It is a 48-day FALL caravan in WESTERN EUROPE.  This caravan will rendezvous at a campground near Frankfurt, Germany, in mid-August and then travel for 46 nights in Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland with options into France and Lichtenstein.  The caravan ends at the same campground in early October.  The fall season is a wonderful time to travel, particularly in Western Europe.  Weather is usually comfortable, like “Indian Summer Days” in the USA, but called “Old Lady Days” in Europe!  Flowers are still in bloom and the beginnings of fall color may be seen in leaves in the mountain areas, which increases as the days go by.  Enjoy rolling countryside in the lowlands of Belgium and The Netherlands and later contrast this with alpine scenery in southern Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland.  Some of the major cities visited will include Brugge in Belgium; Amsterdam and Arnhem in The Netherlands; Wolfsburg, Berlin, Dresden, Munich and Regensburg in Germany; Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck in Austria and Susten (Zermatt) and St. Gallen in Switzerland.  The caravan will visit many small communities in all the countries that offer superb sightseeing and relaxed shopping opportunities.  Museums abound, featuring fine art, lace, architectural history, World War II memorabilia, concentration camp memorials, European history, Roman history, clocks, dolls and toys, transportation, plus much more.  If you can name something you want to see, there is probably a museum for it!  Enjoy whole small villages that in themselves are like museums, such as Rothenburg, Oberammergau and Dinkelsbuhl in Germany; Delft in The Netherlands and Rattenberg in Austria, as well as the older town center of the city of Brugge, in Belgium.  The list of sights could go on for pages!  You’ll have to go on this caravan if you want to begin exploring these fabulous places and sights in Western Europe!

It is an economical, rented mini-motorhome camping caravan, 46 camping nights in length, covering much of the best that the countries visited have to offer.  The caravan is put together by experienced caravan leaders that take care of the many small details of a caravan, including having a driver’s meeting on travel days to review the day's route and sightseeing opportunities.  The caravans provide FREEDOM to do your ADVENTURING, when you want and at your own pace.  The caravans are run during a slightly off high-season time, when campgrounds and attractions are generally not as crowded.  They place you in the heart of the countries, with their people and culture, not in a "pushed for time" guided tour group!  Most travel is on the very scenic "back roads" at your own pace.  Caravans use preselected campgrounds where caravan members camp together.  On travel day's, you and another newly made friend can travel together, doing and visiting the things that interest you.  Each caravanner is provided with an European road atlas and a detailed road log (itinerary) containing daily suggested driving options and directions, as well as suggestions for sights to visit, plus selected small maps for each day’s travel.  Caravanners are encouraged to explore and seek out experiences that particularly fulfill your own personal interests in addition to the suggested sights.

Itinerary For the 48 Day WESTERN EUROPEAN Caravan
In The Fall of 2010 & 2011, August – October

Day No	Caravan ARRIVAL Dates	Distance	Day Type	Destination
1	Sunday, August 22	Miles: Flying	Travel Day	YOUR CITY USA-CDN / FRANKFURT D
Fly to GERMANY from airport of your choice. Arrive next day (AM) in FRANKFURT.
2	Monday, August 23	Miles: 12 Km / 7.44 M	Travel Day	FRANKFURT D / MORFELDEN D
Arrive early at FRANKFURT airport and be picked up & taken to motorhome rental agency. Check out your motorhome before being escorted to 1st night’s campground (CG) and caravan to nearby store to buy provisions and then settle in. Enjoy group welcome dinner at Italian restaurant @ CG & to bed early.
3	Tuesday, August 24	Miles: 82 Km / 50.84 M	Travel Day	MORFELDEN D / BACHARACH D
Visit MAINZ see the Gutenberg Museum (home of the Gutenberg Bible) and the Cathedral. Visit them the medieval city of BACHARACH, enjoy Rhine River scenery and have a picnic lunch along the way.
4	Wednesday, August 25	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	BACHARACH D
FREE DAY. Take a cruise from Bacharach up the Rhine River in the morning, exploring your destination village and return early afternoon. Explore the village of Bacharach in the afternoon.
5	Thursday, August 26	Miles: 80 Km / 49.6 M	Travel Day	BACHARACH D / WASSERBILLIG L
Travel from BACHARACH to WASSERBILLIG along the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, stopping in BRAUBACH to visit MARKSBURG CASTLE. Stop and have a picnic lunch along the river and watch the barges go by, then on to KOBLENZ and to the 2000-year-old Roman city of TRIER. The drive along the Mosel river is through the heart of Germany’s wine grape vineyards; also look for hops growing in the fields along the way. The end of the day will see you in Luxembourg.
