Hello, Beautiful! I’m so glad we meet again.

Don’t take it personally — but I’m not talking to you. I’m greeting those wonderfully magnificent Bavarian Alps. There’s just something about those craggy mountain peaks with vibrant green fields at their bottom. Which is why, most likely, I’m in love with Schliersee.

Can I live here? Coming from my current home, I’ve got Schliersee to keep me warm at night. ;-)

Wait, I take that back. The Alps aren’t known for being all warm and balmy — so I guess it ain’t keeping me warm. So, bundle up if you’re gonna be doing all sorts of winter sporting activities. Ever tried mountain hiking in snow? Brrrrrr!

If you absolutely must come inside, then I’d suggest visiting the Schlierseer Bauerntheater, a local folk theater that the town’s quite proud of. And by rights, they should be. The building itself is worth seeing, being one of those painted chalet style structures.

The town’s Rathaus (Town Hall) is also one of those chalet looking buildings, built in 1477, BTW.

One of the coolest ways to see Schliersee is to take a cable car ride. You can do this everyday from 9am – 4:30pm, excluding bad weather days. Wow, I think I can see a house I wanna buy — oh yeah, and Austria that’s located right next door.

The next time you’re on terra firma, go see the St. Bernhard Kirche at the Spizingsee lake — originally a medieval fortified church. From there you can see the 14th century St. George Chapel, and the Baroque church of St. Martin that’s been here more than eleven centuries.

From April 1st to the Leonhardifahrt (in November) the Markus Wasmeier Farm & Winter Sports Museum is open. It’s an outdoor exhibit area that details life in the 18th century and all the fun wintery sports that people love so much.

The Leonhardifahrt, BTW, is a fun cultural event that’s about blessing horses, riding in horse drawn carriages, and food & drinking. It ain’t a one-horse show around here, other festivals and events include the Schliersee Lake Festival (Jul/Aug), the Alpine Triathlon (Jun/Jul), and the Cattle Drive in September.

This last one is when the farmers bring all their cattle in for the winter, bringing spectators from all over the area to see the herds all decked out with headdresses of flowers.

Yikes, almost left out the Historic Festival that happens at the St. Sixtus Church (18th century) with men in their lederhosen, and brightly colored rowboats.

The Trachtenjahrtag is another event with local villagers wearing traditional Upper Bavarian costumes; again all eating, drinking, and being all around merry.

Me too, but I think it was that trip over to the Slyrs, a Malt Whisky Distillery that kinda had a hand in that one. ;-)

In 1907, the year when one of its most famous sons was born, the town of Jettingen-Scheppach belonged to the Kingdom of Bavaria.

And who was one of its most famous sons? None other than Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.

Claus von who? If you saw the movie Valkyrie with Tom Cruise and Kenneth Branagh, then you know he was an integral part of the Hitler assassination plot on July 20th 1944.

History lesson over, go see the Gruftkapelle, the chapel of the von Stauffenberg family while you’re here.

It isn’t the end of the chapels in Jettingen-Scheppach, the St. Michael’s Chapel is a white, circular building from the 1760s. And the St. Sebastian Chapel is even smaller. Quaint isn’t a word that quite covers it.

I like Jettingen-Scheppach, but you know what got my knickers in a bunch? The fact that its three castles are all privately owned: Eberstall Castle, Klingenburg Castle, and Jettingen Castle, the latter of which was the ancestral seat of the von Stauffenberg family.

Drats… won’t someone let me in? I promise I won’t steal the family silver. ;-)

Oh well, I guess I better take a ride along the numerous bike paths, like the Schwäbische Kartoffel-Tour (that’s a Swabian Potato Tour) or 7-Schwaben-Tour, or hike along the Obstlehrpfad (Fruit Trail).

Nah, I’ll go see the 18th century Baroque Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) of the Assumption. Then I’ll hit up St. Leonhard in the village of Schönenberg (built 1776), and then the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul in Ried that was built in 1507.

Whoa… back up a minute — I almost left out the Katholische Wallfahrtskirche Allerheiligen. In English that’s the Catholic Pilgrimage Church of All Saints — but in any language it’s an 18th century Rococo church that was built over its 14th century predecessor.

Then I’m gonna treat myself to some shopping at the Fastenmarkt (3rd Sun in February), the Georgimarkt (3rd Sunday in April), the Michaelimarkt (1st Sunday in October), and the Kathreinmarkt (3rd Sunday in November).

