Until last year, my experiences in Germany were oddly limited. One of Europe’s largest countries, and a popular one at that, fate had prevented me from seeing more than a sliver of this beautiful destination. That changed when I visited Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Regensburg, Passau and Nuremberg and will continue to evolve in just a couple of days when I once again visit one of my favorite countries.
I’m working with the German National Tourism Board and will be meandering through some truly beautiful parts of Germany on my way to a conference in Hamburg. The goal of the trip is to learn more about some of the classic traditions that make not only the individual regions, but Germany in general a wonderful place to visit. From making traditional pastries to spending the night in a castle, I’ll have the chance to learn a lot more about Germany through its traditional culture and long history.
Some of the highlights of the trip include:
- Freiburg – This southwestern city is one of the entry points to Germany’s Black Forest and while I’m there I will learn all about Black Forest culture, its food and wine, travel to the top of the Schlossberg and even learn how to make Black Forest Cake with a local baker.
- Stuttgart – One of Germany’s largest cities, my time in here will spent learning about its considerable history, sampling the region’s famous delicacies and visiting a few quirky museums.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Known around the world for its well-preserved medieval core, I can’t wait to see what many friends have told me is one of the most beautiful towns in Europe. Aside from gawking at the architecture, I will also learn how to make the not-as-well-known but delicious sounding Rothenburger Schneeballen (Snowballs), a pastry that sounds like a match made in heaven for me.
- Castle time – From there it’s on to Sababurg, the so-called Sleeping Beauty Castle, a nearly 700-year old castle with massive grounds just begging for me to explore them. I’ve never stayed in a real castle and I honestly cannot wait to visit.
It’s not a long trip, but it will be a busy (and fun!) journey through some of Germany’s most iconic landscapes and cities, all the while learning more about the traditions that make them so great to explore. I arrive Wednesday, so be sure to follow along on all of the usual social media channels and look out for the #JoinGermanTradition hashtag as I share what I see and do in Germany. Also be sure to follow the @GermanyTourism Instagram account as I take it over for the duration of my stay.
Do you have any tips for me or is there something you want me to find out while I’m in Germany?