6	Friday, August 27	Miles: 335 Km / 207.7 M	Travel Day	WASSERBILLIG L / GERRARDSBERGEN B
Enjoy traveling across Luxembourg and into Belgium, with a visit to the WWII Battle of the Bulge museum at BASTOGNE then on to the village of GERRARDSBERGEN.
7	Saturday, August 28	Miles: 105 Km / 65.1 M	Travel Day	GERRARDSBERGEN B / BRUGGE B
Visit GERAARDSBERGEN’s Centrum to see the cathedral and a very special fountain of a little nude boy, (“the original Manneken Pis”). A nearby museum has a display of clothes from all over the world that dress up the little “fountain” boy on special occasions. Enjoy a “Mattentaart!”, a specialty of the region, at Olav’s Bakery, just off the market square. Begin sightseeing in the lace city of BRUGGE (it has been described as “the Venice of the north”). When you visit the old city center of BRUGGE you will think that you have stepped out of the present into the middle ages.
8	Sunday, August 29	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	BRUGGE B
FREE DAY. Return to the old intercity of BRUGGE to continue your vist and along the way stop at the world famous sand scupltures.
9	Monday, August 30	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	BRUGGE B
FREE DAY. Either continue to visit BRUGGE or consider driving into France to visit DUNKIRK or take side trips through the Belgian countryside. It is also possible to visit YPRES (Flanders Fields, B) to see exhibits from the 4 years of WWI trench warfare in this area (you can arrange for an optional day long bus tour with pick-up and return to the CG).
10	Tuesday, August 31	Miles: 260 Km / 161.2 M	Travel Day	BRUGGE B / AALSMEER NL
Travel from BRUGGE to AALSMEER via the giant storm protection dike project at NEELTJE JANS (Delta Project); then on to the city of DELFT, home of the famous Delft Porcelain (factory tour is available).
11	Wednesday, September 1	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	AALSMEER NL
Walk or take the bus to the train line to AMSTERDAM Centrum for the day, visit the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, walk along the canals, or any number of other museums. Stay in town for a group traditional Dutch, family style, dinner at the Oud Holland Restaurant; then an evening wine & cheese cruise through the canals of AMSTERDAM.
12	Thursday, September 2	Miles: 140 Km / 86.8 M	Stay Over	AALSMEER NL
This busy day will begin with an early tour of Bloemenveiling, the world’s largest flower auction. Next is a visit to ‘MUIDERSLOT’ castle, continuing on to the museum village of ZAANSE SCHANS containing exhibits, shops, working windmills and a klompen maker (wooden shoes). The day will continue with visits to the unique villages of EDAM and VOLENDAM.
13	Friday, September 3	Miles: 305 Km / 114.7 M	Travel Day	AALSMEER NL / ARNHEM NL
Visit historic ALKMAAR’s colorful cheese and street markets; tour a working water pumping windmill at STOMPETOREN; cross the MARKERWAADDIJK where you need to be sure and visit GIETHOORN, a small Dutch village without streets (has only canals). Rent a small electric powered motor boat traveling through the canals and across the lake. Continue on to ARNHEM, site of “A Bridge Too Far” during World War II.
14	Saturday, September 4	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	ARNHEM NL
FREE DAY. Explore ARNHEM. Options include: Visit the Airborne Museum at OOSTERBEEK; the Nederlands Openluchfmuseum (Open Air Museum); Het Loo Palace and gardens in nearby APELDOORN. This beautifully restored palace dates from the 1600’s. Be sure and have a Pannekoeken at the ‘t Pannekoekuis Restaurant just down the street from the CG, you are in for a real treat.
15	Sunday, September 5	Miles: 400 Km / 248 M	Travel Day	ARNHEM NL / WOLFSBURG D
Drive to WOLFSBURG, home of the AUTOSTADT (VW plant) via autobahn. Group dinner at nearby Italian Restaurant.
16	Monday, September 6	Miles:	Stay Over	WOLFSBURG D
Carpool to Volkswagen’s AUTOSTADT, for a tour of the factory and museum(s).
17	Tuesday, September 7	Miles: 200 Km / 124 M	Stay Over	WOLFSBURG D
Visits to the half-timbered old city of CELLE; the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp Memorial and the International Windmill Museum at GIFHORN are options for today.
