Advice on trip to Germany in June

[johnk]

We are taking our daughter to Amsterdam, Germany and Salzburg this June as her college graduation present (good excuse for me!). The current plan is to drive from Amsterdam to Stuttgart where we were going to get a guided Mercedes factory tour in the morning and the guided Mercedes museum tour in the afternoon. From there we would be driving to the Alps, then to Salzburg and then to Munich.

My son will be going and is a car/Pagoda nut. My daughter is an engineer and will find the car stuff interesting. My wife, well lets just say she wants the kids and I to enjoy the trip.

Any recommendations on the above? I don't want to make it all car related, but would appreciate any input on what not to miss.

Thanks!

John K.

[49er]

I suppose it all depends on how many days you have but I would definitely plan to visit the Mosel river area with perhaps a stop at Peter H's hotel in Enkirch. From there travel down the Rhine and on to Stuttgart. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn next the Porsche Arena and Mercedes Football stadium and it is only about a 15min walk to the MB Museum. We took basically this same trip last year (with the addition of a week in Provence) and we were gone a month. Have a wonderful trip!

John

[mbzse]

../...Any recommendations on the above?

Sinsheim museum is nice
http://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/?lang=en

Mercedes Classic Centre in Fellbach (Stuttgart suburb) is a must for a M-B enthusiast
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/classic/classic-service-parts/mercedes-benz-classic-service-parts/

In Amsterdam I personally enjoy the vanGogh museum
http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en

/Hans in Sweden

[johnk]

I also could use any advice on where to stay near the Mercedes factory and museum area.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I for one do the good old search like "Things to do in (name of City)" That John brings good feedback, I recommend for you to do it unless you have already done so.

Something like this ----> http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g190441-Activities-Salzburg_Austrian_Alps.html

In Stuttgart I also recommend the Porsche Museum and the large dealership just across the street.

In München I recommend to pay a visit to the BMW fairly new "Die Welt" ("The World") complex.

Here (skip the add) ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfPRJGWzojY

Not to miss in München would be the Hofbröuhaus, The Frauenkirche and clim up the "Alten Peter" (Old Peter) on the Marienplatz  (town square) great views of München when you are on top

Should your travels take you anywhere near Dresden (it is the town as you may know that got almost totally destroyed during WWII) you should not miss the "VW Glass Factory" it is an engineering marvel they way they build cars there. I'm sure your son and daughter will love it, skip the add once the link opens ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq9xCUSF2gk

In general enjoy the highways and byways (not much to see on the autobahn). If you use the autobahn watch the speed limits when posted, the German Police (in unmarked cars) make tourist pay at the ATM at the next rest stop and it's expensive.

Have a great trip!

[Paul & Dolly]

If you are near Saltzburg, you could think of going for a trip to HochSolden, and bathe in the open air heath centre swimming pools surrounded by alpine scenary.

Paul

[johnk]

Thanks Hans. I did not think of the classic center and I don't want to miss that now. My wife already has the VanGo museum on her list so this is a good confirmation.

[johnk]

Thanks Rolf-Dieter,

I really appreciate the advice on the autobahn. We will be driving a family sedan and I am looking forward to the scenery in Germany than being able to say I drove on the autobahn.

Do you have to be a big Porche fan to appreciate the Porche museum?

John

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi John,

The autobahn is fun only some people do not respect posted speed limits near city limits. I've witnessed 2 Italian men having to pay near 400 Euros for overtaking on the right and speeding near a city were speed limit was posted (the fee included the cost of the driver loosing his drivers licence) both had to return home since they gave most of there money to the police. There skying holiday was over. 

[66andBlue]

.... From there we would be driving to the Alps, then to Salzburg and then to Munich.  ...

Consider visiting at least one of the many castles/palaces  built by the Bavarian rulers and kings: http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
for example, the Linderhof Palace:
http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/uebers/linderho.htm
or Neuschwanstein: http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/neuschw.htm
And if the weather cooperates nothing beats a leisurely boat trip on the Königssee: http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/koe_bart.htm

[ghenne]

If you're in Munich, visit the Deutsches Museum. It's the world's largest science and technology museum. It's an amazing collection. Yes, they have cars and motorcycles, but lots more.

