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In: Attractions, Italy, Lifestyle, Rest of Europe, Rest of Europe, Road Trips, Skiing, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Bavaria Area, Bavaria Area, Bavaria Area, Castles, Road Trips, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Austria, Castles, Christmas Markets, Lifestyle, Markets & Festivals, Rest of Europe, Rest of Europe, Road Trips, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Kid Friendly, Lifestyle, Rest of Europe, Rest of Europe, Rest of Europe, Road Trips, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Bavaria Area, Bavaria Area, Bavaria Area, Castles, Kid Friendly, Road Trips, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Christmas Markets, Community Favorites, Kid Friendly, KMC Area, Rest of Germany, Rest of Germany, Stuttgart Area, Travel, Wiesbaden Area

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

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In: Community Favorites, Food & Wine, German Day Trips A-Z, Kid Friendly, KMC Area, Newbie Tips, Road Trips, Travel, Walking, Wiesbaden Area

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

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In: German Day Trips A-Z, Kid Friendly, Newbie Tips, Road Trips, Stuttgart Area, Stuttgart Area, Travel, Walking

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

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In: Community Favorites, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Sports, Walking, Wiesbaden Area, Wiesbaden Area

by Ronnie Juhans Photo by Jag_cz/shutterstock.com For my fellow hikers who enjoyed the great outdoors trekking during the warmer months of the year, there is no need to put away those boots and let Old Man Winter keep you indoors until spring of next year. Winter hiking and snowshoeing areContinue Reading

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In: Attractions, Austria, Castles, Community Favorites, Food & Wine, Lifestyle, Rest of Europe, Stuttgart Area, Travel

Vienna, Austria’s largest city and capital, is not only rich in culture, art and history, but also in food. The gorgeous city is home to people from a variety of cultures and nationalities, so you’ll find anything from Belgian fries, hearty Hungarian cuisine or seafood to a more traditionally AustrianContinue Reading

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In: Community Favorites, Food & Wine, Kid Friendly, KMC Area, KMC Area, Lifestyle, Newbie Tips, Road Trips, Stuttgart Area, Stuttgart Area, Travel

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

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In: Attractions, Community Favorites, KMC Area, Museums & Exhibitions, Rest of Germany, Road Trips, Travel, Wiesbaden Area, Wiesbaden Area

Let Weimar’s rich cultural and literary history enchant you during a cozy weekend away in former East Germany. Here’s the thing: I love historical figures. There’s just something about learning what inspired humans to become who they did that fascinates me. I also love museums, poetry and endless walks in parks, whichContinue Reading

Bamberg

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In: Ansbach Area, Ansbach Area, Attractions, Austria, Bavaria Area, Bavaria Area, Castles, Community Favorites, Kid Friendly, Rest of Germany, Rest of Germany, Rest of Germany, Road Trips, Stuttgart Area, Travel

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

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In: Community Favorites, German Day Trips A-Z, Kid Friendly, KMC Area, Museums & Exhibitions, Rest of Germany, Road Trips, Travel, Walking, Wiesbaden Area

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

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In: Attractions, Community Favorites, KMC Area, KMC Area, Rest of Germany, Road Trips, Travel

For many a road-tripper, traveling through Germany evokes images of storybook villages surrounded by lush forests, castles perched high on mountaintops, or mysterious Roman or Celtic artifacts in unsuspecting locations. Aside from having some of the best road conditions throughout Europe, Germany has taken a lot of the guess-work outContinue Reading

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In: Community Favorites, Museums & Exhibitions, Rest of Europe, Rest of Europe, Stuttgart Area, Travel

Always check the country’s travel restrictions before booking and going on vacation. It is rare — and kind of awesome — to be in the presence of something truly ancient like the Egyptian pyramids or millennia-old yew trees in random rural Scottish churchyards. It is rarer still to be somewhereContinue Reading