18	Wednesday, September 8	Miles: 225 Km / 139.5 M	Travel Day	WOLFSBURG D / BERLIN D
Drive through what was East Germany (GDR) to BERLIN. Take the back roads through the villages and observe signs of renewal since the reunification of East and West Germany. Stop in the town of STENDAL, visit the Gothic Cathedral of St. NICHOLAS (1423), the Gothic town hall and St. Mary’s with it’s 15th century astronomical clock. Take the bus into BERLIN for the evening and explore.
19	Thursday, September 9	Miles:	Stay Over	BERLIN D
Group tour; bus will pick us up to visit Sans Soucci Palace in nearby POTSDAM in the morning and in the afternoon exploration of POTSDAM with special group dinner at the location of signing of the famous POTSDAM Conference.
20	Friday, September 10	Miles: 140 Km / 86.8 M	Stay Over	BERLIN D
FREE DAY. Take bus into BERLIN and explore; Brandenburg gate, Reichstag,Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin Cathedral and the State Opera House.
21	Saturday, September 11	Miles: 240 Km / 148.8 M	Travel Day	BERLIN D / DRESDEN D
Drive through POTSDAM and MEISSEN enroute to DRESDEN. Tour the Meissen Porcelain Factory Museum / Store today and then continue on to DRESDEN.
22	Sunday, September 12	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	DRESDEN D
FREE DAY. Take bus into DRESDEN for sightseeing, with the must see "Neues Grünes Gewölbe" (New Green Vault) and "Historisches Grünes Gewölbe" (Historic Green Vault, *See Reservation Info.), which house the largest collection of treasures in the world, plus the Zwinger Palace (museum), Meissen Tile Wall, River promenade, the Frauenkirche (bombed out church that has been reconstructed and rededicated), visit a transportation museum, view an archeological dig and the GDR restored opera house. Beautiful city, all “walkable.”
23	Monday, September 13	Miles: 250 Km / 155 M	Travel Day	DRESDEN D / LICHTENFELS D
Enjoy the Erzgebirge area along the Czechoslovakia border; drive through the State of Thuringen (part of East Germany), famous for its forests and special sausages sold on the streets of HOF, which is on the west side of the old East-West border; stop at the St. Michaelis parish church, in HOF, to see one of the finest organs in Bavaria; before continuing on to LICHTENFELS.
24	Tuesday, September 14	Miles: 60 Km / 37.2 M	Stay Over	LICHTENFELS D
In the morning tour the Goebel (Hummel figurines) Factory, Museum and Outlet Shop and enjoy a Thuringen sausage in RODENTAL. Afternoon sightseeing options include visits to: A Doll and Toy Museum in nearby SONNEBERG; Doll and Christmas Museums in NEUSTADT; Veste Coburg (12th century fortified castle, one of Germany’s largest) and/or the Doll Museum in COBURG; or the Korb (Basket making) Museum in LICHTENFELS. Choices, Choices!!
25	Wednesday, September 15	Miles: 200 Km / 124 M	Travel Day	LICHTENFELS D / DETWANG (ROTHENBURG) D
Stop in historic BAMBERG to visit the Imperial Cathedral; continue to WORZBURG to visit the Residenz, Dom and the Alte Mainbrucke (Old Main Bridge). Begin our travels along portions of the Romantische Straße (Romantic Road) visiting Schloß Weissenstein (Baroque summer place w/ art museum) in Pommersfelden. Visit medieval walled ROTHENBURG o. d. T. tonight.
26	Thursday, September 16	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	DETWANG D
FREE DAY. Continue exploration of ROTHENBURG ob der Tauber. Plan to visit the old church just outside the campground gate in DETWANG that contains beautiful altar carvings by Tilman Reimenschneider, completed in the very early 1500’s before heading into the city.
27	Friday, September 17	Miles: 200 Km / 124 M	Travel Day	DETWANG D / MUNCHEN D
Travel to MUNCHEN (MUNICH) continuing our travels along portions of the Romantische Straße via AUGSBURG, stopping to visit the old medieval village of DINKELSBUHL along the way. Either visit the concetration camp museum at DACHAU or Schloß Nymphenburg in MUNCHEN during the afternoon.
28	Saturday, September 18	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	MUNCHEN D
FREE DAY. Take the subway into MUNCHEN to Theresienwiese to experience the famous Oktoberfest opening day parade and ceremonies in morning. Enjoy the famous Hofbrahaus (beer hall) for lunch. Then visit downtown MUNCHEN’s churches, museums, stores, Viktualien Markt (food market) and Rathaus (town hall) on Marienplatz to watch a glockenspiel and clock with very animated mechanical figures that perform twice daily.