All this is in addition to Jettingen’s Rosenmontag (a Carnival event that’s big in Bavarian Swabia), its Advent & Christmas concerts, and its Adventsmarkt that’s held every year on the first Advent weekend.

In between all the shopping, eating, drinking, and history you can always try playing 18-holes of golf, get in a game of tennis, or relax at the nearby Heiligmannsee.

Just so you know, the kids might like a day at the Legoland amusement park instead, which is merely 15km away.

Run along now! I’m gonna try to finagle an invite to one of those castles. And if the silver’s missing, it wasn’t me. ;-)

OK, I get that not everyone likes the same thing. Except if you’re traveling or living in Germany, then you likely like all things German (right?). A true German experience would bring you to the Thuringian town of Wutha-Farnroda.

And it isn’t just about its buildings, like the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) in Farnroda, that’s now a library and tourist office. No, it’s about its cultural events and its incredibly stunning countryside — like over at the Hörselberge, from where you have a great view over the Thuringian Forest.

FYI, the current Town Hall isn’t just where all the town’s administration goes on. Every six months it’s also where art exhibits change.

For a minute though, I am going to tell you about its old buildings. I’m just sad to say by the time I wrote this the old castle was gone. It was built in the 13th century, and rebuilt again two centuries later. Too bad the former owners let dryrot destroy its half-timbered construction, and it was torn down back in the late 1990s. However, the Schlossturm (Castle Tower) a.k.a. Wasserburg Farnroda is still there.

Wutha-Farnroda has one of the prettiest church exteriors I’ve seen. The church in Mosbach (one of the town’s 4 villages, which has less than 1400 residents) has this black capped, wide tower Lutheran church. It’s everything you could ask for in a village church.

So is the Dorfkirche (Village Church) in Deubach, come to think of it.

I’d be disappointed if Wutha-Farnroda didn’t have a museum — why not, it’s got just about everything else? Anyway, the Hörselberg Museum (housed in a pretty half-timbered building) in Schönau has all kinds of exhibits on the local flora & fauna, its geography, and the nearby Hörselberge with its two caves: the Venushöhle and the Tannhäuserhöhle.

There are cultural events in Wutha-Farnroda, too. A very popular one is the Kinderfasching (Children’s Carnival), as is the Schlossparkfest (Castle Park Festival) in early June, and the Backfrauenfest (Baker Girl’s Festival) in mid-September.

Just when you think there isn’t anything left, there’s the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Heritage Day) and the Mühlentag (Mill Day) on Whit Monday, the Kräutersonntag (Herbs Sunday) on the following Sunday (loved by kids), and the Erntedankfest or Harvest Festival in the Fall.

Didn’t I say you’d get a true German experience? And I bet you’ll love every minute of it in Wutha-Farnroda.

It can be quite funny at times when history meets politics, like in the case of Bienenbüttel and its surrounding region, where some hamlets have the same name and political authorities just gave them #1 and #2 for distinctive purposes.

Speaking of Eitzen I and Eitzen II, which are just a few horse minutes apart from each other.

What the hell! I’m two paragraphs into this — and now I’m confused as to where I am. Thank Heaven for GPS. ;-)

Seriously, Bienenbüttel is actually a pretty cool place in the Lüneburg Heath along the Ilmenau River. In fact, the area lies within a nature conservation area — so please tread carefully, OK?

Speaking of treading, Bienenbüttel is known for its Skulpturenpfad (that’s a Sculpture Trail) that’s 4.5 kilometers long that highlights a dozen sculptures made from all sorts of different materials, and by just as many artists.

What else is there to do in town? In the village of Borsen you’ll find prehistoric graves right close to 18th century homesteads. Stop by the Cemetery Chapel too while you’re out there.

There are more prehistoric graves in the village of Edendorf, one of which is known as the Großsteingrab. This is a picturesque hamlet of just over 300 people, so maybe you’ll get to meet some of the locals.

Ahh, you’ll meet them at the local Flea Market that’s held at the end of March; or the Easter Bonfire, or the really fun Tanz in den Mai. This last one, known as the Dance into May, is held on April 30th — with lots and lots of dancing going on.

Darn, my feet hurt now. Well, I guess I’ll have to just lounge around the Waldbad, a heated forest outdoor pool. The kids will love this! It’s got a kid’s pool and play area, a beach volleyball court, and a diving board and miniature waterfalls.

