Last October, Rüdesheim am Rhein was one of six stops we made during our Rhine River cruise. Rüdesheim is located in Germany, along the banks of the Rhine. It is a German wine-making town in the Rhine Gorge. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in this region. We had about 6 hours to explore this charming German town. Here are seven things to do in Rüdesheim.
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
Our first stop of the day was to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet. Honestly, we were not sure what to expect, and I was afraid I would be bored. Not so! It is a beautiful and unique place. Here you enjoy one of the most extensive collections of self-playing instruments in the world. What is a mechanical or self-playing instrument? I am glad you asked! The instruments work like computers. On their website is an excellent description of how these instruments work.
“You have a data store and an attachment that can implement stored information in a targeted manner. It is of secondary importance whether only a single sound, a signal, or a sequence of sounds is made to sound. Although the term “data storage” in the heyday of self-playing musical instruments – from the 17th century to the 30s of the 20th century – was unknown, even the oldest data storage system, the bribed roller, works according to the same yes/no principle as the modern PC. Pen in the reel means clay, no pen in the reel means no sound.”
Our guide was fantastic and quirky. She loved her job, and it showed. For 45 mins, she took us from room to room and demonstrated various instruments.
Fun Fact- In the last photo, our guide was holding up a music box. These are called singing bird vending machines. It is rumored that Walt was inspired by these little boxes, and the Enchanted Tiki Room was born.
Drosselgasse
Drosselgasse is the main street that runs through the old town. It is lined with historical buildings, shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, and more. At approximately a mile long, some of the city’s best entertainment can be found here. One can experience and immerse themselves into the German Rhine culture by enjoying regional dishes and wine.
Cable Car
Rüdesheim’s Cable Car transports guests all the way to the Germania monument. Though the weather was not great, we could not pass up a ride on the cable car. I had heard the views of the Rhine, and the vineyards are beautiful. We were not disappointed.
The views were worth the ride.
Niederwald Monument
We exited the cable car at the top of the hill and went to see the Neiderwald Monument. However, it was so foggy, and we could not see it unless we were right in front of it. None of my photos came out, so the one above will have to do. On a clear day, you can see miles around and take in the Rhine Gorge’s beauty.
The monument was built in 1977-1983 to mark the re-establishment of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War. The central figure is the Germania holding the imperial crown in her raised right hand and the imperial sword in her left hand.
Walking Wine Tour
Take a walk through these vineyards. Learn how the grapes are picked and about the winemaking process. Of course, enjoy samples of delicious wine!
Eat Baumstriezel
Otherwise known as chimney cakes, these yummy treats are made from enriched yeast dough cut into long strips and wrapped around a thick spit. The cake is sprinkled with sugar and baked over an open fire or in small electric ovens.
Drink a Rüdesheimer Kaffee
Brandy and sugar cubes are added to a cup. The brandy is flambeed and stirred for a minute until the sugar dissolves. Coffee is added, followed by a topping of whipped cream sweetened with vanilla sugar.
We could easily spend a few days in this charming town. I look forward to going back someday.
On our Rhine River cruise, we toured the city of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is located along the Neckar River in south-west Germany. It is approximately 50 miles south of Frankfurt. It is a college town and home to Heidelberg University, one of Germany’s oldest universities. It dates back to 1386. It is a hub for the arts and attracts many poets, writers, and other artists. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has as designated it the “City of Literature.”
Fun Fact #1 – US Army General George Patton had a car accident in the nearby city of Mannheim. He later died in Heidelberg, US Army Hospital. He is buried in Luxembourg.
Heidelberg Palace
During the 13th century, the palace was once the residence of the Prince of Electors of Palatinate. Though due to war and natural disasters, it saw much destruction. In the 17th century, the Palatinates were involved in the Thirty Years and the Nine Year Wars. The Prince no longer had any interest in the destroyed palace and moved his residence to Mannheim. The castle continued to fall to ruins from neglect and two lightning strikes.
Taken from Wikipedia, here is a timeline of events at the castle.
