A Summer Visit to Germany

We visited Germany for two weeks in late June and really wanted to make the best of the warm temperatures and long sunny days in North Rhine-Westphalia. We started our trip near Bonn and spent two nights to the south at the Rheinhotel Dreesen with a balcony and wonderful views of the Rhine River. The Dreesen has a lovely beer garden overlooking the water that is very popular with locals and is the perfect place to relax after a day exploring nearby attractions.

During our first few days in Germany we spent free time strolling along the Rhine and walking around the center of Bonn to see Beethoven’s home. We also took a short trip across the river to Königswinter to visit Drachenfels and the ruins of a castle built in the early 12th century. We caught a ride up the mountain on the one of the oldest railways in Germany with a cogwheel. At the top, Drachenfels has breathtaking views of the river and the city of Bonn with an adorable patio to grab a snack and a few local Kolsch beers.

After our stay in Dreesen we drove north, passing through Koln, and stayed with friends in Dusseldorf. We strolled along the river promenade and just enjoyed experiencing life in the suburbs. We even had the opportunity to visit a local farm and got our hands on some wonderfully fresh, non-pasteurized milk. During our visit we spent a lot of time at local beer gardens like Burgoh and enjoyed the long hours of sunlight.

Toward the end of our stay we took a day trip to Munster to visit some extended family. We walked the cobblestone streets, visiting the Munster Cathedral, St. Lambert’s and just admiring the architecture of the buildings near the Marienplatz square. During our short stay I was really struck by the number of open spaces, beautiful fields and forests around every turn. The light in June was a dream as well!

The Rheinhotel Dreesen
Rheinstraße 45-49,
53179 Bonn (Bad Godesberg)
+49.0.228.8202

Beer gardens are a must when in Germany. We enjoyed our visit to Burgoh while in Dusseldorf.

Vicki Grafton is a fine art wedding film photographer living near Washington DC. When she’s not photographing wedding she can be found relaxing with her husband and their 3 rescued pups or traveling and capturing unique locations on film.