Bah, who cares if Germany isn’t all that inventive about its town’s names. It has mighty castles, wonderful scenery, and ancient history; all wrapped up neatly in places like Bienenbüttel. :-)

My initial reaction to the Brandenburg town of Bestensee was that if felt like one of those “cousins” (fill in family member here) that you just sorta feel sorry for; always outshined by their older, smarter, more beautiful (fill in an adjective) sister, brother, or whomever.

Oh, but how still waters run deep, my friends.

You see, Bestensee lies surrounded by Heidesee, Mittenwalde, and Königs Wusterhausen, three towns that somehow managed to get most of the sightseeing. Yet, we all know the saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

So I say, use Bestensee as a base. This way you can see what the town has to offer; and then go off somewhere else for a while (even Berlin, if need be).

Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?

Sightseeing in Bestensee would include a visit to its Dorfkirche (Village Church), a stone structure from the 14th century that has its own churchyard and War Memorial. There’s also the Königliche Forsthaus (that’s Royal Forest House in English), located at Hauptstraße 2.

There isn’t any need to run off to some other town here in the Dahme-Spreewald District during the Bestenseer Seenlauf, a Lake Run Marathon. No, you don’t have to actually run it if you don’t want — just cheer for those willing to give it a shot.

Rather do something else lakeside? It’s perfect here because there are so many lakes, including the Wolziger See, which is perfect for fishing and boating — and it has its own marina.

Other cultural events in Bestensee include two Summer Festivals (why not, considering the town’s made up of three villages), then there’s the guided autumn hikes, and all the Christmas events; including the Children’s Christmas, Advent Concerts, and Christmas Market.

At this point maybe you’re looking for a castle? The Schloss Schenkendorf might appear to look more like a villa than a traditional castle (it was built in 1896), and it was used by both the Nazis and the Red Army for their needs in the 20th century. Today it falls in a conservation area.

Of course, if you must, you can always head over to Schloss Königs Wusterhausen. Nah, no need… it appears that Bestensee has what you could ask for.

On first sight Burgkunstadt has an alpine appearance. But no, this is a truly Upper Franconian town.

Sitting along the Main River, any place with a castle is quite all-right in my book. And I don’t care what anyone says that its castle is “in need of repair” or “all overgrown with trees.” Tosh! Call me old-fashioned, but a medieval castle is supposed to look like it came out of Architectural Digest Magazine — it was supposed to instill fear and dread to anyone coming up on it. ;-)

Where was I? Yes, I was about to tell you about Burgkunstadt’s half-timbered former brewery, its 18th century church that’s really much older, its War Memorial, and its Outdoor Theater at the Vogtei or Bailiwick.

Now that’s a story… the old Bailiwick (which is like a 15th century farmstead) has all these underground passage ways from the Middle Ages. Sorry, most became inaccessible — but it’s worth checking out what you still can.

What else would anyone need to know about Burgkunstadt? Yes, I know, there are some 60km of hiking trails through the town and environs. Most are marked, and range from a 40-minute 2km hike to more than 14km (3–4 hours).

That makes perfectly sense, because Burgkunstadt used to be a center of shoemaking and shoe trade. Then it makes also sense to find the Deutsche Schustermuseum or German Shoemaker Museum in town.

Whatever you’ve chosen to see, make sure you’ve added in a visit to the Fünf-Wunder Kapelle, a Renaissance chapel from 1666 and the gravestones of long-gone Frankish Knights. Wait, the old synagogue has an exhibit on Jewish life in the area; and the Rathaus is an interesting piece of late 17th century architecture.

Enough of this. It’s time for some fun. What have we got? For starters, there’s a Christmas Market in December, a horse jumping competition every May, a Floh- und Trödelmarkt (Flea Market) in early March and April, a Brunnenfest in July, and a Corpus Christi/Parish Festival in both May and June. Hey, with 8 districts, that’s bound to happen.

The big event that everyone looks forward to is the Altstadtfest (Old Town Festival), which only happens every three years (2008, 2011,…), which is always a party of food, fun, dancing, and beer.

Start planning to get to Burgkunstadt now — you’ll make it in time for the next one. I might be there too.

The name Vogelsberg Mountains is actually named twice. If you don’t speak German, the word “berg” means mountain, just so you know.

I’m not here to discuss language, I’m here to tell you about the 2500 square kilometers of the Vogelsberg in Hesse that was created totally from volcanoes some 19 million years ago.

No worry about an eruption, this contiguous volcanic region has been long extinct. Although they did make some of the most amazing basalt rock formations anywhere in the world.

