Adventure Culinary Travel
High on the mountain, in the hills of Troi-Epis, there sits a cemetery in the forest that is the final resting place for many German soldiers, most who lost their lives in the First Wold War. A truly somber experience that led to a lot of reflection upon war and its many victims, it was also a unique place that gives a more personal side of history.
Read MoreWe continued through the Black Forest along the back roads, with views over hills and fields to mountains beyond. We stopped in Sankt Peter, a little town with a very big church!
Read MoreWe took a slow, relaxed morning just enjoying the area around Brend. The view over the forest and mountains is just exquisite while relaxing in the calm fields. We climbed the tower, had amazing breakfast, and set off for Hexenlochmühle… the forest building with the working water wheel, patio cafe, and the amazing smoked deli!
Read MoreSometimes the best way to see a magnificent castle is from a distance. After visiting Burg Hohenzollern, touring its palace rooms and walking the battlements, we decided to hike up to the top of Zeller Horn and find the best vantage point to see the castle as a whole!
Read MoreThe beautiful Burg Hohenzollern is an amazing fantasy castle, both elegant and imposing with the power to capture your imagination. We hiked up to the gate, crossed into the Kingdom of Prussia, looked up to the towers piercing the sky, and explored magnificent palace… and had quite a view to go along with it all!
Read MoreA morning feast in Brend was the perfect start to the day, especially as since getting into the woods and hiking on some trails are part of the plan! We take an easy-going trail through the forest to the Balzer Herrgott tree carving, and just let ourselves get in touch with the forest that surrounds us.
Read MoreBack to the Black Forest! It feels so much like home here. We visited the Rothaus Brewery where we tasted beers and looked at all their goodies, then spent the evening in our woodland hotel feasting on spargel and watching the late night sunset!
Read MoreWe crossed the border back into Germany, where we decided to spend a long, slow day back to the airport. We stopped at the source of the Danube River, just a tiny trickle of water flowing through the rocks. After a few scenic stops along the way, we had another amazing lunch in Titisee, given a beautiful show of natural light and rainbows back in Switzerland, and readied ourselves for an early flight from Zurich.
Read MoreA town I flagged as a must stop, Gengenbach did not disappoint! From the beautiful platz lined with colorful buildings to the back alleys and tiny Bächle, and one of the most impressively painted little churches we've ever seen, this was a great "goodbye" to the Black Forest!
Read MoreWe continued up through the Gutach Valley in the rain to Alpirsbach – a small town with a large monastery and a brewery. Sounds good to me! We toured the monestary, sought out some beer in a nice little place, and got some great chocolate!
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It was another rainy day, but that won’t stop the fun! We had another amazing breakfast at Brend and stopped back in Triberg for the original Black Forest Cake after some childhood reminiscing. We visited the world’s largest cuckoo clock before working our way up through the rain into the beautiful Gutach Valley…
Read MoreAs the rain cleared up we strolled through the streets of Freiburg heading to the Schlossberg. We hiked up the hill and were greeted with some amazing views of the city and forest, and continued our way up to the very top of a wobbly tower! Heading back to Brend, we caught an amazing sunset over the hills, then I felt the ping of terror in the night that gave rise to all the legends of the Black Forest!
Read MoreAs we arrived in the beautiful and ancient city of Freiburg, we discovered the cute little street-side canals and beautiful towers all connected by old cobblestoned roads. We found little toys throughout the bächle, an amazing old cathedral, and had the pleasure of hearing music from truly angelic voices. We were also on a mission - those old cobblestones had to lead us to some beer!
Read MoreWe started the day with a legendary breakfast at Brend before seeking out a picturesque shop in the forest. Our little car hugged the curves of one of my favorite drives so far, and we spent the morning surrounded by everything green. We eventually made our way to Titisee, where we stood in appreciation of the beautiful water despite the cold and rain, only to drive away the chill with seasonal mushroom soup and strong coffee!
Read MoreFrom the legends we have read since we were kids, the images of picturesque little German villages, and our love for nature all combined into our fascination with the Black Forest. It has long been a destination both of us have dreamed about, and we are finally here! We stood in complete awe surrounded by the towering trees and green moss in the forest, drove a long woodland road to our remote hotel, found a waterfall in a cute cuckoo-clock village, and had a wonderful sausage dinner. The night ended perfectly with the best clear, starry sky that we’ve seen in years!
Read MoreWhat was supposed to be a quick stop to stretch our legs and grab a snack turned out to be a great experience! Despite being a last minute decision to the trip, our stop in Konstanz brought us more than we expected with its stunning architecture and beautiful lake views. We toured through a little church, admired the seductive curves of the Imperia, looked out past the lighthouse to the boats on the Bodensee, and strolled along the marina as we dreamed of hoisting the sails and catching the breeze…
Read MoreWe got to the Frankfurt Süd station really early. We had our little breakfast of coffee, orange juice, and the ubiquitous ham and cheese with rolls continental. When the doors opened and we got off the train, we stepped on a smooth white blanket covering the ground. We got snow! It was still 5-something am and the city was still sleeping. I'll admit, I did wish I was still sleeping too! Rather than figure another train just to get to town quicker with nothing yet open, we decided to enjoy the snow and the calm quiet with a walk. Not too far from Frankfurt Süd station is a part of the city we loved when we were here a couple years ago. Sachsenhausen is a nice...
Read MoreAndechs, home to one of my favorite breweries in the world!! Beer was had for sure, but first we had our jaws dropped at the most beautiful monastery church we've ever seen. After getting one of my favorite beers right from the source, we drive back to Munich, then take the train to Salzburg....
Read MoreWe took the hike up the mountain to Neuschwanstein, the castle that defines the phrase "fantasy castle". We admire the castle from close, from far, and just stand in awe of its beauty... which helps to distract us from the biting wind as we cross the narrow, bouncy bridge that spans the mountains! We hike our way back down, grabbing a local donut snack, before visiting the lonely little church at the base of the mountian.
Read MoreWe woke to a beautiful day in Fussen! We took a little hike along the bluest water we've ever seen, then ventured up to the mountains to see some castles! First we visit King Ludwig's first castle Hohenschwangau, and begin the incredibly scenic hike up to the famous Neuschwanstein!
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