, Linderhof, along the Plansee for lunch) 3 days; drove to near Rothenburg with stops (Nordlingen, Dinkelsbuehl)--2 days; drove to Beilstein on the Mosel--spent 3 days exploring the Mosel valley. Drove to Frankfurt seeing the popular Rhein River sights along the way--one night near the airport. Flew home.

Berlin would make for a great addition, especially as you are the type that likes to spend a little longer somewhere and do day trips. Take 4 or 5 days for Berlin and include a day trip to Potsdam. Berlin has plenty of all of your interests and would keep you busy enough, but leave plenty of time for strolling through various neighborhoods. There are lots of river cruises which take you to very interesting natural areas around the city (there's actually an enormous amount of forests, waterways, and green space in and around Berlin). From there, at the end of your stay you could head to a coastal resort in the north or down to Dresden and/or Prague.

I actually like a trip that includes Munich/Berlin, as you get a nice dose of Bavaria/Prussia north/south contrast. Berlin has some great restaurants and nice outdoor beer gardens and cafes.

Berlin would be a good idea, as would be Dresden. There are several places you can go on day trips by train and boat - - - Meissen (porcelain factory, very instructive, and a nice city), Festung Koenigstein (an impressive castle, with lots of history and a greatr view of the Elbe valley), Swiss Saxony mountain region. And of course, the city of Dresden itself is fascinating, and it it is not hard to maneuver and quite relaxing.

You could do an open jaw: Outbound to Munich, return from Dresden, Berlin or Prague. The latter two cities are within easy reach by train from Dresden.

"...neat towns, the outdoors, cities, castles, beer, wine, good food, photography, hanging out soaking up the atmopshere, museums, palaces, local festivals, bike tours, walking tours. We are pretty low-key, laid back..."

The Mosel really sounds perfect for you. Lots of wineries, leisurely biking along paved riverside paths, lots of good walking/hiking trails, a few castles, including Burg Eltz - www.burg-eltz.de . In Cochem, the most scenic and interesting village and the best base-town for train travelers, the Castle-fest (knights competitions, jugglers, etc.) takes place on the first weekend in August. On the last weekend in August, there's the Wine and Homeland Fest - a 5 day event involving wine stands, street music, etc., culminating on Sunday with a parade and fireworks. It's very popular - reserve ahead. There are wineries in town and everywhere else along the Mosel. Some provide accommodations, like Weingut Rademacher in Cochem (not far from the station) Cochem's Castle also has a terrific falconry show all the time; some photos: http://www.falknerei-reichsburg-cochem.de/fotobuch.htm

Daytrips from Cochem to the city of Trier and to the Rhine villages (Bacharach, St. Goar, Boppard, and Braubach - home of Marksburg castle - www.marksburg.de - are easily done by train. The Rheinland-Pfalz ticket (daypass) covers the whole region and runs 28 Euros per day for 2-5 people.

Regensburg lies between Bamberg and Munich and is one of my favorite towns in Germany. Its sights vary from a Roman gate to medieval streets to an occupied Schloss, Thurn & Taxis. My favorites sights were the Gothic cathedral, the river front and the many alley ways. Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage sight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg

My wife took and enjoyed the tour of the Thurn & Taxis Schloss but I think that it was only offered in Germany with an English written guide.

There is also no shortage of breweries and biergartens. We liked Kneitingers Brauerei.

Regards, Gary

Thanks for all the ideas. I really appreciate it. Lots to mull over.

I suggest that if you want to do a day trip to Wurzburg then you should add another day to Bamberg. There is definitely enough to do there for at least 2 full days. It's a beautiful city.