Announcing: A Food & Wine Trip to Heidelberg, Baden Baden, and Strasbourg, October 2013

by Kirsten on January 9, 2013 · 22 comments

in Travel

 

9  Heidelberg, center of town 640 - Copy

I’m thrilled to announce this culinary adventure, a food and wine trip to my home area the captivating town of Heidelberg, Germany, down the wine route that travels through the Palatinate wine region (origination to world famous Riesling wines), stopping in the pretty resort spa town of Baden Baden, and ending in cosmopolitan Strasbourg, France, in the heart of the Alsace. My friend and fellow Colorado food blogger Michele Morris (Cooking with Michele) has taken several groups on culinary trips to Italy, and we have teamed up to take a group of ten guests on a food and wine and fun filled adventure to Germany and France this October.

11 a Heidelberg, center of town 640  - Copy

Our trip begins in Heidelberg, the charming baroque town set in the the southwest of Germany, right on the Neckar River. We’ll stay in the old town, overlooked by the famous castle, and will take advantage of everything the town has to offer.

14 HD, view to castle 640 - Copy

Our first day will be spent getting to know the town, with a guided tour of Heidelberg and a visit to the fortress that pops up like a fairy tale on the hill behind the town. On day two in Heidelberg, we’ll enjoy a day of cooking at the Kochschule Eppelheim, dining on our creations for dinner. If you’re new to the cuisine of this region of Germany – both food and wine – you are in for a treat!

50 Freinsheim, last grapes 640 - Copy

After our two days in Heidelberg, we’ll hit the road to meander down the famous Weinstrasse, the German Wine Route. The wine route is set in the Palatinate wine region, the second largest wine region of Germany, boasting breathtaking scenery and an unusually mild climate not seen elsewhere in Germany. The warm weather allows the cultivation of kiwifruit, lemons, figs, and almonds – and produces some of the best wine grapes in the world.

76 Weingut Fitz Ritter 640 - Copy

79 Winery Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz 640 - Copy

We’ll visit a couple of wineries for tasting and touring, enjoy lunch in a small town,……and stop in the lovely village of Freinsheim (This is where I got married!) for a tour and chocolate tasting.

57 Freinsheim 640 - Copy

35 Freinsheim, Buschhof 640- Copy

Our day on the wine route will end with a short drive to the resort town of Baden Baden.

28 Baden Baden 640 - Copy

23 Baden Baden 640 - Copy

Our hotel in Baden Baden is located right in the center of the town, perfect for accessing the spas, shopping, and sights. You’ll have the opportunity to tour the town with a guide, but we’ll also leave time open for enjoying that famous spa and shopping scene.

20  Baden Baden, Le Jardin de France, restaurant  640- Copy

During our time in Baden Baden we’ll also enjoy our second cooking class of the trip at the lovely Le Jardin de France restaurant in Baden Baden, where we’ll cook and eat lunch together.

85 Strasbourg 640 - Copy

After our time in Baden Baden, we’ll make our way the short trip to Strasbourg, France in the Alsace region. Prosperous and cosmopolitan Strasbourg has been called the intellectual and cultural center of Alsace, but we’re also sure you find the lovely Petite France area where we will be staying simply romantic and charming.

81 Strasbourg 640 - Copy

Our time in Strasbourg includes a guided tour, wine tasting and dinner at a classic winstub, and our final opportunity to partake in a cooking class at the highly regarded Cuisine Aptitude. We’ve purposely left the final day in Strasbourg open for one last chance to see the sights, take in the culture, and shop for gifts. We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together that evening as we head back to the hotel at the Frankfurt airport that evening in order to catch flights home the next morning.

 

ITINERARY

Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Travel Day

Thursday, October 3, 2013
Arrive in Heidelberg
Guided Tour of Heidelberg
Group Dinner

Friday, October 4, 2013
Free time for shopping and exploring Heidelberg
Cooking Class (and dinner) at Kochschule Eppelheim

Saturday, October 5, 2013
Touring the Weinstrasse
Winery tours and tastings
Group lunch along the wine road
Freinsheim tour and chocolate tasting
Arrive in Baden Baden

Sunday, October 6, 2013
Cooking school (and lunch) at Le Jardin de France in Baden Baden
Free time for exploring, shopping or enjoying a spa treatment

Monday, October 7, 2013
Guided tour of Baden Baden
Free time for exploring, shopping or enjoying a spa treatment
Travel to Strasbourg, France
Casual group dinner and wine tasting at a typical winstub

Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Guided tour of Strasbourg
Cooking school (and dinner) at Cuisine Aptitude

Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Free day for shopping and sightseeing in Strasbourg
Farewell group dinner
Return to hotel at Frankfurt Airport

Thursday, October 10, 2013
Return flights home

34 Freinsheim, Buschhof 640 - Copy

WANT TO JOIN US?