Timeline of events for Heidelberg Castle:
- 1225: first documented mention as “Castrum”.
- 1303: mention of two castles.
- 1537: the destruction of the upper castle by a lightning bolt.
- 1610: the creation of the palace garden
- 1622: Tilly conquers city and castle in the Thirty Years War
- 1642: renewal of the Castle plants.
- 1688/1689: destruction by French troops.
- 1693: renewed destruction in the Palatinate succession war.
- 1697: (start) reconstruction.
- 1720: transfer of the residence to Mannheim.
- 1742: (start) reconstruction.
- 1764: destruction by a lightning bolt.
- 1810: Charles de Graimberg dedicates himself to the preservation of the Castle ruins.
- 1860: first Castle lighting.
- 1883: the establishment of the “office of
building of castles of Baden.” - 1890: stocktaking by Julius Koch and Fritz Seitz.
- 1900: (circa) restorations and historical development.
We were fortunate enough to have a guided tour. The guides dress from different historical periods. There are 150 guides and tours are offered in 20 languages. It is quite a process to become a guide. There is a 3-month training program with an exam at the end. Our guide was funny and never broke out of character.
Though you can tour both the interior and exterior of the palace, we only had time for the exterior. Just another reason to go back, right?
The tour was interesting and just long enough that it held our interest. Though we did not tour the inside, we were able to go into one building, the Fassbau (wine cellar), from 1590, which houses the largest wine barrel in the world, Heidelberg Tun, which holds 58,124 gallons of wine.
Fun Fact #2- Mark Twain, who visited the castle and later, on a boat trip, he wrote a chapter to his famous book, Huckleberry Finn.
Old Town Heidelberg
Altstadt is the oldest part of the city and sits right below the palace. The Hauptstraße is the main road through the Altstadt and is where most of the shopping is centered. Other points of interest that can be found in the Altstadt include the Marktplatz, the Kornmarkt, the Church of the Holy Ghost, the Palatinate Museum, Synagogue Square, The University, Marstall, Heuscheuer, the Friedrich Memorial, and the Old Bridge.
Philosopher’s Walk
Philosopher’s Walk is a path located along the banks of the Nect
Heidelberg is beautiful and I would have loved to have seen more. Another place I want to return to someday.
Fun Fact #3 – College is free in Germany and open to anyone, regardless if a citizen or not.
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Riquewihr is a beautiful town located in the Alsace region of France. A medieval village with colorful half-timber houses dating back to the 15th and 18th centuries. Riquewihr is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France association). Surrounded by a fortress and overlooked by a castle, it was one of the few towns not destroyed in World War II.
Located 25 mins from the town of Colmar and the 45 mins from the city of Strasbourg, it makes for a wonderful day trip. We were on a river cruise down the Rhine, and Riquewihr was our first stop. I fell in love with this quaint village.
It is known for its Riesling and other wines, which is evident by the miles of rolling vineyards surrounding the town. Also, if you are a Disney fan, this village may remind you of somewhere. Riquewihr was one of two French villages that were the inspiration for Belle’s “Little Town,” in the movie Beauty and the Beast.
So what is there to do and see in this storybook town?
1) Explore Old Town.
Stroll along the cobblestone streets and take photos of the colorfully painted houses. There are two main streets and lots of little alleys. One can find wineries, restaurants, bakeries, and plenty of little shops.
2) Grab some lunch or dinner.
We had a delicious lunch of meats and cheeses and, of course, wine at Relais de Moines. The restaurant has three dining rooms, plus an outdoor terrace. The décor was charming.
3) Musee du Dolder.
The museum houses 13th-century artifacts, such as weapons, guns, and fortification parts. It tells the story of Riquewihr. Housed in a tower, it is also a watch and a bell tower. We did not have time to go in, but I have heard it is quite impressive.
4) Visit a Winery.
During our visit to Riquewihr, we visited Dopff au Moulin.
