Delving Deeper into Amazing Germany with Cate Brubaker of My Germany Vacation

Germany is so much more than Bavaria, beer gardens and castles. In this episode of the Wander Your Way podcast, I’m joined by Germany travel expert Cate Brubaker of My Germany Vacation to dig a little deeper into this fascinating and diverse country. Cate has been traveling to and living in Germany since she spent her senior year of high school there.  She went on to earn bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees in German and has spent decades exploring the country.  So when it comes to Germany, she has a lot of knowledge to share! We talk about some of Cate's favorite places, including history-filled Berlin, the lively university city of Freiburg and the beautiful Black Forest, and the maritime city of Hamburg in northern Germany. But we venture even farther beyond the usual stops as Cate introduces us to Germany's northern islands, including Sylt, Rügen and the car-free island of Hiddensee, where you'll find beaches, hiking trails and landscapes that might completely change the way you picture Germany. Along the way, Cate shares practical advice about traveling by train versus renting a car, getting around without speaking German and why your travel style should help determine how you move around the country. And, of course, we couldn't talk about Germany without talking about Christmas markets!  Cate shares some of her favorites and explains why smaller neighborhood markets can sometimes offer an even more memorable experience than the famous ones. If you've only thought of Germany as Munich, Bavaria and the Alps, this conversation just might inspire you to dig a little deeper. Want to chat more about Germany? Send me a message at [Lynne@WanderYourWay.com](mailto:lynne@wanderyourway.com). **In this episode:** 1:58: Intro 4:08: Getting to know Cate 13:46: Cate’s top 3 destinations 16:40: Berlin: The Wall 25:51: Freiburg: The Black Forest 39:54: Hamburg: Harbors, Canals, Lakes 48:15: Honorable Mention: The Islands 52:12: Logistics & Tips 55:45: Christmas Markets 1:06:06: Final thoughts 1:08:18: Wrapping it up **Important links:**   My Germany Vacation Germany Travel Planning Podcast https://www.mygermanyvacation.com/Wander Your Way Wander Your Way Adventures Wander Your Way Resources REI [**★ Support this podcast ★**](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wanderyourway "★ Support this podcast ★")