A friend is planning a two week June vacation for his family to Germany (first trip - will travel by car - in/out of Frankfurt airport). They want to stay two nights in 7 different locations and have asked for your suggestions on where to overnight. Based on your travel experiences - which 7 locations would you recommend?

BavariaBen ...One would only have to look at my previous routes to figure out the areas I would recommend.

1. Odenwald/Heidelberg area (Neckar valley - Michelstadt - Bad Wimpfen)
2. Rothenburg o.d.T. area (Würzburg - Iphofen - Bad Windsheim)
3. Chiemsee area (Herrencheimsee - Prien - Bernau - Reit im Winkl)
4. Berchtesgaden area (Salzburg - Königssee - Ramsau - Hallstatt)
5. Füssen/Schwangau area (Royal Castles - Oberammergau - Garmisch)
6. Black Forest (Urach - Wolfach - Freiburg - Gengenbach)
7. Rhine Gorge/Mosel valley (Rüdesheim - Bacharach - Oberwesel - St. Goar)

PatBee ...These are my general suggestions--old familiar places to most of us, but probably a fast overview of some of Germany's most fairytale, scenic landscapes.

1: Land in Frankfurt, pick up car, drive to Black Forest area near Gutach. Visit open-air museum, glass blowers, etc. Spend two nights.
2: Drive south through Triberg, stop in Furtwangen for German clock museum, head for Meersburg (stop at open-air museum near Meersburg along the way) for two overnights. Visit Mainau.
3: Drive to Füßen area for two nights. Visit Ludwig castles--drive to Garmisch, if desired.
4: Drive to Munich or outskirts. Spend two days sightseeing Munich--Dachau, if desired.
5: Drive to Rothenburg for two nights.
6: Drive to Heidelberg/Miltenberg area for two nights.
7: Drive to Rhine River area for sightseeing, boat trips, castles, last night before departure from Frankfurt.

SnakehunterSnk ...If you have room for some information from a "newbie" to this site, I can highly recommend this potential itinerary giving at least two nights in each area.

1. East Bavaria - Regensburg: Originally an old Celtic town taken over by the Romans 2000 years ago as an outpost in the far northern region of the Empire. Relatively unscathed by WWII much of the original town remains to this day. Lots of possibilities for day trips such as Rothenburg and Nürnberg.
2. Along the Alps - Reit Im Winkl: Famous ski resort area. Centrally located to Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg, Ruhpolding, and Berchtesgaden. Lots of zimmer freis, farms, gasthauses for the choosing.
3. Salzkammergut - Hallstatt: Jewel of the Tirol. For those who really want to get away from it all this is the place. Take a boat ride on the crystal clear lake or ride the seelbahn up to the saltmines. Lots of reasonably priced zimmers.
4. Northern Tirol - Reutte: A peaceful Austrian village without the hustle and bustle of the bus trade. Good day trips to Ehrenburg castle ruins, sommerodelbahn in Biberwier, or just relax in some quite alpine meadow listening to the distant cowbells while munching on a picnic lunch. Hint...try the "Schluxenhof" in Unterpinswang for great local cuisine.
5. Fussen/Schwangau: There is nothing better than a couple of days on one of the many farms in this area. My favorite is Brunnen on the Forggensee. Great views of the castles from the balcony of a bauernhof while sipping on a cold one, easy day trip to Wieskirche, Ettal, or Oberammergau.
6. Black forest: Anywhere along the B33 between Triberg and Gutach. Easy day trips to Freiburg, Titisee, Colmar in France, Strasbourg, Gengenbach, or just wander the backroads and savor the essence of the Schwarzwald.
7. Rhineland: This one is dealer's choice. Try any of the small towns along the Mosel (Traben-Trarbach, Zell, Treis to name a few), or my personal favorite the Rhinetal. Lots of great weinguts in Oberwesel, Bacharach, or if you crave a stay in a genuine castle there is always Rheinfels, Schönburg, or Gutenfels (bring $$). This is a terrific place to end a two week jaunt and reflect back on your adventures with a view from atop the Niedwerwald in Rüdesheim. Happy travels!

RJKARR ..I think this gives a good sample to a first-timer of a few things Germany has to offer.

1. Rothenburg o.d.T.
2. Berchtesgaden
3. Oberammergau/Garmisch-Partenkirchen
4. Füssen
5. Meersburg/Island of Mainau
6. Black Forest (probably staying in Gengenbach)
7. Rhine Valley

JRLVR1 ..identical to Pat Bee's with one exception. We liked Dinkelsbühl as it was less touristy than Rothenburg. We would recommend you stay in Dinkelsbühl but tour Rothenburg.

1. Black Forest
2. Meersburg
3. Füssen
4. Munich or outskirts.
5. Dinkelsbühl
6. Heidelberg
7. Rhine