P.S., Melissaklob917 - we're from the Detroit area too! You'll love Germany - it's stunningly beautiful. My husband and I have also done two Christmas market trips there the last two Decembers and we're doing another this coming December. We only travel independently with a car and it suits us very well. Without set schedules (per se), you're free to make little stops along the way from one place to another if you like.

We also saw the castles outside of Fussen and they are run extremely efficiently....your scheduled time is your time and there's no needless waiting. We enjoyed both very much. The valley they're located in is very beautiful.

I believe the OP has already returned from their trip. I'd love to hear what they decided to do and not do, and how it all went.