Day Tripping: Limburg an der Lahn, Germany

I felt very nostalgic editing all these photos and thinking up what I wanted to write out in this post. This was our very last day trip in Germany before heading back stateside for good. D and I had driven past Limburg an der Lahn about 4 dozen times on trips to Cologne and onward to Belgium (and beyond). It was the village we could see from the Autobahn...the one with the beautiful church that commanded a low-lying valley and the half-timbered town below it. We talked about visiting it every single time we drove past, so it seemed quite fitting to have it be the last town we wandered around just 24 hours before departing Germany. A few close friends joined us for exploring, making it even more special to us both. 

We did a lot of the usual...snapping photos, shopping for gummie bears (I bought 50 euro worth to bring back home--worth it!), and commenting on the colorful quaintness these towns are always so good at showcasing. I also did a lot of stopping and "taking it all in" that day. A lot of letting the current moment sink in and reveling in the 3 years of German perfection we were about to let go of. I appreciated the flower boxes a little more. The Riesling at lunch tasted a bit sweeter. The cobblestone streets under my feet became a bit more charming. I let Limburg bear hug me until the second we hopped back in the car to head back to Wiesbaden (for the last time). There was nothing particularly unique about this town when comparing it to all we'd seen around Germany, but it was the last of the lasts, so it rests comfortably in my mind as bittersweet memory of just how idyllic Germany was all the time.

It's safe to say there will always be a Germany-shaped hole in my heart filled will beautiful places like Limburg. To those of you new to your adventure in Deutschland, be sure to add Limburg to your undoubtedly long list of day trips. No better day tripping material. And be sure to bear hug it right back for me. ;)

If you'd like to read more of our day trips around Germany, visit my WANDERLUST page!

Bacharach, Germany

It's no surprise that we LOVED the Rhine River region during our 3 years living in Germany. In fact, I can't count how many time we frequented various villages along the river…sipping local wine, wandering the cobblestone streets, enjoying the slow-paced European way of life. Ahhh…total bliss. Living in the entryway city to the upper Rhine region (Wiesbaden) provided many perks, most notably the close proximity to fabulous wines and spectacular views, so it's easy to see why it ranks right up there as one of my favorite areas of in all of Germany (followed closely by Rothenburg & literally all of Bavaria). A few months before we said our final goodbyes to our life in Deutschland, we made it a point to have one last visit to a town we hadn't visited along the Rhine. Needless to say, our day exploring Bacharach was nothing short of lovely.

Bacharach is another one of those charming wine towns brimming with half-timbered houses, wrought-iron signs, and rich history peeking around every colorful alleyway. Did I mention wine? Of course, how could I not? There's a handful of great vintners stationed right in town, with their vineyards wrapped all around the city like blankets of grape heaven. We spent the afternoon snapping photos all around town, ducking in and out of cute antique shops, and taking in the amazing views from the town walls and Wernerkappele ruins. We also tried a scoop of Bacharach's famed Riesling wein-eis (Riesling ice cream)…DIVINE!

While you won't need a full day to explore (unless you fancy a castle hike to Burg Stahleck or a long, leisurely visit to a winery), Bacharach is yet another perfect example of quaint German charm. If you're visiting Germany from the states, I'd recommend making a weekend out of the Rhine River region--including stops in Boppard, St. Goar, Rüdesheim, and Bacharach, of course!

Have you ever visited Bacharach?

Want to see more Rhine River villages? Find them here!

German Wine Towns to Love: Bernkastel-Kues

I swear, Germany just oozes cute towns...and I've got another adorable one to share with you guys! Bernkastel-Kues is one of those towns that you'd probably never know about unless someone mentioned it to you. Heck, we didn't find out about it until I asked a friend if she knew a fun wine town to visit. Nestled into the hills of the Mosel River Valley, Bernkastel-Kues is quite unsuspecting just driving by it along the river road. At first glance from the river, Bernkastle looks a bit lackluster...but as you make your way through the winding cobblestone streets and pop out at the city's quaint Marktplatz, you'll be transported into half-timbered heaven. Like most towns along the Mosel River, wine is its main economic staple (and thank the Lord for that!). You can find local vintners and their signature bottles on just about every street corner. We spent the morning popping in and out of various winery stores, sipping their grape and stocking up on bottles to ship back to the states with us. We also had some beyond delicious Italian food at a little restaurant right on the Marktplatz called Pizzeria Italia Badstube (great pizzas and baked pastas!). Just before leaving Bernkastel, we decided to wander across the river to see if anything fun caught our eye. It was a leisurely Saturday after all. We stumbled upon the greatest wine-lover's paradise just a short walk from the bridge. More on our divine wine find to come! :)