Schloss Linderhof was the only palace that “Mad” King Ludwig II lived to see to be completed and had the chance to live in for eight years! Again, this palace was inspired by the Palace of Versailles in Paris and you can see the stunning artwork in honor of the French monarchy. While it might lack in size, as it is the smallest palace built by King Ludwig II, it packs a punch and it well worth the visit!

This past weekend has been a scorcher! Temperatures have climbed up to 99F/36.5C. People are swarming the local pools, eating ice cream as fast as they can and hiding in the shade. Unlike us, we decided to spend the afternoon driving in our new air conditioned car.

We made a day trip road trip, first checking out the Wiblingen Monastery Library just outside of Ulm before stopping for lunch and a quick walk around through the town of Ulm. Afterwards, we drove further west to wander around the Burg Hohenzollern.

Just an easy day trip from Regensburg by car or by train, there is a small quaint village set among rows and rows of hops fields that sits along the Abens River. This region is the largest region for growing hops so it is no surprise, that set in the center of town is the Kuchlbauer Brewery which specializes in producing Hefeweizen beers. Founded way back in the 14th century, this brewery is among the world’s oldest breweries.

But this isn’t just any normal brewery!…

Located on a bend along the Danube River (Donau) is a solitary monastery founded in 620 which makes it the oldest monastery in Bavaria. It is also considered to be the world’s oldest monastery brewery, however it does rival Weihenstephan Abbey for the title. What makes this monastery special, is that one of the best ways to reach it is with a river boat ride down the Danube. 

One of the many things that people automatically associate with Germany is the traditional Bavarian costume. However, this is a big misconception about the German people. What most people don’t realize is that the Lederhosen and Dirndl are a Bavarian tradition and therefore not worn throughout all of Germany. Nor are they worn all the time. For the most part, Bavarians wear their Lederhosen and Dirndl on special occasions, however it is quite possible to see some hard core Bavarians wearing them for no special reason other than the fact that they are proud of their heritage. But don’t be surprised when you are walking around Bavaria and not everyone is wearing them.

This Valentine’s Day, Hans and I spontaneously  decided at the last minute to take a day trip instead of stressing over the pressure of buying the right gift or surprise. We decided to get up super-doooper early (ugh!) and take the train to Zugspitze – Germany’s tallest mountain which is a whopping 9,718 feet tall and offers breathtaking views over Bavaria, into Austria and even all the way to Italy!

There are few towns or cities in Germany which managed to survive the Second World War practically unscathed and Regensburg is one of the lucky ones. The town is already incredibly picturesque with small winding alleys zigzagging every which way and a glorious cathedral dominating over the city making you feel like you’re stepping back 2,000 years in time.

Yet, when Christmas comes around, the town becomes even more remarkably beautiful with Christmas stalls snuggled up against the Neupfarrkirche with their red and white stripped roofs and twinkling lights shining brightly. Best of all? Regensburg’s Christmas Market won the “Best Christmas City” for Christmas lights in 2017!

Let’s be honest: I’m a total fairy tale dreamer and if I could, I would live in pretty castles in far off places. I’d wear pretty yellow dresses and when I sing, the animals would come to me. I’d have a fairy godmother and a magic carpet. Unfortunately, this is just a dream and I’m just an ordinary girl. However, visiting Schloss Neuschwanstein offers me the chance to feel like a princess for a day!

Chiemsee is one of the most beautiful lakes not far from Munich, almost to the very southern tip of Bavaria. It is Bavaria’s largest freshwater lake with stunning views of the Alps. With endless blue skies and white clouds, it is no wonder Bavaria’s color are white and blue. Surrounding this stunning lake are cute villages, including the town of Chiemsee. There are two small islands, Fraueninsel and Herreninsel which can be reached with a short boat ride for some enjoyable exploration.

The small town of Berchtesgaden is the capital of the surrounding region known as Berchtesgadener Land. Throughout this region you’ll find skyward reaching mountainous peaks, chalet-style architecture with elaborate Lüftmalerei giving the towns that picturesque Alpine look. Here, I share with you 5 things to do in Berchtesgaden easy enough to do in a day!