We are taking our boys aged 11 and 13, into Munich, out of Vienna. We already know we want to go to Salzburg, and Neuschwanstein, luge rides, Berchesgarden, salt mine, ice caves and Dachau or Mutthausen. We figure on staying in Munich and Vienna- maybe 5 nights each, leaving us six in between to drive around. Your suggestions are welcomed! Especially on hotels, our tastes are grand, but our budget is moderate, we will need two rooms or else two queen beds--all the places say double beds--my husband and I just can't squeeze into a double! (neither can the boys!) Though the twin beds pushed together would work...Also, we are from Florida, and used to a.c.--just how necessary is it in late June? (it worries me that so few places have it!) We are all musicians, so we want to see Mittenwald also. Sorry this is so long, thanks for reading!

What about spending those 6 in between days in Prague? I have not been there but have heard wonderful things about it and I am planning a similar trip to you, starting in Munich, then Prague, then Vienna and Salzburg.

I've also heard that renting a car and driving to Prague is shorter than taking a train...whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be wonderful.

Thanks amanda, I was also considering a couple days in Budapest...

We had a magical time in Salzburgerland last summer. Started in Munich (don't miss the Alte Panoteka -sp?- Art Museum, if you can find something else for the boys to do), went to Salzburg (only worth 1.5 days imo, but the fortress is fun), then south, which may be out of the way for you. If not, go about 45 min-1 hour south of Salzburg to Werfen, where the Schloss has a wonderful falconry show which your boys may enjoy. Hallein on Saturday has an outdoor market that is fun, fascinating Celtic remains. Hallstadt, further east, is really worth a detour, for their 7000-year-old salt mine (and a good trek up the mountain to it, if you want the exercise, else a funicular is available), and boat ride on a lovely lake. Look into buying the Salzburg card or the Salzburgerland card, depending on where you will be, for free admission to many activities, including waterparks as well as museums! (The Salzburgerland card includes free admissions for 24 hours in Salzburg, so we reconnoitered the afternoon we arrived, bought the card and started using it around 4 pm, and used it throughout the next day, then went on to the rest of our trip) The biggest surprise of our trip -- Freising, the town near Munich's airport where we slept (Marriott) the night before our flight home, was delightful, and had a wonderful SUSHI restaurant. Go figure, and have fun!

Just off the autobahn on the way from Vienna and Salzburg to Munich is the town of Prien am Chiemsee with King Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee Palace on an island out in the lake. It's a short boat trip the boys would probably enjoy.

While I think I would consider staying in a hotel or Pension ouside Munich, the Hotel Uhland in Munich is pretty reasonable. In case the weather is warm when you are there, it also has an ice machine in the entry way.

stay in St. Gilgen on the Wolfgangsee and explore the Salkammergut region to include Hallstatt. Wonderful region that the kids will love. I would spend less time in the big cities and more in the natural settings. Look at Garni Schernthaner in St. Gilgen--a good family place.

5 nights in Munich seems a bit much. It is a fun city, but if you had 4 there, you could have more time for Salzburg and the Salzkammergut or even Neuschwantein Castle area in Germany

You might want to stop in Wilhering. The day we stopped, they were having a mass with 18th century music. It is considered a highlight of Baroque architecture. Kremsmuster and Melk are two other monasteries worth a visit, as well as the Wachau valley.

If pictures will whet your appetite, try these:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=j4n04qu...0&y=olvrr8

Thanks to all who responded, very helpful! Now about the air conditioning--what do you think?

You never know what you will end up temperature-wise in Europe. We went to Bavaria and the Mosel River in mid-June 2002. We tracked the weather reports right up to the day we left.

The 10-day forcasts all agreed that it would be typical Bavarian weather--day time highs in the low 70s.

By our 4th day there or so, it hit 90. The day we drove from Colmberg to Beilstein on the Mosel, it hit 100.

We coped--stayed up late drinking cool beer or wine and chatting with hotel/pension owners and other guests before retiring for the evening.

But A/C would have been very, very nice for most of that trip.

something further--has anyone been to the Kaprun/glacier area? My boys have never seen snow, and though we would not ski, we would like to sled, toboggan or do something "wintry"...I think we may cut Munich back one night... what do you all think about Vienna? Our flight leaves early on the last morning.

If Alpine scenery is not the norm for you, definitely plan on spending a day driving up into the high mountains. From Neuschwanstein you might want to go to Innsbruck and from there go to Salzburg. Along the way you'll find an opportunity to experience the high Alps.