Here's the latest installment....
http://familyineurope.travellerspoint.com/

Very nice!!! Please do be careful and don't drink and drive.

Don't worry - we're very responsible and always have a DD.

I am loving reading your blog! We have been in Potsdam, Germany since January. We are about 4 weeks away from our return to the US and are planning our final trip - probably to southern Germany, possibly France. With three kids (6, 4 and 18mos) all your suggestions are wonderful! (wish I could find the time to post about all the adventures we've had since we've been here!)

I enjoyed coming across this. What was the main highlight and if you were to do the whole trip again, would you leave anywhere out or adjust your stay ie more time here and less there?

I enjoy your report but I´m still trying to figure out if you have been to RegensbErg or RegensbUrg...

Oops - my DH was trying to correct my ue)rgs. It was RegensbUrg.

Stevelyon - We're still travelling so I'll have to save my highlights for when we return in August. I think it'll be hard to choose at this point.

lifeistravel - how nice that you've been in Germany for so long! I'm glad you found my blog and best of luck with your trip to southern Germany. We're having a great time here! Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks AndiM. We've finally solidified our plans (good, since we leave in 6 days!). We're going to do our first night in Zirndorf and get an early start for Playmobil Park. We're not sure how long that day will be? Should we count on open-close or will we have enough time to feel we've seen enough if we plan to leave later in the afternoon (before dinner)? What are the prices like for in the park food? We'll drive from Zirndorf to Obersdorf for a four night stay near the Bodensee. Planning to head to the Allgau for a day of hiking/exploring. Have you guys been in that area yet? Any recommended hikes not far from Nesselwang? We're considering a day at the Ravensburg Park then we're heading north of Stuttgart, about an hour from Heidelberg, Wurzburg and Rothernberg ob der Tauber. We found a castle to stay in that has kids programs (treasure hunt, cook for your parents in the castle kitchen, etc.) Should be lots of fun. If you have any recommendations for anything in the areas we'll be in I'd appreciate hearing them!
BTW... loved your note about the kids not getting enough milk in Germany! Our kids only drink milk and water so it's amazing to me how hard it is to find milk here! At school they are given fruit tea, water or sometimes juice (although, it is always watered down so that's good!). It's been really hard to get used to and since we have a teeny-tiny European fridge in our flat, no car and no market on our way home we've had to resort to buying milk in those tetra pak cartons - the kids drink it but it's not the same! (the 18 month old is still nursing because of the milk issue.) The kids are looking forward to having as much fresh milk as they can get when we get back to the US! We have had some luck in restaurants though - if you ask for "kaltes milch" they often will serve some even if it's not on the menu - but it usually comes in a REALLY big glass (or mug) and sometimes kaltes is interpreted as room temperature (as opposed to steamed I guess?) so we often order just one glass for two kids and see what we get before deciding if we need more.

oh... I just read your recent blog posts. That hike through the gorge looks awesome - can you tell me where it is. Sorry, I'm posting such long comments... wish I had a direct email. You can email me at [email protected] if you'd prefer? About those huts... someone told us they were for storing farm equipment and the like - they are all over Garmisch - seems people have farm plots but live in town. Don't know if that's completely accurate though.

Lifeistravel - if you go to the Ravensburg Park, please post a trip report as I don't know if anyone else has done so. (as a former toy store owner who loves Ravensburger games and Playmobil, I plan on visiting both when I get over)

Those are really beautiful pictures, well done.

No more beautiful place in this age, than here the ours near and far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObWcXitCGMc

Hope you find those other countries as nice as ours.

will do bigtyke - really should have been doing trip reports every stage of this adventure

For those of you who have never played Ravenburger games, they make some terrific ones. Their best game in my opinion is 'The Amazing Labyrinth'. I gave it to my sister's family for Christmas. The first time they played it, it was my brother in law (a Phd), his 8 yr old son, and I. The 8 year old won! And this is not a game that depends on luck!

totally agree bigtyke - everyone I have ever gifted with The Amazing Labyrinth has been hooked instantly - it's our 6 year old, maze-lover's favourite! The Amazing Labyrinth part of the theme park could be worth the price of admission for him!

Hi lifeistravel - sorry it's been so long since I've posted. You must be getting excited for your trip!

We left playmobil park around 3 or 4 pm. I don't think it's an open-close kind of place. The lunch there wasn't overly expensive. The kid's meal came with a nice toy and cup that we're still using on our trip. It wasn't a memorable meal exactly but not crazy prizes.

We haven't been to Ravensburg park or area. I read about it and really considered it. Sounds great! Maybe our next trip...

The milk situation in France is even worse! They only had the tetra pak cartons and I haven't resorted to that yet. I will proabably have to soon. My kids also don't really like anything with "bubbles" so even the still mineral water is too much for them. They're weird!

The gorge we visited was in Mittenwald and also went into Austria for a bit. You can enter the gorge from the Autrian side or the German/Mitenwald side. It was prety neat!

I'm behind in with my blog posts so I think I'll work on that now and possibly start a new topic this evening.

I'll be looking for your posts on here as well! Happy travels!

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Wait, there is no milk for children in France? What do they give to toddlers? Here you can buy organic whole milk everywhere and that is all my baby drinks! Eek!

What is the problem about milk in Tetra packs - as long as it's fresh milk and not the "H" stuff?