Taken directly from their website:
The
We met with a team member and heard the story behind the winery. We learned the history of the family and the town. We learned how the grapes grow, the harvesting process and production. We tasted quite a few wines and had time to browse in the store. It was a lovely experience. One thing to keep in mine, tastings in Europe are not small. Each wine tasting was about half a glass. I was feeling good when we left and a bit tired on the bus ride back to the ship.
5) Have a sweet treat.
One simply can not go to France without experiencing these delectable macarons.
Our day in Riquewihr was terrific. I would love to go back and experience more in this region. Oh, and perhaps have a macaron or two.
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One of the days we were in Amsterdam, Bill and I took a side trip to the community of Zaanse Schans. Located in the town of Zaandam, about 20 mins outside of Amsterdam, this quaint neighborhood is amidst a meadow landscape with iconic wooden windmills and other structures that have been moved and reassembled here piece by piece to bring the history of this area to life. It is a real living museum, with the 18th and 19th centuries coming to life. Zaanse Schans has farmsteads, paths, wooden houses, warehouses and windmills, ditches, and fields. Enjoy the smell of fresh cookies from the bakery museum, or take a look at where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry, and the various windmills.
Due to weather, we did not see as much as we would have liked, but we made the best of the situation. It was pouring rain and rather chilly. However, we were able to hit a few of the highlights.
Upon entering the parking lot, there is a photo opportunity for anyone that would like to have their picture taken. I am a sucker for a photo (I am a scrapbooker), so I made my husband stop and smile. As you can see from my fun hat, I was a bit chilly. From there, we went straight to the Bakery Museum De Gecroonde.
Stroop Waffles are amazing!
Inside we found Dutch sweets and baked goods like windmill cookies and Stoop Waffles, all of which are served warm. The smells radiating from this bakery were heavenly. Attached to the bakery is a storefront, and this is where we decorated our clogs. These made such cute souvenirs. The clog decorating area was just adorable. I had fun taking photos and playing around in the giant Dutch oven.
The next stop on our visit was to the Windmill DeKat (2). Built in 1664, this mill produces paint, chalk, pigments, and oils used by artists around the world. As we walked in, we saw a giant stone wheel grinding chalk that is powered by the sails outside. Take a look.
Inside the mill 
The pigments 
Inside the mill 
So beautiful
From the tour of the windmill, we were off to sample some cheese. The Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm is a traditional farm setting. In the center of the store is a sampling of all types of cheeses. It ranges from Gouda, goat’s cheese and flavors such as pumpkin! Why yes, we brought some pumpkin cheese home, and it as rather tasty. Note to U.S. travelers to bring cheese back to the U.S.; it must be vacuum-packed and pasteurized.
For all you chocolate lovers out there, Zaans Gedaan/Cacao Lab was our next stop. Enter this adorable shop and smell the tantalizing aroma of chocolate. Here see how chocolate treats were made in the 18th century.
Before heading back to our bus, we took a walk around the grounds. Even on a rainy day, it was such a beautiful sight. I can imagine in the spring, with all the tulips, it is stunning!
Oh, and how could I forget, decorating a clog was not enough, we had to see how the clogs were made and buy a pair as a gift. Our final stop was to Kooijman Souvenirs and Clogs. I purchased a bright red pair for my clog, loving sister.
Though I wished we had better weather, it still was a great day. There were still many things we did not get to see. When we head back to Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans will be on the to-do list again.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I returned from our second Adventures by Disney trip. We took a cruise down the Rhine River. We visited four countries and packed a lot in those eight days. We visited storybook villages, historical sites, world-renowned cities, saw castles, and experienced VIP service throughout the trip. Last year we sailed on a ten-day Mediterranean Disney cruise and added on an Adventures by Disney package. Instead of booking our excursions through the cruise line, we booked them through Adventures by Disney. I will explain what that means later on in this post.
First, for those of you that don’t know, Adventures by Disney (“ABD”) is a guided group travel option offered by the Walt Disney company. It provides culturally immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South, and North America. The trips range from 3-4 days (short escapes) up to 12 days long. There are river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Seine and Rhone rivers. As mentioned above, you may add an ABD to certain Disney Cruise Line cruises.
