Germany's Romantic Road

       Germany's Romantic road runs from Wurzburg(near Frankfurt) to Fussen in the South.  It is a lesser known travel destination in Germany, which is the reason I chose to write about it.  Typically, I would never recommend driving in Europe, but Germany's road system is quite similar to that of the U.S. (As long as you know how to drive manual transmission).  Wurzburg is the center of Germany's white wine growing region.  It is highlighted by open air restaurants, a gothic feel and phenomenal German Sausages.  I would spend only a few hours here if you want to drive the entire Romantic Road in only 1 day.  Along your trip South on the Autobahn, you will be able to take in the picturesque scenery.  This route is filled with mountains, lakes, and vineyards.  A truly pleasant drive, which has similar views to that of Northern California.
          The next stop on "the Road" I would suggest is the town of Rothenburg, which is straight out of the Middle Ages.  It is a walled town that brings you back to an age before the time of the hustle and bustle of the modern world.  It is filled with individually owned stores, avoiding the corporate chains we currently have.  My personal favorite anecdote is when we stopped in the town for lunch.  We had an older couple make us an authentic German meal from scratch!  The hospitality was unlike anything I have ever experienced.  The extra time waiting was worth it!  So if you are looking for a place that hasn't seen much change over the past 500 years and want to soak up history, this would be it. 
           The final stop on the Romantic Road must be Fussen.  It is the location of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle also known as King Ludwig's Castle.  The castle itself offers, in my opinion, some of the most spectacular views in Germany.  It gives you the opportunity to walk along the open air areas, instead of viewing through glass like many of our modern skyscrapers.  The castle itself actually inspired the building of Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  One note to remember is that there is a steep incline to get up to the castle, but they to offer carriage rides to the top...how very castle of them! 
 After your journey down the Romantic Road, it is very easy to continue your trip, as it is closely located to Munich, Austria, And Switzerland.