May 1
A photo diary of a Spring day in Dusseldorf, Germany. These photos were taken in the Alstadt, Medienhafen and Pempelfort districts!
Dusseldorf Factfile
Population: 585,000
Highlights:
Hotel:
Eating:
Day Trips:
Apr 10
Mannheim to Bingen loop
Using the Rhine River as your constant companion, this loop takes you through some beautiful scenery on the Rhine Rift Valley including the Black Forest, the Palatime forest and Rhine-Hessian Hills to the west. As well as scenic beauty you will also get a great view of the historical cities and towns such as Worms, which is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Additional sites on this route include the world-famous Speyer Cathedral, which was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage monument in 1982, and the castles of Johannisberg and Biebricher.
To find the route simply follow ‘theRhine’ signposts and route logo, which is well integrated into local signposts. Additionally all along the Rhine Cycle route, you can park your bike safely at any of the ‘Fahrradstationen’ or cycle centres. Further details about this route can be found on the Rheinradweg website.
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/avoyali/
Lake Constance Circuit
Again using water as a constant guide, biking around Lake Constance allows you to make your way through Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a picturesque 270km bike ride. The route runs past vineyards and through medieval towns whilst always sticking close to the beautiful lake and it’s often steep shoreline alongside pebble beaches.
The route is very well signposted and you can challenge yourself to complete the whole route or, if time is limited, there are obviously a variety of smaller routes along the way. One of the most enjoyable parts of the route is around the picture-perfect meadows leading into Altenrhein in Switzerland.
You can get a guided tour from Lake Constance Cycle Path Service, who offer a great variety of routes.
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcdemoura/
Mountain biking in St. Ingbert
Originally intended only for mountain biking marathons, the circuits are now open to mountain bikers at all times. The town has two mountain bike routes which are well signposted, one 40km and one 50km. The route itself runs through the countryside of St Ingbert and varies in difficulty. Just under half the trail runs along single-passage trails which run alongside scenic forests in one of Germany’s most densely wooded town.
More information about this route and countless others in Germany are available on Germany.travel/EN.
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothep/
Between February and April you and 11 of your nearest and dearest can hire the artic Spa Boat for three days of extreme winter indulgence. By day you’ll be gliding around the Lyngen Alps and by night you’ll be hot footing it between the on deck hot tub, and sweating it out in the wood-fired sauna. You really won’t have to lift a finger as below deck your personal chefs rustle up a gourmet treat as you sit back, relax and take in the icy winter skyline.
Nasa have promised that this winter 2011/2012 is going to be the best for catching a glimpse of the Northern lights for 50 years! But, this is not the kind of thing you can book – you can never guarantee how much you are going to be able to see – so to maximize your chances of the best view we’d recommend travelling with an expert, especially if you want to properly understand what you are looking at. Check out aurorahunters.com for some more information about tours. This is more than a winter get away – this is a once in a life time kind of deal!
Sun, Ski and Apres Ski, Mont Blanc
For me, there is no better winter getaway than a week on the slopes, and Mont Blanc is the crème de la crème when it comes to scenery, après ski and variety. There are plenty of runs of varying difficulty all over the mountain and each lead to new and exciting avenues to explore. If you are lucky enough to have sun you will be spoiled with the most spectacular views of the Alps and the towns below. And, even if you aren’t a skier, there are plenty of beautiful walks and cafes to enjoy at the lower levels of the mountain.
Luxury Igloo Experience, Austria – Zillertal Valley
What better winter getaway could there be than spending the night in your very own luxury ice suit. After a long day on the slopes why not head down to the luxurious saunas and kick back before enjoying the five course gourmet dinner included in the price of your igloo. If you need to get anywhere fast, or you like the wind in your hair, we’d definitely recommend driving your own team of eager Siberian huskies through the white Austrian forests. Don’t worry about getting cold – you’ll be very comfortable in your ice suite tucked up in your expedition-grade sleeping bag.
In the West, early winter is synonymous with Christmas and what better way to get into the festive spirit than enjoy a bustling Christmas market. Heidelberg is a fantastic place to visit during the months of November and December with its fairy tale castle and magical Christmas market. As you wonder through the twinkling taverns and sip on a steaming cup of gluhwein you can’t help but be taken under the spell of Christmas cheer.
Theme: Linen by The Theme Foundry
