For many of us, Karlsruhe is a mostly just a familiar name on a blue Autobahn sign. From Kaiserslautern, we zoom past it heading south to the Alps. From Stuttgart, we wave hello while heading north to Heidelberg. Here’s a secret, though: even though Karlsruhe is not a city designedContinue Reading
Turin is one of Italy’s best and most unexpected cities. Located at the foot of the Alps and packed with parks and tree-lined boulevards, this isn’t hot, touristy Italy. This is a thriving city with food, culture, style, shopping, and outdoor activities galore. In Turin, you’ll feel like you’re inContinue Reading
Passau is one of eastern Bavaria’s best destinations. Located at the confluence of three rivers (including the mighty Danube), the city has history, an amazing castle, brilliant Baroque churches, and a rocking downtown. It’s also a stone’s throw from Austria and a short drive to Czechia, which makes it aContinue Reading
For a town of only 160,000 people, Salzburg is a cultural star. A UNESCO world heritage city, this Austrian gem offers music, festivals, art, beer, food, history, architecture and so much more. Just a short trip across the German border, Salzburg also is nestled next to the Austrian Alps. MozartContinue Reading
Maastricht is special. It’s the oldest city in the Netherlands (settled around 50 BC), yet in many ways feels like the newest. Maastricht is vibrant, historic, creative, international, and easier to navigate than Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The city has brilliant restaurants, bars, museums, shops, and even a rubber ducky store.Continue Reading
Rome is like no other place in the world. It’s a modern city that also contains some of the most ancient – and well-preserved – buildings on the planet. The streets never sleep, and the traffic can sometimes seem straight out of Dante’s Inferno. But Rome will win visitors overContinue Reading
Looking for a trip of a lifetime that’s only a short flight (or long-ish drive) away? Southern Corsica is it. Visitors will find beautiful beaches, rugged mountains, historic cities, great food, and incredibly warm people. Southern Corsica is gorgeous and plentiful, in every sense of the word. Beautiful Bonifacio AtContinue Reading
Alive with music, food, drink, culture, parks, and water, Bremen is a brilliant place to visit. It has the vital energy of a Northern German city, but is much easier to navigate than Hamburg or Berlin. Worth a weekend, Bremen will surprise and delight you. Begin in the Marktplatz TheContinue Reading
Nestled in southeast Bavaria on the Austrian border, Burghausen is an ideal destination for a long weekend. A small, walkable town, Burghausen features the longest castle in the world and plenty of local Bavarian hospitality. It is also a fantastic spot from which to explore some of the most beautifulContinue Reading
Christmas may still be a month away but as Michael Bublé slowly defrosts across the pond, it’s time to start planning one of the best parts about Christmas: Advent Calendars. They’re the perfect opportunity to get creative and make someone very happy in the process. Whether you’re planning on makingContinue Reading
Germans love Christmas Cookies so much that they designated an entire word to it: “Plätzchen.“ This means if you’re looking for cookies anytime between January and October, they’re “Kekse” but as soon as the first lights are put up, they will all be replaced by the seasonal “Plätzchen”. Yes, evenContinue Reading
Thanksgiving refers to a time of the year when families gather and together expresses their thanks for what they are thankful to and for. It is believed that the first Thanksgiving celebration took place in year 1621; this was the time when Wampanoag Indians and Plymouth colonists came together toContinue Reading
From Bratwurst to Leberkäse, there are more than 1500 different kinds of wurst many of which are not available in the U.S.Continue Reading
Lack of a proper diet is one of the most important causes for many diseases and disorders in body.Continue Reading
Featured image by FamVeld / Shutterstock.com Christmas Markets 2022 Christmas Market season is here at last as the scent of cinnamon slowly creeps through cozy cobble stone alleys and fairy lights light up historic old houses. Usually located in the city center, Christmas markets bring families and friends together over sweetContinue Reading
Oppenheim is a place of wine and water, a small town on the banks of the Rhine where the circle of life is very much present. It is a place where you can get back to basics. Travelers can stroll past gorgeous buildings, wander sprawling vineyards, and emerge from aContinue Reading
Pforzheim embodies so much that is good about Germany. With more than 100,000 people, it’s large enough to offer something for every traveler, and small enough that navigating it doesn’t feel overwhelming. There is an excellent blend of culture, commerce and nature. And, crucially, Pforzheim offers wonderful access to oneContinue Reading
There are so many things to love about Halloween—the costumes, the decorations, and most of all, the food! These Halloween food crafts are perfect for getting you into the Halloween spirit. Best of all, they’re easy for kids and adults to make (and eat, too)! Here are 4 easy andContinue Reading
