Hopfensee, Germany
Nestled in between miles of lush farmland and the commanding German Alps is a small lake called Hopfensee. If you were just in town visiting Neuschwanstein, you'd likely miss it. In fact, had D and I not done our research before our weekend in Bavaria, we would've missed it, too. The town surrounding the lake is quaint, but quintessentially German. Half-timbered houses, colorful flower boxes adorning each window...the ideal place for a German holiday. The locals seemed to think so, too, seeing as the town was bustling with families paddle boating and couples strolling along the lakeside path. D and I scored ourselves a lakefront hotel reservation at Residenz Hofensee and made this mountain view town our home base for the weekend.
Upon arriving, we were in awe of the beautiful views of the Alps that surrounded Neuschwanstein castle. If you looked close enough from our 2nd floor balcony, you could see the tippy top of the castle spire dropped in between the mountain peaks. Talk about some Bavarian magic! After dropping off our luggage, we took cues from the locals and wandered along the lakeside trail, stopping for photos and a sweet treat at the eis shop. A storm was rolling in, so we cut our walk short and grabbed a covered al fresco table at a local pizza parlor. Not a single soul in town spoke English, so we took the opportunity to practice our German...a lot. We were as submerged in German culture as we possibly could be, and we loved every second of it. We spent the next two days enjoying nature, darting into cafes to avoid rain showers, and feeling positively German as we mixed and mingled with other vacationers. If you want to holiday like the locals, explore the Füssen/Hopfensee area and experience the beauty of Bavaria. Prepare to have your mind blown and your idea of a magical vacation taken to new heights.
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