Being a Disney fanatic, I had heard of these trips a few years ago. We had been to Disney World more times than I can count, and we had done several Disney cruises at this point. However, two things made me shy away from them, the thought of group travel and the price. I had always loved planning our vacations. I would spend hours looking for excursions, comparing tour operators, etc. When it came to going on our first family trip to Europe, I was a little hesitant. I looked at what Disney Cruise Line had to offer for excursions and was a bit surprised at how expensive these excursions were. As I was weighing my options, a brochure for ABD arrived at my house, offering what they called an “Embedded ABD.” The add on includes preselected shore excursions, led by two Adventure Guides. Each embedded ABD is capped at 40 people. The ABD consists of a welcome and farewell reception, activities on the sea days, a case of water, and all photos taken on your excursions and the ship.
The more I read, the more I was starting to see the value in the add on. I decided to give my travel agent a call and discuss it with him. After our chat, I booked it. Unlike the land-based and river cruise trips, the deposit was refundable if we decided we could not swing the cost. At this point, I had nine months to mull over our decision. During those nine months, I poured over reviews, talked to people who had been on this trip. By the time our paid in full date arrived, I was ready to commit. OUCH! It was the most we had ever paid for a vacation. Now mind you, we paid off the cruise that day, too, so it seemed extra painful. LOL.
As the trip got closer, I started to have buyer’s remorse. Every time I told someone what we were doing, I heard how expensive it was, how I could take the trip for a lot less money, etc. It was starting to annoy me and feed into my fear that the trip was not going to live up to my expectations.
Well, can I say… the trip was worth every single penny. We had an amazing time. The guides were fantastic; the excursions were incredible; we received first-class VIP treatment from the moment we stepped on the ship until we departed. I was hooked. The Adventures by Disney experience is second to none, and I did not hesitate to book the Rhine River cruise and our next adventure, the Canadian Rockies with ABD. So, what makes the difference?
The Disney Difference
Disney is known for its storytelling. The story is told through the Adventure Guides. In addition to the two guides, you are joined by local guides that immerse you into the culture. (Side note, with river cruises, you have six guides. ) You experience the culture and traditions of the local people. The Adventure Guides provide the first-class service that Disney is known for, and all of your needs are met beyond expectations. The guides do more than take you from place to place. They provide more information you could ever dream of about each destination. They make sure you are hydrated, feed, know where the good bathrooms are (KEY!!), and the best local places to shop and eat outside of tourists traps. They are photographers and great entertainment for all. You get to know your guides, and it makes the trip a more intimate experience.
Not only do you get to know your guides, but the other families traveling with you — most groups top off at 40 people, except for river cruising. I believe 130-140 is the cut-off. You spend a lot of time with these people, and we have made friends along the way.
Are you traveling with children? ABD makes sure to build in what they call Junior Adventure activities for kids. For example, when we were at the Colosseum in Rome, one of the guides took all the kids and did a tour separate from the adults. They learned all about this amazing piece of history, all the while acting as gladiators.
Another difference between ABD trips and other group travel is what Disney calls the Insider Access. The Insider Access includes things like an after-hours tour of the Vatican, with a private viewing inside the Sistine Chapel. How about a backstage pass to Good Morning America? Or perhaps an exclusive dinner at Edinburgh castle is more your thing. These are once in a lifetime experiences, and Disney makes it happen.
Have I mentioned how easy ABD makes traveling? Need help making airfare reservations? ABD can help. Want to arrive a couple of days early or perhaps extend your trip by a few days? ABD can arrange this as well. Once your adventure begins, there is no waiting in line to check into your hotels, and there is no carrying your luggage. Everything is taken care of for you. Sign me up!
Lastly, we chose ABD for Disney’s track record when it comes to safety. Safety is their number one priority, and I have the utmost confidence that ABD will always keep our safety in mind when traveling to these various destinations.
All of this is the Disney difference, and this is why we choose to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.
If you would like to read more about our trips with Adventures By Disney check out these posts.