This cheesecake will stay moist for days in the refrigerator. The flavors of both the cream cheese and pumpkin shine through without competing. Delicious!Continue Reading
Forests are an essential part of Germany. Naturally, autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons around. Golds, oranges and reds are yours to be had all over the country. Get out there and immerse yourself in autumn’s grandeur! One of the chief benefits of living in Germany is thatContinue Reading
Pfalhbau is an interactive and educational museum. It presents archaeologically reconstructed versions of lake dwellings of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.Continue Reading
The American love affair with pumpkins is well documented. On the other side of the Atlantic, autumn is the season in which decorative gourds pop to life all across the country. Coffee shops fill with pumpkin spice lattés. Kitchens everywhere give off the delicious aroma of pumpkin pie or pumpkinContinue Reading
Discover how to make pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkins and use it in baking, such as this delicious recipe for pumpkin bread.Continue Reading
Mössingen host its 9th Annual Apple Fest this Sept. 27 to Oct. 4 which celebrate “all things apple!” Other attractions near are a geopark, a Beguine convent, a war memorial and more. Continue Reading
Corona update: the castles are open, masks are mandatory. Admission only with a guided tour- available in English or German so make sure to plan ahead. I have lived in Germany all my life but it wasn’t until I started writing about it that I realized how little I’ve actuallyContinue Reading
Check out monkeys perched in trees or “monkey-ing” around and other antics by the primates. Head to France’s La Montagne des Singes (Mountains of Monkeys).Continue Reading
In case you didn’t fall into a YouTube hole of dog trick videos during lockdown like I did, you might be looking for a few fun and easy party tricks to teach your dog. Especially on rainy days or global pandemics when going outside isn’t necessarily the best option, trainingContinue Reading
Bad Schwalbach’s Barefoot Path provides reflexology health for mind, body and soul! Enjoy an invigorating 750 m trail through gardens with various soil textures, natural reflexology massaging, a mud basin, water pool and stream path.Continue Reading
Germany has its own Thanksgiving celebration called “Erntedankfest”. In many Germany communities festivities include parades with floats and marching bands.Continue Reading
Something about Idar-Oberstein feels almost mythical. During the journey there, shadows and light dance through trees while two-lane roads wind through valleys and forests. When you arrive in the large town along the banks of the Nahe River, the mythic theme continues. Why? Because Idar-Oberstein made its name in muchContinue Reading
cover photo by Natalia Kirichenko / shutterstock.comContinue Reading
by Kat Nickola “Wait, how many steps is it to the top?” my daughter asks. “The boat captain said it’s 418,” I reply. “What’s up there?” “I’m not sure. Let’s go see.” And we did. It took less time than expected to climb the stairway in Ålesund, Norway. We were inContinue Reading
Food is the most essential part of absolutely any party but when it comes to the Fourth of July, there are only three colors that your guests want to see on their plates: red, white and blue. (Mimosas are excluded from this rule.) Of course you can throw a regularContinue Reading
Germans love a good summer barbecue as much as Americans do but what they put on their plates doesn’t exactly resemble hot dogs, burgers and co. These recipes can easily be prepared in advance to make sure you can enjoy the evening with friends or family instead of being stuckContinue Reading
by Kat Nickola “I see it!” my son yells. He adjusts his backpack. It is full, with his sleeping bag, mat, and clothes for the night. “Where?” I ask, hustling along the trail to join him at a bench. “Over there!” He points through a break in the trees. Below us,Continue Reading
by Kat Nickola I’m standing outside a Celtic longhouse watching the Celtic way to make and hold fire. Herr Klaus Zahneisen is a docent at the Keltenpark Otzenhausen. He shows us the special tree fungus ancient Celts smoldered into charcoal to use as a base fire material. He strikes a spark on itContinue Reading
by Kat Nickola My family earned some solid Tågskryt over spring break by traveling overland, via train, all the way to Stockholm. Tågskryt is the Swedish word for “train cred” or “train brag” – the very Swedish idea that I can now brag about my trip because I chose the environmentalContinue Reading
Story by finditguide.com While driving around lately, you may have noticed the German road crews giving anything and everything a crew cut. They have all sorts of cool connectors that go on their work vehicles that trim, cut and shave off just about any type of vegetation in its path.Continue Reading
When the spring temperatures finally catch up to your spring spirit, the botanical garden, PalmenGarten, in Frankfurt is a great place to visit. Continue Reading
Vienna at Christmas time is indeed cold and not a place where children under maybe 10 years of age are going to last for very long without complaining. Still, it is a fantastic city to experience during these chilly months (and any other month) whether traveling alone, with a partner,Continue Reading