Oh my god. This place is STUNNING. We went on a Friday afternoon, the sun was shining, the birds…read morewere chirping and the water was an incredible neon blue. I've never seen anything like it... Ethereal and mysterious and peaceful. The area was crowded, but not enormously so. We walked around the water for a bit, then grabbed a lite lunch at the little cafe on the water (not great, but what tourist restaurant is?). There are tons of little hikes in the area, but we just walked along the Blau river away from the town and discovered this super quiet walk through the forest. Such a magical day. If you're in the area, Blautopf is a must-do.

Lake Titisee is a gorgeous little spot right in the Black Forest of Germany. Great for a weekend…read morebreak, day trip, or stop for a few hours on your road trip! We did a day trip to the lake, and it was so beautiful nestled in to mountains on every side. The drive there, through the Black Forest, is also an amazing sight to see, making you feel like you're almost in a fairy tale. Aside from the beauty of the lake/nature itself, there are also several eateries and activities around the lake too. We got to have Black Forest Ham (with local cheeses on a charcuterie board) and Black Forest cake, with cherries and cherry liqueur. The lake region is also known for cuckoo clock making, so we sat with our treats and beers and saw one of the world's largest cuckoo clocks go off. Lake Titisee has influences from Switzerland and France, along with its German heritage as it's kind of in the middle of all three. I think that makes it a perfect little spot to experienced nature, cuisine, and some fun activities for a few days!