Don’t believe me? Go see the Uhuklippen, then you’ll understand.

Regardless, the volcanic countryside brings millions of people every year along the Vulkanradweg and the Volgersberg Southern Railway Cycle Path, among many other scenic routes and cycling trails. The Vulkan-Express (Volcano Express) is one of the most popular buses around here.

Whether you take one of the routes or try to do it on your own, you’ll want to at least see the Vogelsberg from the top. The highest points are the Taufstein with its Bismarck Tower at 773 meters, and the Hoherodskopf (at 764 meters), one of its touristic highlights in both summer and winter.

By going clockwise to the towns surrounding the Taufstein, you’ll get the best of the 883 square kilometer Vogelsberg Nature Park (like 70km of mountain biking trails), and the best mountain towns anywhere.

That just sounds biased, doesn’t it? ;-)

Anyway, I’m going to start in Schotten, which is where you’ll find the source of the Nidda River, prehistoric burial mounds, the Eppstein Castle (you knew I’d find one somewhere), and the Liebfrauenkirche in the Old Town area.

I told you, awesome mountain towns. And the Nidda River, BTW, isn’t the only one you’ll find in & around the Vogelsberg. There’s a whole bunch of ’em: the Fulda, Kinzig, Ohm, Nidder,…

In fact, spring water from the Vogelsberg drops most of the drinking water to the Rhine/Main Region.

Lauterbach (Hesse) is found along the eastern edge, a town with another castle (Schloss Eisenbach), and famous for its Lauter Rose and the the 16th century “stepping stones” that cross the little Lauter River.

Better yet, try the Lauterbach Beer while you’re here.

It’s probably best to wait a little bit after that before going to Neuhof (Fulda), a town along the 240km Rhine-Main-Kinzig Cycle Trail.

The Romans used to travel along this way, except they called Neuhof Nova Curia, and the VIA REGIA was once a “road,” protected by the King — and the place was once on a trade route called the Antsanvia.

I don’t know if all those old travelers could recognize the same town, but it is still on the Way of St. James — and the landmark St. Michael Church has been welcoming pilgrims for hundreds and hundreds of years.

The Cathedral in Birstein has been doing the same thing. The fortress at Birstein Castle, not so much. Who would actually want to spend “time” in a dungeon?

Oh, it’s not so bad today — the 12th century castle doesn’t look so scary today; and real princes have lived in the castle since 1517.

The last town we’re going to see is Gedern, where you’re able to swim and camp around the Gedener See. In early September the lake hosts an annual Elvis Festival — don’t you just love the King?

Love Me Tender, love me… sorry, got carried away for a minute.

Right before the Elvis Festival is the Stadtlauf or City Run (on the second weekend of August), and there’s always an outdoor concert of some sort in July.

You can always visit the 14th century castle (with a cultural history museum) just about any time, and so too the Evangelical Church.

Now that I think about it, even if there was a chance of a volcanic eruption — I would brave it to see this striking countryside. With any luck, the toboggan run sleds might outrun the lava. ;-)

In order to talk about Frisia (Friesland in German) you have to consider that most people know it as West Frisia, East Frisia, and North Frisia, called Westfriesland, Ostfriesland, and Norfriesland in German, respectively.

Whether West, East or North, Frisia is still a coastal region that was once swarming with, uh, Frisians. Who were, by the way, a Germanic Tribe — if that clears anything up for you. ;-)

This tribe of Frisians were around during the days of the Romans, but not really getting their own Kingdom until the 7th or 8th century.

Their territory stretched along the North Sea, from western and northern Netherlands to northwestern Germany (which includes Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein), touching the border of Denmark.

It even included the band of East Frisian (it wasn’t called that back then, though) that lie some 5 (or more) kilometers off the coastline of Lower Saxony. This is where you’ll find those famous mudflats that everyone loves so much at the Wadden Sea National Park. A UNESCO site, just so you know.

There are a number of famous towns in East Frisia, including Emden, Leer (both located along the Dollard Route), Wilhelmshaven, Wittmund, and Sylt, just to name a few.

Wilhelmshaven, BTW, is where you’ll find the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Information Center. And a Botanical Garden, Coastal Museum, and Aquarium too.

I like Norden as well. It’s a great seaside spa town, once ruled over (besides the Frisians) by Hanover and Prussia. The political climate of Norden’s yesteryear is but a distant memory once you’ve see its St. Ludger Church, its old synagogue, and the East Frisian Tea Museum.

