These are the little places I bring visitors when I want them to see the real thing, not the tour version. Half-timbered, unhurried, still lived in.

Where to soak. The thermal baths and spa towns I go back to when the week has worn me down, and the ones worth the extra hour.

What a German spa day actually involves, textile rules and all, so you can relax instead of guessing your first time.

Hundreds of Sundays, loosely ranked by how often I go back. The full list, sorted by drive time and the kind of vibe you want to chase.

France for lunch, Luxembourg for shopping in the afternoon, Strasbourg when you want a city. Borders close enough to cross on a whim or a hike.

2 River valleys, castles on the hillsides, and the hidden gems worthy of the trip. Yet 2 completely different vibes. Which would you choose?

Germany's oldest wine road, 85 kilometers of villages, and the drive I send every first-timer down. The forest starts right where the vines end.

Fortresses strung along one route, close enough to stop at three in a day. Pick the ruins you can climb over the ones behind glass.

The loops I take for a slow afternoon, the ones with the views and the places worth stopping. I have gotten my husband in some pretty funny situations too.