Travel Information for coming to Germany

First of all, let me say, Dawn and I are extremely excited for everyone to arrive in two weeks! We know it's a long journey over here and we appreciate that so many of you are taking the time to come spend a very special day with us! We know it's the first time for some of you to Europe, and even if it isn't, it can still be a little confusing and you may not know exactly what to expect. For this reason, we've got some information to help you with your trip, packing, and even some information on a few of the places we plan on visiting while you are here. If you do have any specific questions on something we haven't covered, please feel free to email us at any time.

Money

Most of Western Europe and an increasingly large part of Eastern Europe uses the Euro. The only countries in Western Europe that do not are Switzerland and England/N Ireland. You will need Euros while you are here in Germany, but don't waste time acquiring them in the US. There is no need for this anymore. Almost all ATM machines in Germany will accept your US-based ATM card and they will give you a better exchange rate than many banks. Because of this, Travelers Cheques are also not necessary. When you need some cash, it will be readily available. Your first Euros can be obtained at the airport when you arrive. Credit cards are also accepted in many places and do give the best exchange rates, but use isn't quite as wide-spread as in the US. It's always good to have some Euros in your wallet, just in case!

Weather

For most of the year, the weather in Germany is, well, pretty cruddy. However, September and early October are usually pretty darn nice. Nights can get relatively cool (low to mid 40s) while days are usually warm and sunny (60's up to 85). There is a link on the right hand side of this page that will give you the forecast for Parsberg. I have checked the 16 day outlook and it is looking dry and fairly nice in two weeks. I will update this section as September 17th gets closer as the German long-range forecasts are notoriously bad.

What to Bring

Because of the variable weather, make sure you pack a variety of different clothes that cover all conditions. Even though the weather is normally pretty nice this time of year, you can also experience short-lived torrential rain storms (just ask my brother - we did find a good sushi place in Munich while trying to get out of the rain though!). Also make sure to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. The cobblestones take their toll on your feet! Other things to bring include your medications, extra contacts or eye glasses, small toiletries such as soap and shampoo and any Bavarian clothes you may have if you plan on joining us at Oktoberfest. If you do forget something such as a toothbrush, you'll have no problem picking one up in Parsberg. There is a drug store next to the hotel that most of you will be staying at.

Travel and Day Trips

Dawn and I have planned some day trips while you are here that should prove to be a lot of fun. The area we live in is surrounded by a lot of interesting sites and cities all within a short drive or train ride. If you'd like, take the time to visit some of the links below to learn a little more about these places. At the bottom of the page is a map showing the locations we plan on visiting. The yellow house is Parsberg and the red symbols all represent planned or potential day trips. You can click on each symbol to bring up links to more information on each place.

Parsberg

This is the place we've called home for over a year now. It's a quaint little town close to nothing but central to everything. We like it. It's basically got everything you need to survive including numerous grocery stores, some shopping, a HUGE furniture store, a castle, a few guesthouses a couple of churches, pharmacies, drug stores, the main hospital in the region, a drug rehabilitation clinic, a halfway house for crazy people and a gas station. So, if something goes medically or mentally wrong while you're here, you're covered! More info on Parsberg, if you can read German, can be found here: http://www.parsberg.de/ If you can't read German, enjoy the pretty pictures!

Regensburg

This is a cool city. It lies along the Regen and Danube river and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are some old Roman ruins within the old city and many other fantastic buildings, narrow streets and a nice shopping area to explore. Regensburg also boasts one of the largest cathedrals in the region, and I must say, it is quite impressive. Regensburg also claims to be the birthplace of the Bratwurst and is continuously battling for this title with Nurnberg. The current Pope is also from Regensburg. You can read more about this city here: http://www.regensburg.de/tourismus/international/english/through_the_ages.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

This is one of the more picturesque places that Dawn and I have found in Germany and Europe. Rothenburg is a beautiful, medieval walled city that is a destination for tourists from around the world. If you only have the energy or time to make it on one of the day trips, this is the one to go on! Hours can be spent wandering the twisting lanes, checking out the unique shops and exploring the old castle fortifications. The world-famous Kathe Wohlfahrt gallery is also located here and open year-round for you to explore. Read more about Rothenburg here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber http://www.rothenburg.de/index.php?get=121

Munich

As some of you may know, the day Dawn and I get married coincides with the start of the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich. Be thankful we won't be going down there on the opening weekend, however! Instead, we've planned to visit Oktoberfest and Munich on the following Monday which should ensure lighter crowds and easier access to the beer tents and attractions. Munich is by far one of my favorite cities in Europe. Even after living here for over three years, I have not fully explored everything it has to offer. Unfortunately, we will only be down there for one day. We plan on going to Oktoberfest and then visiting the Marienplatz area and if there is time, sections of the English Garden. There is too much about Munich to write in such a limited space. Please check out these links for more information on the city and Oktoberfest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich http://www.muenchen.de/home/60093/Homepage.html http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Oktoberfest/7548/index.html http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Sightseeing/Attractions/7569/index.html

Nurnberg

We don't have an organized trip planned to this city, but if you are looking for something to do, this is a great place to visit. Nurnberg is a short and easy train ride from Parsberg and offers up many attractions to keep you busy for the day. We love going to Nurnberg for some of the great restaurants located there, to visit the castle and to visit the great museums located in the city. Just ask and we can help you plan a day trip here any time. I have provided some links for Nurnberg in the map above. Just click on the red icon to access these.

View Parsberg, Germany and the Surrounding Area in a larger map