Luisenpark Mannheim is truly one of my favorite spots in Mannheim. Having lived here years ago, I…read moreused to bring my kids on weekends to relax and enjoy nature--and it still holds that same charm today. Originally created for the Bundesgartenschau, the park has grown into a vibrant and well-loved destination for locals and visitors alike. The gardens are beautifully maintained, and there's something for everyone--playgrounds for children, peaceful walking paths, and even small boat rides for a relaxing experience on the water. One of the highlights is the variety of attractions: a botanical garden, a butterfly house, animal enclosures (we spotted cows and reptiles!), and large aviaries with birds--including storks. The Japanese garden and traditional-style tea house add a serene and unique touch that makes the park feel extra special. Even visiting in the off-season was a delight. While it wasn't as lush as in summer, the early spring blooms still made everything feel fresh and beautiful. Overall, Luisenpark is a must-visit if you're in Mannheim. There is a small entrance fee, but it's absolutely worth it for the experience.

Yes!!!! This place is amazing. Pack a lunch or stash some euros aside for food at one of the little…read moreeateries in the park, because you're going to want a full day here. ***WARNING: They don't accept any American credit cards. You MUST have euros to get in, and the closest ATM is a 10 min walk.*** Now once you get in it's a blast from beginning to end. They have huge open spaces of green grass to lounge around on metal lawn chairs or you can bring in your own blanket. There are tons of playgrounds with different themes through out the park. The castle playground built from real stone is exceptional. They have awesome rope climbing webs. The water playgrounds are super cool! Swings and slides are interesting and well maintained here. The plants and animals are super neat. We had a crane scoping us out while we ate our picnic lunch in one of the fields. They have a little penguin exhibit, turtles, guinea pigs!, and a very beautiful butterfly exhibit. There is also a small aquarium. Oh and the boats! The boat ride is a slow leisurely drift through the parks little river. The pelicans came right up to the boat and tried to snatch the tiny persons pink pants right off of the side (they were not on her, but hang drying). There were also a ton of baby ducks. It was super cute. We had such a great day here and didn't even make it all the way around the park!

This park is lovely. There are free roaming deer and you can feed them. You can park your car in…read morethe Reuteallee.

the best place to enjoy BBQs (in certain areas only), chill out, chat with friends for hours, play…read moreguitar and sing, listen to drummers, play frisbee or just lay in the sun and you can even have a gorgeous view on the castle as it lays on the hill overlooking the oldtown (see in my pics ;-) ) I absolutely love this view!!!! If you should be out till very, very, very early in the morning not wanting to go home to bed yet.....take a warm jumper with you and wait for the sunrise!!! WOW!!!!! A sunrise to remember :-) If you should be there with children there is even a playground area half way down the Neckarwiese!!!

So, where is this burg (castle) as in Burggarten (Castle Garden)? Unfortunately, the Stauferburg,…read moreImperial castle/fortress for the Holy Roman Emperor has been long lost. A legend goes it was lost by an earthquake. Stones were valuable materials and the city was eager to expand. It's probable that the Rothenburg residents dismantled the castle themselves. On your left as you walk into the Castle Garden, you'll see the only preserved building of the former Stauferburg, which is now a memorial site. An info panel in front of the Blasius Chapel explains the structure and function of the former castle grounds. Past the castle, you'll get to a private residence that was once the office of the city nursery in Rothenburg. In the middle of the English garden grounds, you'll see a small baroque styled garden with allegories of the four seasons. The Castle Garden features a historic collection of trees and extensive lawns, which invite visitors to linger to bask in a medieval atmosphere. A column and pogrom stone in the Castle Garden recall the past. The Staufer column on the north side of the Castle Garden reminds of the era when the emperor's castle was used for control over the imperial city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the Holy Roman Empire. Next to the chapel is a copy of the medieval pogrom stone. This memorializes the murder of the Jewish residents in Rothenburg, who died in the Middle Ages during the Rindtfleisch pogrom in 1298. Approaching Castle Garden via the Burgtor, you will have beautiful views of the Tauber Valley at the observation platforms to the left and right. It's a must visit when you are in Rothenburg.

The east of Rothenburg's old city, you can walk through the town wall into the medieval alleyways…read morevia the Galgentor (also called Würzburger Tor) or Rödertor. At the Rödertor is the Röderturm, which is open to visitors regularly. From here you get a wonderful view of the old quarter, from Markusturm with its stork's nest to - the also accessible - City Hall tower. The Röderturm is also a central starting point for Rothenburg's Tower Trail, which leads around the old quarter.