A trip through Germany, Austria or Switzerland can be an amazing and varied journey. Traveling by car, within just a few hours you will experience rich, green countryside, thick, dark forests, snow-capped mountains, all the way to thriving urban and commercial centers that are as modern as many cities in the United States.
Much of the countries' beauty can be attributed to the Alps. Even on the warmest days, they might still remain snowcapped. Can you imagine throwing snowballs in Switzerland in June? German speakers love nature and the outdoors. This will be clear if you have a chance to visit these countries. Not only do most restaurants offer outdoor seating in decent weather but there are also a multitude of outdoor festivals, lakes, public swimming pools and massive parks even in the most industrialized cities. If you visit during the cold weather seasons, you will still have plenty to do outside, like ice-skating and visiting winter festivals and the famous Christmas markets.
No trip to Germany or Austria would be complete without visiting their castles. Every town or region has its own famous castle, or Schloss. Many old castles have been converted to Schloss Hotels. This is where you can sleep in royal comfort for the same price you would pay to stay in most upscale hotels. Many places are famous for their delicious breakfast buffets and breakfast is almost always included in the price in the hotels of German-speaking countries regardless of price. If you stay in Munich, Germany you may like to eat Weißwurst for breakfast-the area's famous white sausages that are eaten only before noon. In Austria and Switzerland, you will find delicious breads and cakes as well. You will also no doubt see a delicious assortment of breads, meats, yogurts and cheeses, but not too many bacon and egg dishes.
Getting around is easy: you can take public transportation within all the major cities. There are extensive trains that connect the cities and also cross over country borders. If you would like, you can rent a car and drive on Germany's famous Autobahn (expressway system