The cities of Frisia are great, but it’s the islands that have grabbed my attention this time. You can hop a ferry from Wittmund to Wangerooge, and there’s daily ferry service to Spiekeroog.

This island is fantastic! It has only one village (with the same name) with a Shell Museum and an island spa. Camping out here is a lot of fun — and done from May to September. It gets a tad cold up here in the long winter months.

Langeoog is another Frisian Island that was once the island with the highest point. Too many people have worn away the peak, so it doesn’t hold that distinction any longer.

Don’t let that stop you — it is just about totally unpolluted here. Allergy sufferers take note, my sinuses feel better already.

If you head northeast you’ll leave the 3100+ square kilometer, tea drinking, mudflat hiking region of East Frisia behind.

Did you know East Frisians drink more tea than just about anywhere else in the world? They serve it with everything, and with every meal — using Kluntje (a rock candy) to sweeten the anti-oxidant beverage.

North Frisia might also be a coastal region, but it does have its own unique flavor. That flavor tastes like coffee, since they’re not the tea drinking types here up in the north. ;-)

They’re more into the nudist beaches, which you’ll find on the island & town of Sylt. There are also a number of expensive shops on the island (not to mention the famous Sylt Rose), connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm.

One of the other North Frisian Islands is Helgoland, not even two square kilometers. This island is another place that’s virtually pollen-free, making it a really popular tourist destination.

While Helgoland was once one island (it’s two now), the 50 square kilometer peninsula of Nordstrand was once part of an even bigger island, until a storm ripped it apart in 1634.

It doesn’t really matter too much of what’s connected or not, doesn’t change the fact that the North Frisian area once belonged to Denmark until the 1860s.

So, Frisia once belonged to the Denmark, huh? I guess that’s why Danish is widely spoken around here. But they also speak lots of regular German and Low German too. It might all sound kind of funny either way, the Frisians have their own dialect. And the Frisian language itself is said to sound a lot like English.

Whatever language anyone’s speaking here in Frisia, the area is divine — and that transcends any language barrier anyone might have. Anyone know the Frisian word for wonderful?

It’s dark outside — the sun won’t be up for maybe another hour; I haven’t even had a cup of coffee yet, and I’m about to embark on a trip around the Swabian-Franconian Forest in Baden-Württemberg.

Why do I bring up the fact that it’s dark (and I haven’t had coffee)? Two reasons. One, so you can see how “hard” I’m working. Two, there probably isn’t a whole bunch of other places where I’d like to see the sun come up.

There are certainly enough places to do it. The Swabian-Franconian Forest is 1,187 square kilometers, likely more. Why? Because in German we actually have two distinct areas: the Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald and the Schwäbisch-Fränkische Waldberge. Doesn’t sound like much of a difference, I know, but while both share most of the same area, the former goes a bit more to the south while the latter stretches a bit further to the east.

Anyway, with an average elevation of around 500 meters above sea level (and all thanks to the Jurassic period), and the highest elevation at 586 meters in the town of Großerlach in the Mainhardt Forest, the Swabian-Franconian Forest is great for sport activities.

Yea, you can have a forest within a forest. And too bad I’m not this high up to watch the sun come up. This time. ;-)

There aren’t any official borders of the Swabian-Franconian Forest, but generally the accepted outline (of both German areas) is Waldenburg to the north; Schorndorf to the south, Ellwangen and Stimpfach to the east, and Neckarsulm and Heilbronn to the west.

But, first we’re starting out in Öhringen, a town on the former Roman Limes (that means its boundary). I don’t know if the Romans appreciated a good cuppa java, so I’ll take my coffee (alone) to see Öhringen’s medieval Marktplatz, the old castle that’s now the Town Hall, and the 14th century church of Sts. Anna & Elisabeth.

By the light of day it’s easy to fall in love with all the trees in the Swabian-Franconian Forest, and just as easy to fall in love with all its towns, rivers (like the Neckar, Sulm, Murr, Kocher, Jagst,…), lakes, and recreational activities.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our next town would’ve been unrecognizable on April 17, 1945. Because the day before, Waldenburg was just about 100% destroyed by World War II bombing.

Residents painstakingly restored everything, and now you can visit the Castle Waldenburg (it’s part medieval/part Renaissance) with its Local History Museum, or the ruins of the Monastery Goldbach — whose destruction had nothing to do with the war. And I wouldn’t dare dream to leave out telling you about the nature reserve area.

