Traveling to Germany Dec. 26. Request Suggestions

shameless vanity request | 12.23.09 | self

[paul in cape]

My wife and I, and our two teenagers are off on a well-earned vacation to Mittersfeld (Black Forest/Bavaria) and Salsberg on Christmas Day thru New Years. I'd appreciate any feedback from my second family as to what to see (or don't bother to see), as well as some out of the way places to visit.

[Frantzie]

The whole platz there during Christmas at night has the Kirs Kindle mart with stalls. What a beautiful town.

If you are in Munich and like BMW’s - check out the BMW museum.

[Palladin]

Don’t miss New Year’s Eve at the Vienna Opera House.

[bboop]

It’s really funny, kind of corny, a curiosity. Big as a one story forest cottage. We went, had a good laugh. It is VERY German in that way. And quite pretty in through there, if you are in that area.

Freiburg is a beautiful university town, interesting food. We have friends there, will be in the area in March. Schauinsland is a ski area near Totenburg, gondola goes to the top in a kind of wild ride.

Oh, and if you go to an Italian/German restaurant, do NOT order ‘pepperoni pizza.’ It is NOT the same as ours (at least here in California). Rather, it is covered with RED HOT PEPPERS. Hahha.

[stefanbatory]

I visited Prague a couple of times when I lived in Poland 13 years ago...there is a crystal shoppe that sells some very nice pieces on the opposite side of the street and a little nearer to the river from the big ugly clock that all the tourists go see in the old town hall. That crystal shoppe is a factory store from a firm in the Czech city of Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad in German) that is owned by some of my distant relatives.
There's also some very good beer(pivo) to be drunk in Prague. Whatever you do, do not order either Pilsener Urquell or Budvar! Budvar is the beer that has been licensed by Anheuser Busch and call Budweiser here. Pilsener Urquell can be found in most places that sell beer in the USA since SAB Miller owns the brand. Find a good quality local brew that you won't be able to find outside of the tavern where it is brewed.
Plzen(Pilsen in German) is the only major city in the Czech Republic that was liberated by American forces in WWII. I believe there is a statue or monument to General Patton and his forces there to commemorate the event. It is also the place where Pilsener beer was created. Somewhere near there (within 40 mi or so) is a place where one can relax in a beer spa. For some reason, the idea of soaking in a tub full of beer seems like a lot of fun to me. I expect you to find it and go with the Mrs. I want a detailed report on the experience when you return or before.
Before I mentioned Karlovy Vary. It is an area of many natural thermal mineral baths. You may wish to emjoy a soak. You may also wish to tour the Moser Glass Works located there. You can find lots of info about them, their products, and their extrememly high end customers on their website. Have only ever been to Koln in Germany and I wasn't terribly impressed. Although, I was there on a business trip so didn't have much time to sightsee - except for the Kolner Dom.

[ZGuy]

Definitely, absolutely Rothenburg ob der Tauber (and the Night Watchman tour is mandatory see http://www.nightwatchman.de and click on the English version.) Not to discourage you, but we went to Prague in 2007 and would skip it if we could go back in time. Salzburg was very enjoyable. You’ll want to tour the fortress, and the Christian caves at the bottom of the funicular going up to the fortress was memorable. If you like nature, you could see if you can make it to Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland and go up to the Jungfraujoch, but if you are going skiing already, you may already be going there (or the Matterhorn). Halstatt is nearby, but you may not have time for it in the week. It is interesting, but I would not place it in the same category as the others.

[bboop]

Trier is great, if you are in that area. Porta Negra dates from the Romans, the gate that kept the barbarians out.

[big'ol_freeper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber is a definite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburg I lived in for three years while stationed in Germany while in the Army and is awesome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberammergau is incredible

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachau is worth visiting to enforce your conservative core values

[dickmc]

Salzberg is a very attractive old town with most things within walking distance.

See:

Hohensalzburg Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohensalzburg_Castle)

Salzburg Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salzburg_Cathedral)

Palace of Mirabell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Mirabell)

shop on Getreidegasse which includes Mozart’s birthplace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getreidegasse)

Attend:
Some kind of Mozart concert (http://www.viennaticketoffice.com/salzburg_en.php)

BTW and FWIW, I have generally found that Salzbergers and Austrians are much more friendly than Germans.

Have fun.

[A message]

The palace at Chiemsee will be nearby and is worth a viewing.

The castle in Salzburg is also interesting.

And remember Salzburg is Mozart and Mozart is Salzburg.

[stboz]

Traveling to Germany Dec. 26. Request Suggestions

Don't drink the water..

..or the yellow snow.

[Freedom4US]

I was gonna suggest that. It didn’t get bombed during the War, the story goes that the Mayor pleaded especially with the allies. The story of how one fellow saved the city in the middle ages on a drinking bet is pretty cool, and the KriminalMuseum is a must-see. In those days, selling bread to the citizenry would garner a dunk in ice cold water in this big contraption. They have an Iron Maiden, too, which are pretty rare. And the gargoyles for spitting boiling oil on invaders on the outside walls are pretty amazing too.

[Jabba the Nutt]

There’s always the Great Vat in Heidelberg Castle.

[Eagle Eye]

Neuschwanstein castle, Linderhof, Downtown Munchen and the glockespeils.

In Salzberg there is museum of Mozart’s home and the salt mine tours.

You have to try jagerschnitzel and pickel salad. Not together.

Curry wursts und pomme fritz mit mayo und ketchup as well.

Once upon a time a pack of American Marlboro cigarettes would get you a lot of friends. I always traveled with a carton and one pack for me, one to share.

[Freedom4US]

Right, “pepperoni” isn’t. And, the pizzas are typically square, not round. For the life of me I can’t remember what it is to order if one wants pepperoni.

Tipping is totally different too. It was considered bad form to leave a big tip, even worse to throw money on the table and leave. Basically (and some places already charge gratuity in the bill) but if there’s no surcharge for large parties, just round up the bill at a nominal amount (a couple few bucks at most, or just a fraction of the amount) A lot of people don’t comprehend being extended a tab for the whole night either. This is routine, even for strangers.

[paul in cape]

My wife and I, and friends, visited Salzburg in 1986, prior to getting married and having kids. We loved it, and talked about going back for years.

We took the Sound of Music tour, Skied at St. Anton, and went on a wild toboggan ride down a ski area at night after getting loaded at the lodge on the top of the mountain.

Can't remember where that was, but our kids are dying to reenact it.

[Eagle Eye]

Dachau is worth the visit but is not a fun tour. Memorable yes. Fun, no.

[hoosier hick]

Das Deutsches Museum in Munich is well worth the time and money. We also took a long walk along the river, but, then again, we were there in June....

hh

[Revolting cat!]

There is also a nice museum with regular concerts and parades at Adolf Hitler’s birthplace.

[Jabba the Nutt]

I had a great time in Salzburg. My parents came over to visit me and to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau. We went to a chamber music concert in the Castle, then for drinks at a nearby local pub. We got to talking with the owner and he brought out his own Slivovitz for us to try.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Make the drive from Munich to Fussen, Oberammergau/Garmisch. Amongst the most beautiful places on Earth.