My mom and I took my kids to France last month to visit the Christmas markets. The trip was my…read moremom's idea (and very generous treat), and it was as ambitious and chaotic as it was special, my boys' first time in Europe, for a Christmasy long weekend. We took the train to Strasbourg and had less than six hours before our train to Paris, one of which we lost looking for a storage locker at the station. Setting aside lunch and the forty minutes required to use the bathroom at Galeries Lafayette, we had about two hours to explore the actual Christmas markets. Strasbourg has several of these markets, and while we went to two or three distinct ones, they were all within walking distance of each other and more or less blended together. They were definitely charming, even if the rainy weather was not what my mom had in mind when she booked this bucket list trip. The lights and decorations were enchanting, and worked well with Strasbourg's beautiful architecture. We did some light shopping, buying magnets and Christmas decorations at a couple of the hundreds of booths. There was one booth with rude vendors, but they seemed to be outliers, and we just moved on to the next shop, which was selling very comparable goods. We found one ride for the kids, a kind of janky merry-go-round that was, at least, Christmas-themed. We also saw the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, a cool Gothic church and one of the city's most famous sites. I admit we spent more time at the merry-go-round. This was a hectic way to see Strasbourg, but the kids had fun and I'm glad we were able to check it off my mom's list. Next time, we might just hit Solvang, but the Strasbourg Christmas markets probably are worth seeing before you die.

This was the main purpose of my ten day November 2021 trip to Europe: To meet up with my frequent…read moreflier friends in Strasbourg (one from Atlanta, one from Minneapolis and two from Detroit) to attend the oldest Christmas market in Europe in the "Capitale de Noël"! Sure, Düsseldorf was a fabulous meetup with Klaus-Dieter and Stuttgart was great to see the transportation museums. But Strasbourg was the hook for the trip! There are a couple of markets around Strasbourg in different plazas but the main one is around the cathedral. They had set up a clear entrance and exit with security checking COVID QR codes and matching IDs. There were also concrete bollards placed to prevent a vehicle from doing something stupid. Once through the entrance, masks off and enjoy! A few dozen Christmas themed kiosks with Christmas tree ornaments, engraved glasses, chocolates, leather goods and more. Of course, lots of food so plan to be hungry when you arrive. We had three different glühweins (I prefer the red) and each had a slightly different flavor. A ham and cheese crepe was consumed. And I bought a few things to bring home. Just so much enjoyment here and the crowds were manageable. Tips: If you're going to shop, bring a reusable shopping bag. You can get back your €1 deposit on your glühwein cup by returning it. And importantly, keep in mind that you're in a big crowd so mind your wallet/handbag and be aware of crazy people who might be doing dumb things. Have fun! [Review 16442 overall - 76 in France - 1950 of 2021.]

The botanical garden (French: Jardin botanique) is great. It is often considered to be an oasis of…read morereflection and silence. The botanical garden is located in the city center. But don't be afraid. There's no street with a lot of traffic. In contrast, it is quite silent and romantic. I recommend you to admire the different kinds of flowers and plants. They are said to be imported from countries all over the world. Apart of taking long walks, it's quite fun sitting on a bank observing the walkers or the playing children. If you like drinking a cup of tea or coffee, there're various coffee shops. Of course, you shouldn't forget to taste the Alsatian specialities.

I was there in the beginning of May and the place didn't have too many interesting things to see. I…read moreguess it is better to come in June....

Cool spot worth a visit if you are in the area. It's not well marked,you need to pass the hospital…read moregate and you'll see an old plaque mentioning the Cave, take the outside stairs leading to the basement level. The tram stop is on line D, Porte de l'hôpital, the best way is to use Google maps. The entrance is free, you can just read the signs or get the audio for 3 Euros. They also offer a selection of wines for sale.

Found this place while looking at a map of Strasbourg. If you don't speak/read French, the entrance…read moreis down the stairs directly under the sign. Once you open the door and you're hit with the aroma of a musty basement, you know you're in the right place! The cellar is free to tour but they also offer private experiences if you're interested. One was being set up while we were there and it seemed like pastries and wine, where I presume someone would then talk about the cave. Just inside the doorway from the store, on the right, there's a very old tunnel that was used to supply military with food and supplies. It's damp, dark, and very cool. It's a walk walk through. To the right are some barrels that were given as gifts, one to King Louis XVI, as well as a wine press from centuries ago. To the left is a long (ish) row of barrels leading to a gated section, a barrel dated 1472 and some information about it. If you're a fan of wine or just want to see a really old wine cellar, I'd recommend this. If for no other reason, it's free and you can say you did it!

This place is simply amazing. It's literally a collection of all kinds of Black Forest homes that…read morehave all be relocated to this very site for touring. My wife, who studied historic preservation, said it's the best museum she's probably ever seen. We spent hours here looking around and would absolutely come back again.

If you've never been to a German Freilichtmuesum, they are essentially a collection of historic…read morebuilding brought together to give visitors an idea of everyday life in bygone times. This Freilichtmuseum situate in the Gutach valley is designed to give you a glimpse into life in the Black Forest during the late Middle Ages. The collection of local houses and other structures is an interesting window into earlier times. The tour that we took was informative in helping us understand the life of ordinary people then. One unpleasant aspect was the amount of cheap tourist shops surrounding the museum. There wasn't much authentic about this consumerist aspect. I will say though that this type of museum is not for everyone. If you're of school age or just love history, this is a great place to spend an hour or two. If not, it would probably be more interesting to spend your day somewhere else in this gorgeous region.