The Swabian-Franconian Forest has a treat for us, the town of Schwäbisch Hall along the Kocher River. Sure it has an old church. Sure it was vital to the salt trade hundreds of years ago. Sure it has half-timbered houses that frame the riverbank. But, hello, this place has a gorgeous Christmas Market and a fun Baker’s Festival.

Um, that means strudel or apple cake to go with my coffee. ;-)

We meet up with one of Germany’s scenic routes in Murrhardt, or Vicus Murrensis as I like to call it. OK, not just me — that’s what the Romans called it.

Anyway, Murrhardt lies along the Idyllic Route and the German Limes Road. The best way to see this amazing place is by bicycle — because more than half of it is forested, and how far you think you’re going to drive into the trees? ;-)

Next to Murrhardt is Großerlach, the place within the Swabian-Franconian Forest with the highest elevation. Yeah, OK, they got a Limesturm (a Roman watchtower), and they got some gorgeous countryside — but they also got a haunted house. So, I’m outta here.

Wait, that’s not right. I’m all for a haunted castle, so why not a house? Perhaps the castles (like Castle Hohenstadt, Castle Laubach, Castle Untergröningen, and the other two castles) might be haunted. I guess I’ll have to ask the residents of all 75 hamlets of Abtsgmünd.

We’re coming to the end of our trip, but I always have time for another cup of coffee — so here we are in Backnang on the German Framework Road.

For those of you who don’t know, the German Half-Timbered Route is all about those fairytale framework houses. Lovely. Simply lovely. The rest of Backnang is just as wonderful, right down to its Ducal Palace and its medieval church.

Backnang also likes to party, so stick around for its Youth Festival, its Christmas Market, and its Wine Days in August.

Hmm, now that’s something to make me put my coffee down for. ;-)

Heilbronn is last up, picked specifically for its gypsum and sandstone rock formations, and its network of caves.

In addition to all that out in the forest, Heilbronn has four medieval towers, the St. Kilian Church, villas, fountains, a Christmas Market, and a German Order St. Peter & Paul Cathedral.

Don’t even bother bringing your coffee in here, I already tried — they yelled at me in a Swabian dialect. ;-)

Oh well, I’ll go drink it along the banks of the Neckar River, I guess, thinking of where to next…

There must be something special about the Bavarian Alps, because even though their area takes up merely 1.5% of Germany — they’re usually the first thing to come to mind when talking about Germany.

Perhaps this is why the Bavarian Alps are said to be “one of the most scenic places in Central Europe.” Foolish mortals, why would anyone say such a thing?

They are one of the most scenic places in the world. ;-)

The Bavarian Alps stretch for some 200km (124mi) along the Austrian border, from the Ammergau Alps in the west to the Chiemgau Alps in the east.

Within this slice of mountainous Heaven are classy spa towns like Füssen in the west and Freilassing in the east; scenic routes like the German Alpine Road and Via Claudia Augusta; castles like Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau; and more outdoor recreational activities than you could do in one season.

And I wouldn’t dream of not mentioning places like the Forggensee and the Lake Tegernsee.

The most interesting part of the Bavarian Alps, and which most people don’t realize, is that they’re not the tallest mountain peaks. The highest point is the Zugspitze at “just” 2,962 meters or 9,718 feet, but their topography of just jutting straight up over the level landscape gives them a real imposing stature.

Who knew we Germans would have a flair for the dramatic? Maybe this is why we have a flair for the dramatic. ;-)

Talk about dramatic, wait until you get a look at the Alps from the cable car ride in Bayrischzell. If you’re not a skier, this is one of the best ways to get up to the top.

Skiing is one of the best activities to do in the Alps, with the season running from December to April. That’s like five months of swishing and swooshing down the mountainside with the call of the Alpenhorn the distance.

Careening down the Alps wouldn’t be a good time to get distracted by the ladies in their dirndls, Gentlemen. The same goes for you, Ladies — no checking out the guys in their lederhosen. ;-)

If you’re going to do that, you’re best off heading to small alpine villages like Benediktbeuern. Just don’t do it at the 8th century Benedictine Abbey — doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?

Of course, winter isn’t the only time of year to enjoy the Bavarian Alps. Summer gives you ample time to try paragliding, hiking, and canoeing (to say the least). And with a summer season that runs from May to November, there’s certainly plenty of time to do it all.

Well, that is if you aren’t distracted by the dramatic views.