Northern Germany feels expansive — geographically and culturally. Here, more than anywhere else in the country, water becomes a defining presence. Centuries of trade, maritime life, and political transformation shaped a region that today values clarity, resilience, and forward-thinking. This final chapter explores four northern states that represent Germany’s outward-facing identity: Berlin, Hamburg, Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania,…
Eastern Germany can be perceived as catching up to the rest of the country, due to the years these states spent behind the Iron Curtain. Shaped by forests, rivers, reform movements, and artistic legacy, however, this region is a place of ideas — where philosophy, music, craftsmanship, and political change took root. Though often quieter…
While southern Germany is defined by mountains, forests, and mystery, western Germany has been shaped by rivers, borders, industry, and exchange. For centuries, this part of the country has been Germany’s entry point to the wider world, where ideas, goods, and people traversed continents and cultures overlapped. This article explores four states whose identities are…
The longer you look at Germany, the more details begin to emerge, rewarding your efforts in sitting with it for a little while. As you’ll see, Germany’s federal states have been shaped by geography, history, and centuries of political change. In the country’s southern and western heartlands, these factors shaped traditions that still define daily…
Geography and culture are deeply intertwined in Germany. Its mountains, forests, plains, and coastlines have shaped everything from dialects and architecture to cuisine and daily life. Getting a grasp on the country’s major geographic regions helps you appreciate the nuances of each area and the diversity represented within their natural borders. Check out this overview…
Germany is an underrated country in north-central Europe—a place where ancient towns meet cutting-edge design and fairy-tale castles rise above river valleys. For travelers who love depth, texture, and meaningful experiences, Germany offers a stunning blend of history, natural beauty, and modern sophistication. As is true in my own story, Germany has a way of…
Books can shape the way we see the world long before we actually step out into it. The streets, landscapes, and architecture described in our favorite stories live in our imagination — and traveling to those places is a way of stepping inside those treasured tales. Book-inspired trips let you relive childhood favorites, discover hidden…
Planning an international trip is exciting — and, for many travelers, a little overwhelming. With endless hotels, tours, restaurants, and landmarks vying for your attention, it’s easy to overpack an itinerary or lose sight of what you really want from your adventure. You can’t do everything, so you need to discover the rhythm of travel…
If you think about Halloween travel, you’ll probably think of Salem or Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. I think ‘Halloween travel’ for most of us is really just limited to local haunted houses or nearby festivals. But there’s a different kind of October magic waiting in Romania — where misty mountains, charming villages, and centuries-old…
Some places really leave a mark on you, and don’t seem to get old, no matter how often you return. For me, Europe is that place. I love home, and I’ll always champion exploring the treasures of the U.S.—from Acadia’s rugged coastline to the canyons of Zion. But stepping into a cobblestone square or a…