Germans in your own home?

For those travelers who wish to see the world on a budget and meet locals along the way couchsurfing remains a very promising option.  If you're not familiar http://www.couchsurfing.org/ is a website that enables hosts and travelers to find people they feel they'd get along with to stay with for a period of time on travels in almost any country and any major city on earth.  While this may sound sketchy to the unknown the website has had very few issues regarding safety, feedback left by other surfers allows people to have an idea of what staying with someone might be like and if they seem trustworthy.  If you would like to meet travelers and make new friends offering up your couch to surfers is a great way to do so.  In my time of offering my couch up on couchsurfing I have met many interesting and friendly people, a majority of which were Germans.


Germans are known for their love of travel and general respect for the countries they visit, and every German person I have hosted has been respectable and a joy to hang out with.  Many German visitors I have had wished to spend time with me and my friends doing what we normally do for fun, and have been great company and provided a great outlet for me to practice my German with a native speaker.  Lots of these German travelers came from work and travel adventures in Canada to see the United States, some of them spent their first day in the US with me and I was always very happy to show them around and provide them with a great experience in Seattle.




















Germans are not the only people you will meet if you offer up your couch of course.  I have hosted all sorts of travelers, from Hong Kong to Uzbekistan I have met and made great friends from all over the world.  If you are trusting in the general good of human beings and want to meet fellow world explorers than I cannot think of a better outlet than offering up your couch for them.
Steven

Southern Germany: A Hikers Paradise

The majestic mountains of Germany attract all kinds of lovers of the outdoors all year round whether it be to explore the winter wonderland or bask in the glory of a majestic lake.  All over southern Germany there are beautiful slopes that can be visited with the use of many trails with varying degrees of difficulty that are sure to make for an unforgettable experience.  There are many iconic places to visit in the German Alps such as the Castle Neuschwanstein which can be visited with a short ride out of Munich.  Aside from this iconic castle there are many other examples of beautiful buildings and villages that dot the mountains and make for a quaint stay in your adventure around the peaks.  Regions such as Allgäu are home to especially breathtaking scenery that is sure to please the heard of the most experienced mountaineer, or anyone looking to view something spectacular.  



For the sporty individuals the Alps of Germany offer lots of skiing/snowboarding opportunities from beginner level slopes to those geared for more extreme individuals.  Fishing and camping are also plentiful in the area.  How does sleeping 6,562 feet from sea level in the tent hanging from a tree sound?  In Waldseilgarten Mountain Resort located in Bavaria you have the opportunity to camp high up in the craggy peaks from a hanging tent, sure to be a thrilling experience!



If travelling to Southern Germany be sure to take a visit to the Schwarzwald for more hiking and forest adventures.  The Schwarzwald lies in southwest Germany bordered by the Rhine valley.  There are numerous paths that can take you through the entirety of the forest if you wish to take an adventuresome multi-day trek through the region. There are many historic villages through the forest that would also make good places to rest on your journey and to relax with some excellent German food and beer. Villages such as Schiltach make for interesting stops on such an adventure.




Steven