29	Sunday, September 19	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	MUNCHEN D
FREE DAY. Return to MUNCHEN, via subway, to continue the experience of the famous Oktoberfest with its traditional dress parade and ceremonies this morning. Celebrate Octoberfest at a specially reserved table for lunch. Continue exploring downtown MUNCHEN’S churches, museums, stores and Viktualien Markt (foodmarket).
30	Monday, September 20	Miles: 250 Km / 155 M	Stay Over	MUNCHEN D
Visit the Ruf automotive manuafcturing facility in the morning (by appointment) returning via back roads visiting Wieskirche a World Heritage site and LINDERHOF, site of Ludwig II’s Hunting Lodge / Castle.
31	Tuesday, September 21	Miles: 170 Km / 105.4 M	Stay Over	MUNCHEN D / REGENSBURG D
Travel via the backroads from MUNCHEN to REGENSBURG. REGENSBURG first appears as a Celtic settlement, becoming a Roman camp in 77 AD. By the 6th century it was a residence of the Dukes of Bavaria. Principal sights in this very old city are the Stone Bridge over the Danube (Danu); the Cathedral (13-15th century) is the finest Gothic building in Bavaria; rich in stained glass, art and the Treasury. The old central city surrounds the Domplatz.
32	Wednesday, September 22	Miles: 120 Km / 74.4 M	Stay Over	REGENSBURG D
FREE DAY . Take the bus into REGENSBURG or go sightseeing in the surrounding area and to the marble imitation of the Acropolis, built in 1830-42, as a German Temple of Fame, to house marble busts of famous people of German decent at WAHALLA.
33	Thursday, September 23	Miles: 415 Km / 257.3 M	Travel Day	REGENSBURG D / WIEN (VIENNA) A
Drive along the Danube from REGENSBURG to WIEN (VIENNA) stopping to tour the Benedictine Melk Abbey, which was built between 1702 - 38. This beautiful abbey is gigantic, measuring 1,065 feet long on the side facing the Danube; tour the fine Baroque church, along with the library and visitor display rooms.
34	Friday, September 24	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	WIEN (VIENNA) A
FREE DAY. Take the bus from our campground to the train station, transfer to the train, which becomes a subway as it approaches central WIEN where you can visit St Stephen’s Cathedral, Palace of Schonbrun, Hofburg Palace and the “Naschmarkt”. Plan ahead and you may be able to get tickets (through us or go online) for the friday night performance of the Vienna Boy’s Choir and / or a performance of the Winter Spanish Riding School (Lipizzan horses). If you have run out of books to read there is a bookstore behind St. Stephen’s Cathedral that has a selection of popular books in English.
35	Saturday, September 25	Miles: 340 Km / 210.8 M	Travel Day	WIEN (VIENNA) A / SALZBURG A
Travel from WIEN to SALZBURG via KREMSMUNSTER, so you can visit the Benedictine Monastery. The abbey was founded in 777 and had a scriptorium from the middle ages. The church was started in the 13th century and was remodeled in Baroque style about 1700. Excellent tour of the abbey, its museums, the church and the fishponds that supply fish for the Monk’s tables.
36	Sunday, September 26	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	SALZBURG A
FREE DAY. Begin your sightseeing in SALZBURG today. Take the bus into the city or you may want to book a tour from the campground, such as the Sound of Music. In SALZBURG there is schloß Hellbrunn, Festung Hohensalzburg (castle that has never been destroyed), Mozart’s birthplace, the domplatz and museums . The CG owners have a great restaurant!
37	Monday, September 27	Miles: 120 Km / 74.4 M	Stay Over	SALZBURG A
FREE DAY. Visit nearby sights in Germany, near BERCHTESGADEN, such as a tour of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, tour a salt mine and nearby KONIGSEE where you can take a boat tour on this beautiful lake. Possible to stroll in the village of BERCHTESGADEN or take scenic drives in the alpen Oberalp region surrounding the village.
38	Tuesday, September 28	Miles: 180 Km / 111.6 M	Stay Over	SALZBURG A
FREE DAY. Additional sightseeing in the SALZBURG AREA. Options could include a drive to ALTOTTING in Germany to visit a pilgrimage chapel with the historic Black Madonna; visit the Panorama, a 360 degree indoor scene that puts you in the middle of the area where Christ was being crucified—quite an experience; visit an animated Christmas Creche; and visit several beautiful churches in this pilgrimage village. Another option is to visit nearby OBERNDORF in Austria to see the memorial chapel where Silent Night was first performed in 1818. Group dinner at CG restaurant.