You may hold your spot in the trip with a $1000 deposit made out to Cooking with Michele and sent to Michele Morris, 2403 S. Milwaukee St., Denver, CO 80210. Final payment will be due when the group has filled with ten guests. Because payments are nonrefundable, we urge you to consider outside travel insurance should you be concerned about the possibility of cancellation. Be sure to check your policy carefully to ensure it covers your needs.

In order for us to make the trip, we need a full group of ten, so we advise you NOT to secure your airfare until we confirm the group. If we are unable to confirm the trip, your deposit will be refunded in full.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

{ 22 comments }

Jean Weber Orellana October 10, 2013 at 11:40 pm

Just saw this great posting tonight! You probably just returned from this adventure! I have been to Germany and Austria once before, but would really love to go again with people who really know the country. My ancestors are from Baden Baden, and I have always wanted to visit there. Please tell me you will go again in the future! Please put me on your list to receive pictures and news of future trips to Germany! Thanks!

kitchenroach January 21, 2013 at 10:27 pm

Schoene Reise habt ihr geplant. Ich bin sicher, dass ihr viel Spass haben werdet.

Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch) January 19, 2013 at 7:22 am

I’m thinking about going Kirsten.

Saw Eva at the Denver Art Museum yesterday. Always good to see her.

Larry January 12, 2013 at 9:20 am

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks to our son been stationed there, we’ve been to Heidelberg three times and loved it.

Kirsten January 12, 2013 at 11:12 am

Larry, you are very lucky to have your son living in HD!

stadtgarten January 9, 2013 at 10:09 pm

What an interesting trip! It sounds perfect!
Happy New Year, liebe Grüße, Monika

Kirsten January 12, 2013 at 11:13 am

Alles Gute auch fuer Dich Monika! Liebe Gruesse in die Heimat.

Leslie January 9, 2013 at 2:58 pm

Ohhhh my. That is like a dream trip. My husband was born there. Maybe I can scrounge up some money!!!

Kirsten January 12, 2013 at 11:14 am

Leslie, you should surprise him with this trip!

Cathy at Wives with Knives January 9, 2013 at 11:09 am

Geez…Frankfurt.

Cathy at Wives with Knives January 9, 2013 at 11:07 am

Hi Kirsten – Wow, what a wonderful trip. I am very interested in joining you for this cooking adventure and think it might possibly work for me. I’m going to France for a month in May and should be more than ready for another European visit. I can’t think of a more fun way to see areas I haven’t visited before and make some new friends who love to cook as much as I do. I’m really going to think about this. It sounds like just about everything is covered in the cost of the trip except airfare to Frankfort.

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 11:25 am

Cathy, that would be wonderful if you would join us. Yes, we covered almost everything. Michele is the expert on this side, since she has planned and taken several groups to Italy and really knows what works best. Please let me know if I can answer any further questions you may have. Kirsten

Toni | Boulder Locavore January 9, 2013 at 9:22 am

What a fantastic trip! Michele told me about it but your beautiful photos really bring it to life Kirsten. Can’t think of two more fun tour guides too! You’ll have a blast as will your clientele.

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 9:56 am

Thanks Toni. Michele and I are very excited to be able to offer this trip.

Rebecca @ Peanut Butter, Passports and Epinephrine January 9, 2013 at 9:11 am

This sounds amazing! Did you mention what airport to fly into? And will transportation be provided from the airport to the hotel in Heidelberg? Also, is there a date when registration begins, or is it on going? I’m trying to plan a trip to Europe this year, and this just might fit in! Thanks!

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 9:21 am

Hi Rebecca,
Registration is open and you are very welcome to sign up today. I would love for you to join us! The closest airport from the US to fly into would be Frankfurt. Transportation throughout the whole trip will be provided. Not so your arrival to Heidelberg, since not everybody will be starting this trip in Frankfurt. Frankfurt and Heidelberg are very well connect via public transportation and it won’t be a problem for you or any guest to make it to Heidelberg via train. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you have.
Kirsten

Karen (Back Road Journal) January 9, 2013 at 8:55 am

You have picked lovely cities to visit…some of my favorites. I recognized almost every photo.

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 9:46 am

Thank you Karen.

Ansh | Spiceroots January 9, 2013 at 8:48 am

Sounds like a well planned trip and a lot of fun. I am looking forward to my Berlin trip next summer. Hope you guys have a wonderful time with this culinary adventure.

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 9:47 am

Ansh, I took my kids to Berlin last summer. I used to work in Berlin, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have regarding your trip. Kirsten

Patty January 9, 2013 at 8:30 am

Such a wonderful trip, love the itinerary with the cooking classes, Ill have to think about joining you on this adventure!

Kirsten January 9, 2013 at 9:50 am

Patty, I would love for you to join us! I know it will be a winner since I visited most places myself before hand. Please let me know if I can answer any questions you may have regarding this trip. Kirsten

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: