Rhein towns in late March
 

I have read on several different travel sites that the Rhine area is pretty empty and closed down until April.

My daughter and I will be passing through on our way to Paris and would like to spend a day or 2 exploring the little towns and castles in the area.

Where can we go for a bit of R&R that is not like a ghost town?

ttt

There won't be ghost towns because people actually live there all year round. "Pretty empty" means there won't be those hordes of tourists you'd meet in peak season - which I consider an advantage.

Some sights may be closed for the winter or have limited opening hours, but since you are planning to spend only 2 days there, you'll find enough to do and see. Most hotels should be open - contact the local tourist informations. The landscape, the towns and villages, the hiking trails are accessible all year round. Boats will run on reduced timetables but there will be some.
The best source of information is this website: http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.d...id=318&L=3

Thank you so much for the information, this helps a lot and what a great website!

Here's what I just booked for late March:

Continental Airlines Newark-Cologne $278 r/t (Tu-Th only)
Dorint Sofitel Venusberg Bonn (5-star) $98.91 per weekday night through hotels.com

Enjoy!