Romantic Rhine series - Rudesheim

Rudesheim is one of Germany's best known wine towns.  Vines are cultivated on the steep banks of the Rhine.  Before we head up the hill for a better look, let's first visit the cozy & friendly town.

Drosselgasse:  The town is perfect for tourists.  Which apparently they get a lot of those.  We heard that 3 million tourists visit this town every year and I can see why.  Narrow streets wind through town, letting you meander along stopping for a glass of wine, the yummy Rudesheimer Coffee or do some Christmas ornament shopping.

We chose to stop at a small restaurant to sample the "coffee".  The drink is served hot with coffee, some kind of liquor and chocolate which they light it on fire and put it out with heavy whip cream.  I have NO IDEA how many calories this drink was, but that's what vacations are for - to try new things.  This drink was tasty, but a little lethal if you have more than two.

Next, we visited the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments: This museum has lots to look at, from cute to really odd musical instruments.  It's a unique and expensive collection.

We decided to take the chair lift to see the statue of Germania.  This statue is made from 32 tons of bronze and was cast in 1883 to celebrate the German unification 12 years prior.  It's called the Niederwald Monument.

Niederwald Monument

Burg Ehrenfels:  After visiting the monument, it's an easy stroll through the vineyards to this romantic ruin that has great views of the "Mouse Tower" toward Bingen with it's own fortress, Burg Klopp. It's started getting dark, so we decided to make this a brisk stroll.

Rudesheim is the perfect German town to visit during the warm summer months.  Known for their white wine and beautiful river views, this town is tourist friendly.  I would definitely go back and stay a couple of nights at one of the boutique hotels.  Remember, the Rhine is not only beautiful it's also a way to get up or down the river.  They offer commute ferries (hop on/hop off) that are inexpensive and allow you to use Rudesheim as an affordable place to sleep while enjoying all the cities along the Rhine.

Don't miss the next post as we show you a glimpse at the most famous part of the Rhine - the Rhine Gorge.

Happy Traveling!

Romantic Rhine series - Mainz, Germany

We didn't get to stay too long in Mainz, but we found the town to be quaint and full of history.  Mainz is strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Main Rivers.  It's currently known as Germany's largest and most important wine market.  We visited the Altstadt or Old Town for most of the day.

Gutenberg Museum:  Father of modern printing and the inventor of the movable type, we were entertained as we watched them recreate how the first newsletters were designed.

Cathedral (Dom):  Most of the church was built in the 12th century, but they continued to add to it in the 18th century.  Inside the courtyard was a really pretty and peaceful place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and let the birds have the left over bites of a croissant.  

Church of St. Stephen:  So worth the walk up the steep hill to see this Gothic church.  Once we arrived to the church, we discovered the largest collection of Marc Chagall windows that I've ever seen.  Not even in Paris is there such a large collection in one church.

Next stop is Rudesheim.  Truly one of my favorite stops that we made on the Rhine.


Happy Traveling!

Romantic Rhine series - Heidelberg - Pure Romance

Heidelberg Germany has so much character & history.  Mostly known for the college in town, we found the castle extremely well preserved and the town offered LOTS of shopping opportunities.

Let's start at the top of town, the castle (Schloss), with some of the breathtaking views of the town and river Rhine.

Schloss

Here's a photo of what the castle originally looked like.  It gives you a better idea of the damage caused by the French during years of battles.  Also, it made us appreciate how well preserved this castle still is in 2015.

Next, let's head into town, try some beer and sausage and do some shopping!

Marktplatz

The cookie that this store makes is famous.  It's called the Knosel - 1863

Old Bridge

We did a lot of sightseeing, shopping and trying local foods and beers.  One of my favorite new discoveries was the Knosel "student's kiss" cookie.  It's a short bread cookie dipped in either dark or milk chocolate.  The cookie was seen as a gallant token of affection that not even the chaperones could object.  The students and young ladies had a discret way to send a sweet message in form of a Student's Kiss.

We found Heidelberg to be a very romantic town.  Not sure if that's because of the history, quaint buildings, smells of good food & sweet treats or the fact that it's nesttled along the Romantic Rhine, but it's a town I would visit again and again.

