Round, orange and good for the soul: German pumpkin fests

The American love affair with pumpkins is well documented. On the other side of the Atlantic, autumn is the season in which decorative gourds pop to life all across the… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Idar-Oberstein

September 28, 2020 Something about Idar-Oberstein feels almost mythical. During the journey there, shadows and light dance through trees while two-lane roads wind through valleys and forests. When you arrive… Read more

Virtual Explorer: Get Away to Greece

Greece is awesome for a lot of reasons. The food is amazing, the people are wonderfully warm, and the weather for most of the year is generally unbeatable. Oh, and… Read more

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? 5 tips for improving your German at home

For Americans living in Germany, it can be all too easy to never learn German. If you speak English at work and English (or another non-German language) at home, you… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Worms

Worms makes an excellent destination for a day trip. It is packed with outstanding architecture, pedestrian zones and green space. It is steeped in history, too. As one of Germany’s… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Xtra Special Winter Outdoors Edition

Whether you love winter or simply endure it until spring arrives, one thing is true: getting outside and active is important for your health during the long, dark months. Fortunately,… Read more

Holiday Kaiserslautern: city lights, forest magic

If you find you’ll be spending the holidays a little closer to home than you might have liked, don’t worry! Holiday beauty can be found in plenty of places in… Read more

COVID digital certificates: apps and tips

November 12, 2021 It is increasingly important to have a COVID digital certificate on you at all times. Depending on where you live, you might need it to get into… Read more

Unbe-leaf-able: 4 places to see amazing autumn colors in Germany

Forests are an essential part of Germany. Naturally, autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons around. Golds, oranges and reds are yours to be had all over the country…. Read more

History, Culture, and Sun in the South of France

Nîmes, located in the south of France, is famous for many reasons. The light is wonderful, which is why French impressionists gravitated toward the area. The weather is lovely, as… Read more

Flyin’ Fine! Airplane Travel Tips for your Youngster

by Lisa Helenius, contributing writer We all have to get on an airplane at some point. With a little one in tow (or two or three or more!), 30,000 feet… Read more

Understanding COVID incidence rates in Germany

May 25, 2021 As the German federal government and state governments publicize plans for reopening the country, it seems like one phrase is everywhere: incidence rates. Incidence rates are how… Read more

KMC: Rheinland-Pfalz announces three-step plan for easing COVID restrictions

Courtesy Translation by Nadine Bower U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden May 14 2021 On May 11, Rheinland-Pfalz Minister Malu Dreyer announced a three-step plan for safely re-opening the state. A full… Read more

Rheinland-Pfalz COVID restrictions: what to know

May 12, 2020 Even though the German Parliament recently eased restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID, many regulations remain in place. Additionally, different German states may have… Read more

Virtual Explorer: 7 Benelux Gems

Even if you haven’t lived in Europe for long, you probably know that “Benelux” is a catch-all term for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. They’re usually lumped together because they’re… Read more

“Re-open EU” – a helpful tool for understanding COVID rules in EU countries

May 10, 2020 As the number of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continues to rise, European countries are returning to the question of how to re-open for “normal”… Read more

Germany passes bill to allow privileges, reduce restrictions for vaccinated people

May 7, 2021 Today, the German parliament approved a bill that allows increased privileges and reduced restrictions for people who have received a full COVID-19 vaccine. The same rules would… Read more

Germany’s “Federal Emergency Brake” – Questions Answered

Courtesy Translation by Nadine Bower U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden April 26, 2021 When will the new Infection Protection Act apply? The 4th Civil Protection Act, or so called “Federal Emergency… Read more

EU Signals Possibility of Allowing US Tourists Soon

American citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon be able to travel to Europe. In an interview given to the New York Times, Ursula von der Leyen, president… Read more

Swap “Bored” for Board: 6 Great Euro-Themed Board Games

Even during a non-COVID era, boredom often drives us to do one thing: open a glowing screen. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s good to have balance when… Read more

Virtual Explorer: 6 Excellent Sites in the UK

There’s a lot to love about the United Kingdom. If you like art and culture, the country’s got you covered. This is, after all, the land that brought us Shakespeare,… Read more

Window into Culture: 5 German Film Classics

One of the best ways to understand any culture is by checking out the art it produces. And one of the most engaging, immersive and instructive forms of art is… Read more

Virtual Explorer: 7 Great Spots in Spain

Spain is vast, beautiful and geographically diverse. Given its history, it is also one of the most culturally rich places in Europe. In addition, it offers mountains, beaches, deserts, plains… Read more

Virtual Explorer: 5 incredible sites in Italy

If you find yourself staring south in a longing fashion, you’re not alone. Italy lies that way, beyond the Alps, where you’ll find warmth, culture, beauty and amazing food. And… Read more

Germany extends lockdown, unveils 5-step plan for easing restrictions

March 4, 2021 Current lockdown rules in Germany have been extended through March 28. This decision came yesterday, after federal and state leaders met to discuss COVID mitigation rules. However,… Read more

Virtual Explorer: 5 Great Sites in France

Living in Europe and not being able to travel can be difficult. After all, this continent has such an abundance of art, history, culture and entertainment packed into such a… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Zweibrücken

Zweibrücken makes for an excellent day trip. Located a few kilometers from the French border, the city is rich with natural beauty, history and a very interesting mélange of sightseeing… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Your Hometown

If you talk to those who have traveled the world and checked off bucket list items like champions, you’ll often hear a common theme: they’ve never explored the places they… Read more

Germany extends COVID lockdown regulations

January 20, 2021 In an ongoing effort to mitigate the spread of COVID, Germany extended key lockdown rules until at least February 14. This decision came following yesterday’s meeting between… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Volksmarching

Volksmarching is an ideal activity for the COVID era. Founded as a non-competitive sport in Germany in the 1960’s, volksmarching (or “wandering,” as it is also called) is essentially a… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Ulm

As far as day trips go, Ulm packs a serious punch. It’s a large city, with plenty to do. Located on the banks of the Danube River, it offers history,… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Trier

Trier is a beautiful, history-rich city with origins that are shrouded in mystery. One legend holds that it was founded by an exiled Assyrian prince 1,300 years before the birth… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Schönau

Schönau almost seems like Shangri-la. Every twisting road that leads to the little village deep in the Pfalz forest leads you further and further into what feels like a forgotten… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Rothenburg

One of the classic (perhaps THE classic) German day trip destinations is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. You’ve probably seen pictures in guidebooks or on websites: half-timbered buildings, cobblestone streets, impossible… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Quarantine Edition

These are strange days, especially for Americans living in Europe. After all, one of the benefits of being here is that travel is so easy. So many world-famous cultures, countries,… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Pforzheim

Pforzheim embodies so much that is good about Germany. With more than 100,000 people, it’s large enough to offer something for every traveler, and small enough that navigating it doesn’t… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Oppenheim

Oppenheim is a place of wine and water, a small town on the banks of the Rhine where the circle of life is very much present. It is a place… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Niederhausen

A trip to Niederhausen is good for your body and your soul. This small wine village on the banks of the Nahe River is off the beaten path, and yet… Read more

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Mainz

Mainz is easy to enjoy. It is filled with classic architecture, including towering stone spires and half-timbered buildings. The Rhine River chugs past, acting as a beating heart for a… Read more

Finding clarity in COVID regulations: where to turn

October 20, 2020 Recent weeks have brought a flood of information about new or strengthened COVID-19 restrictions. For good reason, too: the number of infections is rising quickly in Germany… Read more