We recently went on a Viking cruise, which embarked from Basel. We decided to go in a couple days…read moreearly to adjust to the time change, and to wander around the city of Basel. And in a stoke of luck, it just so happened to be during their annual Autumn Fair. We learned that it's the oldest fair in Switzerland, and has been running since the 15th century. It was awesome. They actually hold it in several different areas of the city (6, I think), but we only visited three of them. Tons of local things to eat, handmade crafts to buy, entertainment here and there, and plenty of carnival type rides. If you plan a trip to Basel, plan it around the beginning of November so you can check this out. It may just be on our list for a trip to Switzerland that we would start or end in Basel....during this fair.

I happened to be in Basel for work in early November, and happened upon the Autumn fair. I learned…read morethat this is an annual tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years. I am rating this fair 'five stars' primarily due to all the foods I've tried. While many cuisines from around the world are represented, I just loved trying out some of the Swiss snacks! There was this small raclette stand at the messeplatz that I must have visited 4 times in 2 days. Then there was the sausage stand and the risotto and sautéed mushroom stalls. Also for the first time, on a super cold sprinkling night, I tasted warm sweet Gluhwein and it definitely made me feel toasty inside! The fair is literally everywhere throughout Basel. You can literally just walk around town and find yourself running into different squares and streets blocked off with stalls, booths and stands. Other than food, you can pretty much find all sorts of craft items, books, kitchen stuff, etc.. I really enjoyed waking through the different areas throughout my two nights there and would so recommend it for people to visit if you happen to be in Basel during that time of the year.

A notice in the language of Shakespeare speaking to our friends. Year after year we are still…read morewaiting impatiently for the theme. The decor is still gorgeous and it's really one of the great success of Montbéliard. This is the Christmas lights at a time or there is not. Dear German friends trust me and come and see our beautiful Christmas market.

My mom wanted to take my five-year-old to the Christmas markets in France, and I had the brilliant…read moreidea of joining her with my three-year-old, mostly to spare him from FOMO. The trip was ambitious, short and difficult, and I'm not sure my kids enjoyed it more than they would have, say, Solvang or Anaheim. But enjoy it they did, and I for one will forever remember our day in Colmar. The city is small and charming, and for one month a year, the historic old-town area turns into a magical Christmas village, with six Christmas markets that more or less connect to one another in a walkable circuit. Part of this area, called La Petite Venise, is crossed by canals, all very scenic. We went on a Saturday in December, and the entire zone was flooded with tourists. The streets were crowded and restaurants were booked; the hotel we stayed at was exorbitantly priced. The crush of people was a bit overwhelming at first, especially in the narrower streets. I got used to it, though, and found the markets easy enough to navigate. There was a helpful map of the markets, and everything was close together. We weren't there to eat, but there was food and drink everywhere. Hot wine and hot chestnuts and various Alsatian specialties. My three-year-old found a cookie shop and shamelessly solicited and received a few samples. The kids were more interested in the carnival rides interspersed throughout the markets. There was a very cute rotating sleigh ride with reindeer and a great little ferris wheel, where we took in some beautiful views. The boys also enjoyed a janky-looking baby train ride with a confusion of cobbled together vehicles and trademarked characters and, of course, Christmas lights. All the rides were individually ticketed, and we gladly paid for them, as we were there to entertain the children. We shopped less than I'd anticipated, since I actually do love Christmas ornaments and other Christmas kitsch. Though the booths at the markets were enchanting as a whole, the stuff they were selling wasn't anything special. My kids got gloves that were made in China, and I got the sense that most of the merchandise available wasn't specific to the region. I did get a nice pair of Labonal socks, which are made in France, but the only other shopping we did was at a few of the brick and mortar stores. There was an artisan market, where I think there were more unique goods for sale, but it was indoors and there was a long line to get in. Not worth the trouble with two small children and a giant stroller. The best thing about the markets was the town itself, the lovely streets and buildings all decked out for Christmas. Colmar was pretty during the day and even prettier after dark, when the lights turned on. I'm glad we got to see it, despite the ridiculous amount of hassle. My mom got to check off an item on her bucket list, and the kids had an absolute blast.

Oh, Colmar! You are such a foodie paradise during Christmastime, and I love you for it…read more After reading about the world's best Christmas Markets, we decided to make an overnight stop in Colmar, specifically for their special Gourmand Christmas Market. This is a city that's not only absolutely show-stoppingly gorgeous and oozing with charm, but their many markets are 100% legit. Note that it is crowded here, ridiculously so. Colmar is popular for good reason, but be ready to shove elbow-to-elbow and pay exorbitant rates for hotels during December (and especially on weekends). There are so many markets here, it's hard to cover them all! My favorite was probably the Le Marchee Gourmand, which is a large tent with a dozen or so food stalls underneath. Large communal tables (standing only) means making new friends. The prices at the markets here are expensive, but I understand with the high volume of tourists they get. See my photos for examples of the food items on offer and their prices. From oysters to escargot, stinky cheese to handmade pasta, you'll find it here. There's also tons of local wine, and the pours are more than generous! There are a handful of fun rides, including a Dumbo-like ride where you can fly your own reindeer powered "sleigh." I saw that and screamed at first sight, and I kept screaming until my hubby bought me a ticket to ride, ha ha. I did have a major disappointment in the Colmar markets, though, and it's a big one (even if it sounds petty). They don't have ceramic market mugs. The Christmas Market mugs are just flimsy plastic cups, and they aren't great souvenirs. I certainly would not want to take one home. One of the joys for me is collecting the different ceramic mugs in the different cities and towns, and the lack of one in Colmar proved to be a major disappointment for me. Colmar is so charming that I still highly recommend its Christmas Markets. There's something for everyone here, and I swear just walking around town had us stumbling upon yet another small market.

if you are in Basel during the summer, you MUST swing by this outdoor event. "Chill on the Rhine"…read moregoes on from the start of July through the end of August. you've got DJs playing music outdoors. not raging party music, but more lounge/chill stuff, jazz, blues, and more. of course, I'm sure that just experiencing it one night means there could be different music on other nights, so your mileage may vary. projectors and concert-quality lighting rigs illuminate and highlight the old buildings along the Rhine in unique and awesome ways. of course, what would a festival be without alcohol? there was plenty of beer! and it's not expensive either - just remember to redeem your tokens at the end to get your deposit back (it's to prevent people from throwing cups all over and making a mess). crowds vary - there's a big college-age population in Basel, so you get the students, but you also get all kinds of random people who come out to enjoy the good weather and positive atmosphere. no one's raging, people are just hanging out, enjoying some food and drinks. just an FYI - their website is no longer active - they had the event when I was in Switzerland back in 2008, and my research on the interwebs shows they've had it every year up until 2011, so perhaps the domain expired or something. check up before you go to verify if they're still having this - and if so, definitely attend!