Happy Traveling!!  Next stop on the Rhine is Mainz.

Romantic Rhine series - The Black Forest

Schwarzwald, Germany (The Black Forest)

Nestled in the Black Forest are some of the most beautiful views.  We start our tour of this area in the Black Forest Open Air Museum (Heritage approved).  It's a quaint village of homes, carefully preserved for visitors to enjoy.  We start at the original house with a thatched roof built in 1612.

The reason why these homes were so special is because they were the first of their kind that had one solid roof.  Allowing the living quarters and barn to be under the same roof.  During cold winters, it helped to have the livestock/barn under the same roof and the rest of the house.  We had a great time walking from house to house along the walking paths.  The weather was so perfect when we were there, they had a lot of locals enjoying the museum with their family.

The kids loved the apple cider and chasing the animals rooming the grounds. 

Next stop on our tour was the cuckoo clock shop (House of Black Forest Clocks).  This shop is family owned and the cuckoo clocks are made to order by Adolf Herr.  One of the nicest men I've ever met.  His family greets you at the door with some cherry wine, provided us the best Black Forest cake and some yummy cherry liquor.  We had a terrific time at his shop and wanted to share the experience with a few photos that we took while shopping for souvenirs.

Where did the time go?  Next stop is Heidelberg, Germany.

Happy Traveling!

Romantic Rhine series - Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is one of the most picturesque regions of France.  Get ready to step back in time while visiting this absolutely quaint part of France.  Just one day wasn't enough, but I will remember that day fondly for years to come.

Let's start our site seeing by visiting Petite France.  The former Tanner's Quarter on the River Ill is a delightful maze of lanes flanked by gorgeous half timbered houses.

Taking a boat cruise for a better view.

Carousel in the middle of the town square.

So much to see in this beautiful city.  You can see all the influences of both French and German cultures.  It's also the home of the European Parliament.

Fun fact to note is the good luck symbol of the Alsace is the stork.


The next stop will be The Black Forest - just a short bus drive to see a magical place and enjoy a yummy dessert.

Happy Traveling!

Romantic Rhine - Let's see it together

Ready to get away?  Why not book a river cruise in Europe? 


We had a fantastic time seeing the romantic Rhine on Avalon's Artistry II.  In the next few blogs, we'll share the stops along the way to Amsterdam.  

Get ready to experience a beautiful part of Germany and another gorgeous river connecting European countries.

Now that we're unpacked, let's get started.

1st stop - Strasbourg, France.  I can almost smell the pastries!!! 

Happy Traveling!

Pinehurst, North Carolina - golf destinations

                                                  Pinehurst, North Carolina

We've mentioned Pinehurst as a buddies golf destination in the past but wanted to give it special attention today. It is a great place to go for a buddies golf trip or just to go visit. There are eight courses at this special place that has been around since the late 1800's.

Pinehurst #2 is the most famous  of the eight and has hosted several US Open's including the 2014 Men's and Women's US Open. It's expensive to play #2 but if you book one of the packages through the resort, the price is less intimidating but still not exactly inexpensive. When playing #2, we recommend getting your own caddie to enhance the experience. #8 is my favorite of the Pinehurst courses and we got a four caddie that was plenty of help for my group.

We strongly suggest picking one of the resorts "Stay and Play" packages and if it fits your budget, stay in the Carolina Hotel. It does feel like a step back in time but with modern conveniences. They have a very friendly and helpful staff and nice restaurants and Bar. If you have a day where you don't play 36 holes, spend some time at the pool and enjoy a good old fashioned afternoon tea. Pinehurst resort also offers a spa and if you play as much golf as we did, mixing in an afternoon massage at the halfway point of the stay is a very good idea.

Rates drop in June and you may want to consider playing #2 early in the trip because if you wait to the end and get rained out, with no days left to reschedule, it would be a shame not to play that classic course. Also, be aware that #1 & #3 are also, very old school and not anywhere near the same or even close to #2. Our group played #1 & #3 as an optional afternoon round. They are fun but #2 & 4 through #8 are better option's in our opinion.

Pinehurst Resort & Spa will not disappoint. It is a fantastic choice for your next buddies golf trip!