[WRe]

Hi,
- in Frankfurt: http://http://www.klassikstadt.de/
- 80 km south of Frankfurt along the A5 is the small Carl Benz museum, where he build his first cars: http://www.automuseum-ladenburg.de
From there to Pforzheim goes the historic way (106 km) his wife Bertha took 1888 with one of his first cars (model 3) with their 2 boys and without Carl's knowledge. This was the real start for his success.
- in Stuttgart: http://www.mercedes-benz.com/de/mercedes-benz/classic/museum/
...WRe

[Peter van Es]

Ok, time to be nationalistic:

Amsterdam:

• https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/, buy your tickets in advance
• Zaansche Schans, close to Amsterdam, for some typical Dutch scenery and windmills
• Red Light District Guided Tour, check if it is really as bad as they say in the US
• Louwman Museum, the largest private collection of classic cars, many, many Pebble Beach winners
• Michelin-star restaurants in Amsterdam

Other things to do: Anne Frank museum, Rent-a-bike and annoy the locals, Take a Canal-boat tour, on the way to Germany visit my favourite museum the Kröller - Müller museum.

Have fun!

Peter

[JamesL]

Peter, you neglected to mention your favourite coffee shop, for the younger folk, yunnerstand

[Raymond]

Hi John,
We made that same trip once.  Peter is spot on for his choices in the Netherlands.  The Rijksmuseum is a can't miss and the van Gogh is a treat as well.  On your way Southeast, consider passing through Maastricht and stopping at the Margraten American Cemetery.  It's worth teaching young folks the sacrifices made for freedom and this is a beautiful spot for stretching your legs. 

Just over halfway between Amsterdam and Stuttgart is the Nurburgring.  It is a public highway (with several restrictions) and you can hire a race car and instructor and get in a few laps on the "Green Hell"  I've done that.  It's amazing.  Check out the web site.

The Mosel is a lovely drive.  Be sure to go off the main route and drive a few of the B roads. 

In Salzburg, be sure to get tickets to a concert in the palace.  They are not very expensive and it is one of the most memorable experiences you'll have.  We saw an excellent 18-piece string ensemble play. 

Pick up copies of Rick Steeves' Europe guides.  He has never led us astray.  There are so many excellent choices that you will want to come back to repeat some and see those you missed. 

[Jonny B]

I would certainly second the recommendations about the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart (yes, heresy I know, but they have some cool cars, and the building is pretty nice too)
Van Gogh in Amsterdam for sure, and (supporting our past president the esteemed Mr. Van Es - Rijksmuseum which is a short walk away and the world class car museum, Louwman museum in The Hague is well worth a stop.)

Not that much further a drive from Fellbach (the Classic Center) is a visit to Afalterbach - AMG

We just love to spend other folks money.

You pretty much can't make any really wrong choices.

[johnk]

everyone

Rick Steve's has nothing on you guys! This is all great advice. My wife has been doing all of the trip planning, bit this is getting me excited about it now.

[J. Huber]

This may be stretching the "Mercedes connection" in your travels AND it might be the most random thing you read on this thread but: if you want to see where the nuns dismantled the Mercedes Benz in the closing scenes of the Sound of Music, treat yourself and your kids to the official Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg. See the movie (again?) before you go and you will have fun... Yes, its kind of an American thing but I recommend it to anyone who has seen or heard of the film, and wants to take a little side trip to the Austrian countryside...

So long, farewell, ...
James

[Markbhai]

I did something similar last year for charity and loved it

read this and hopefully you will get some feel for distances, things to look out for and possible routes.

http://markbhai.blogspot.co.uk/

Enjoy yourself

[johnk]

James,
The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favorite shows. My sister took us to see it when I was a VERY VERY young kid. My wife talked about fitting Salzburg in. We definitely will look at this.

thanks
John

[49er]

 I was in Salzburg June '65 and saw the Sound of Music right after it premiered in London the following month. After just being there and the surrounding areas of Austria, it was very special for sure. Check out the Mirabell Palace and gardens and you can almost envision Julie Andrews (and her co stars) singing and dancing there

John