| Family Travels Europe Trip 2002 |
| Things to Do -- Places to See |
| On our second trip to Europe in 2002, we went a little more structured. We spent more time researching travel books for sights to see and places to stay. Most importantly, we learned how to "home base" That means to choose an area to stay and day-trip out...sometimes even driving one or two hours away. For example, we stayed in Lindau on the Germany/Austrian border on Lake Constance...from here we day tripped to see the castles of Barvaria, Germany, we spend a day in the beautiful countryside of Appenzell, Switzerland, and a quick trip to Liechyenstein. We actually save time this way by not unloading, unpacking and repacking suitcases and cars. We learned to pack light. We brought a collapsible cooler and visited grocery stores and markets to buy supplies for picnics. |
| Lessons Learned ***Pack light, Pack light, Pack light *** Buy a collapsible cooler when you arrive in Europe and buy groceries and visit markets for cheese, meats and fruits for Picnics. ***Cash in travel award programs like Hilton Honors and use points for free hotel stays. ***Learn to Home-Base....stay in one area for longer periods and day trip --Three nights Munich--day trip to Dachau --Two nights Rothenburg--Drive Thru Barvaria --Two nights Lindau, Germany to visit Switzerland and Liechtenstein --Three nights Gimmelwald --Two nights Alsace--Colmar and Wine Road --Four nights Normandy |
| Combine Themes in your Trip Planning We visited Dachau, a concentration camp near Munich, The Beaches of Normandy, the memorable cemetery filled with white crosses in St. Laurents, an excellent WWII museum in Caen. |
| The Swanson Family invades the Swiss Alps |
| Rothenburg Medieval Ages comes to life. |
| Try New Foods ***Spatzl--Love Spatzl (Germany) ***Fondue---in Switzerland **Mussels or Moules in Normandy |
| Highlights *****Gimmelwald...probably one of the most special places on earth Stay at Walter's ****Munich--We love this city! ****Rothenburg--especially at night ***Chateau Chillon--This 700 year old castle will delight you. ***Colmar--a wonderful little town ***Hellbrunn Palace and Salt Mines **The mussels of Normandy....even if you think you don't like mussels....even if you really hate mussels...try them here. Don't Do's Don't try to drive to Baden-Baden from Colmar--it is a longer trip than it looks... |
| How We Traveled **Arrived Munich and used public transportation for two days ***Rented Car as leaving Munich to drive to Rothenburn and next two weeks of our trip ***Parked Car in Garage in Lauterbrunnen.... Took funnicular to top....grutsclap to Murren... hiked 45 down to Gimmelwald....Either hiked or took Gondolas or trains while in the Alps. Picked up rental car from garage on the way out of town ***Flew out of Brussels, Belgium for flight to US |
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| Germany - Munich, Rothenburg, Barvaria Eastern Switzerland--Appenzell, Stein Swiss Alps & Gimmelwald Western Switzerland--Brock and Chillon Alsace, France (White Wine Region) Normandy |
| Aug 7 Aug 8 Aug 9 Aug 10 Aug 11 Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 |
| Munich – Residence and Treasury, Frauenkirche, Rathaus, St. Peters, Vitualien MarketLeave Munich - stop at Dachau Concentration Camp…Drive Romantic Road Stay Rothenburg – Nightwatchman Tour Rothenburg—morning walk, explore ramparts, Criminal Museum, town sights Drive to Bavaria Stop at Weiskirche and Linderhof, Neuschwanstein & Hohenscwhangau Drive to Switzerland as day trip Appenzeller Cheese Factory for fondue, Stein, Urnaschs’ Folk Museum-- and back to Liechtenstein for late lunch Explore Lindau In the morning…. Begin out journey to Gimmewald driving through Switzerland to Lauterbrunnen…Park car, take funicular up, cog train across to Murren and hike down 45 mins into Gimmewald...to stay at Walter's Morning—Breakfast at 11,000 feet at Schilthorn Afternoon—Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike Jungfrau play day….journey to the Top of Europe for sledding, zip lines and picnicLeave Gimmelwald--- Drive to Bern for full day of sightseeing and swimming…Stay Beulle Cheese, Chocolate and Castles….Start in Cailliers Chocolate Factory, Visit Moelson for Fondue and luges, Stop in Gruyere and head to Lake Geneva for Chateau Chillon Colmar—Explore town and the Underlinden Museum, have fun eating & enjoying market Alsace—Follow the Wine Route—stop at castles and towns of Eugsheim & Kayserburg —decide to surprise kids and drive to Baden Baden Drive from Alsace to Paris to see friends….stop in Beaune to see Hotel Dieu Drive to Normandy with friends —Visit towns of Dinan and St. Malo—have mussels Visit Mt. St. Michel – stop for mussel lunch – stop at local fair – visit mussel museum Visit Omaha Beach, WWII Museum, St. Laurent’s Cemetery and WWII museum in Caen Fly home from Brussels |
| France, Germany, Switzerland |
| Picnic on a Glacier 11,000 feet |
| New Adventures to Try *****Stay at Walter's in Gimmelwald *****Eat Breakfast at Piz Gloria, Schilthorn *****Spend a day at the Top of the World--Jungfrau ****Hike the Lauterbrunnen Valley **Visit a Chocolate Factory--and sample away **Visit a farm for fresh fondue **Luge Ridges *Stop for local festivals...if you see one, don't be shy to join in small town festivals/holidays/concerts etc |
| Cute Village of Alsace White Wine Region of France |
| Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike |
| Mussels or Moules |
