Sankt Peter in the Black Forest
We 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 MoreMorning at Brend and Hexenlochmühle
We 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 MoreZeller Horn over Hohenzollern
Sometimes 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 MoreHohenzollern Castle
The 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 MoreBlack Forest Trails and the Balzer Herrgott
A 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 Forest - Rothaus Brewery and the Schwarzwald
Back 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 MorePlanning and Budgeting for an Unexpected Return
When we passed through Alsace before, we hardly had enough time. We wanted to go back sooner rather than later, but was it even possible?
Read MoreNew Year's Day in Niagara Wine Country
New Year’s Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake! We spent the day in parks, driving through the snow, visiting wineries and a brewery, and ventured out to our favorite shipwreck that was frozen in the ice!
Read MoreNew Year's Eve in Niagara-on-the-Lake
New Year’s Eve! We brave the cold Canadian day as we venture to wineries (including one of our all time favorites) and grab a quick lunch before spending the evening with my first ever hockey game in Canada. GO DOGS GO!
Read MoreNew Year's Weekend in Canada
A long drive up to Canada deserved a stop off at the Flying Saucer diner in Niagara Falls. The next morning was cold and snowy, but a hearty breakfast and meeting a Hall of Fame hockey player at the Blue Line Diner was a nice warm up! We visited a few wineries, went down to the shoreline of a frozen Lake Ontario, and had an amazing night at our favorite British pub!
Read MoreReturn to the Black Forest
We 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 Morning of French Wine
Our last morning in France we spend getting in touch with some local wine. We talk about terroir and its impact on wine as we taste some of the winery’s finest. Beth tours the church, and I get some medicine and reflect on the difference between our health care and that in Europe.
Read MoreEvening in Alsace
When you are the home city of the designer of the most recognizable statue in the world, you have to make a dedication! We stopped and saw the tribute statue of Lady Liberty on the outskirts of Colmar before heading back into Eguisheim to wander the ancient streets. We settled in to the hotel restaurant for our first try of snails!
Read MoreColmar
Upon arriving to Colmar we were greeted by a severe storm. No worries, we just waited it out in a cafe, then went exploring! The city is just stunning, with the typical Alsatian style on a larger scale. We found a nice little artisan show, wandered the old streets, and checked through the city’s amazing covered market. We ventured through the Fishmonger District and Petite Venise, two of the most beautiful areas we’ve ever been through, and ended up at the quirky House of Heads!
Read MoreLes Trois-Châteaux du Eguisheim
The Trois Chateaux du Eguisheim are three castles that overlook the town. The oldest dates back from 1006! We took a hike up to the castles, climbed the old walls, and contemplated the way of life from one thousand years ago.
Read MoreArrival in Eguisheim
We arrived in the medieval town of Eguisheim and were again greeted by a sky-spanning rainbow! We walked through the narrow, circular streets, where the colorful, pretty houses contrasted with the old stone walls and crumbling doorways. The large square in the center of town stood tall with the old castle and church, and the statues paid homage to the town’s own Pope Leo IX. We finished the night with a wonderful dinner at a small Alsatian bistro…
Read MoreKaysersberg
On a whim we stopped in the beautiful town of Kaysersberg where we found colorful buildings lining the waterways and cobblestoned streets. We climbed up to the castle on the hill and were rewarded with the most amazing views, before heading back down to the church and the most unexpected find of our journeys - a wall of actual skeletons!
Read MoreRibeauville Morning
Despite some pain, we took our time walking through Ribeauville as we made our way down to the Trimbach Winery. This is French wine country after all, and what would wine country be without some wine?
Read MoreRibeauville Evening
Evening in Ribeauville, where we strolled the streets, popped into a grocery, and went back to the hotel for dinner. Over a wonderful meal full of wine, sauerkraut, sausages, and cheese, we pondered the duality of Alsatian culture… half French and half German, but in the end… all Alsace.
Read More