The Romantic Road
Road Trip
The Romantic Road runs north-south from the Swiss border into Central Germany. It essentially divides southeast Germany from Bavaria. And it's a magical step back in time.
Fairy Tale Castles
Let's be honest -- kids don't always appreciate castles tours. The excitement is drained by how day-to-day the structures can be. But that's not the case with Neuschwanstein, which was purpose-built to be a fairy-tale structure, with secret doors and hidden grottos. Your kids will love it.
Fairy Tale Towns
And, yes, you have to stop in Rothenburg for a day. Take the tour with the watchman. See the beer-clock. Buy some souvenirs at their Christmas market shop. And then spend the night in Dinkelsbuhl, which has all the charm and half the tourists.
Connects With:
You can start in Switzerland (Zurich is a good connection) and then either veer left to the Black Forest, or right to Bavaria. Or just keep driving (and driving) north to get to Hamburg.