39	Wednesday, September 29	Miles: 380 Km / 235.6 M	Travel Day	SALZBURG A / VOLDERS A
Travel through the Tirol Mountains on your way to VOLDERS. Sightseeing options today include a chance to visit and tour one of Ludwig II’s castles, “Chiemsee” at PRIEN in Germany; stop in the crystal and glass village of RATTENBERG on the Inn River in Austria. An alternate (weather permitting) is to head south taking the Großglockner Hochalpentraß, which is a gorgeous scenic drive through a portion of the Austrian Alps to the Großglockner Glacier in a National Park. There are a number of very picturesque little villages along the way and the opportunity of have a picnic lunch in the Alps along the road. You will also drive through a 4+ mile long tunnel along the way. Either way stop in the village of WATTENS, just before VOLDERS, to tour Swarovski’s “Crystal Work.”
40	Thursday, September 30	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	VOLDERS A
FREE DAY . Take bus into INNSBRUCK for sightseeing. Bus tours are available in town where your can get on and off at the many different museums, churches and other points of interest, such as the Olympic stadium and ski jump ramp. There are also several cable cars to the mountaintops.
41	Friday, October 1	Miles: 170 Km / 105.4 M	Travel Day	VOLDERS A / SCHWANGAU D
Go back into Germany today, visiting MITTENWALD, ETTAL Abbey and OBERAMMERGAU (woodcarvers village), continue to visit the church at ROTTENBUCH. Then into SCHWANGAU and a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (another Ludwig II castle) in the late afternoon when it is less crowded. You may also want to drive by the castle tonight to see it illuminated. The last few miles of today’s drive are again on the Romantische Straße, which has its terminus in nearby FUSSEN.
42	Saturday, October 2	Miles: 371 Km / 230.02 M	Travel Day	SCHWANGAU D / SUSTEN CH
Drive through alpen country via LICHTENSTEIN, souveniers in VADUZ (to prove you have been to LI). Enter into Switzerland stopping in CHUR; visit the Cathedral Church of St. Luzius, dating from 1178.
43	Sunday, October 3	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	SUSTEN CH
You can take the 90 minute narrow-gauge train from the nearby village of Visp to Zermatt nestled in a snug little valley below the famous Matterhorn and weather permiting you will get to see the Matterhorn. There is also the village of LEUK nearby that was inhabited as far back as 2,400 B.C. and the site of many Roman artifacts.
44	Monday, October 4	Miles: 229 Km / 141.98 M	Travel Day	SUSTEN CH / BERNHARDZELL (ST GALLEN) CH
Drive the autobahn; stopping in WINTERTHUR, which has won awards for its architectural heritage; then on to the largest city in Switzerland, ZURICH, where you can visit the recently restored Fraumunste church, begun in 853 and has stained glass choir windows by the renowned artist Marc Chagall. Also, visit Lindenhof the site of a Roman castle, plus there are Guild houses along the river. Continue on to BERNHARDZELL.
45	Tuesday, October 5	Miles: Depends on sightseeing	Stay Over	BERNHARDZELL (ST GALLEN) CH
Explore ST GALLEN, with the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Abbey of St Gallen, particulary the abby library; there is also a textile museum; we will have a group dinner tonight in ST GALLEN.
46	Wednesday, October 6	Miles: 160 Km / 99.2 M	Travel Day	BERNHARDZELL (ST GALLEN) CH / STEINACH D
Enjoy traveling through the Black Forest today. Visit TITISEE, a small village featuring woodcarvings and clocks; tour the clock museum in FURTWANGEN; shop for Black Forest cuckoo clocks in TRIBERG; visit the world’s largest cuckoo clock at SCHONAU; shop for baskets in HAUSACH. Busy day!
47	Thursday, October 7	Miles : 330 Km / 204.6 M	Travel Day	STEINACH D/ MORFELDEN D
Drive through more of the Black Forest and the Neckar River Valley while on your way to MORFELDEN and the campground from which this adventure began. Stop in ERBACH to visit the Elfenbein Museum (world class ivory carvings.) Alternative would be to drive through HEIDELBERG with a chance to see the castle ruins. Check in the motorhomes tonight, pack and have farewell group dinner at Italian restaurant @ CG & pack some more.
48	Friday, October 8	Miles:	Travel Day	MORFELDEN D / YOUR CITY USA-CDN
Transfer to the FRANKFURT airport. Fly to your city, USA / CDN with GREAT and WONDERFUL memories to last a lifetime!
CARAVAN “KITTY” FEE & OTHER INFO: "KITTY” FEE: ONLY the following items will be included in your caravan fee: 5 group dinners (D-2, 16, 38, 45 & 47); Special Traditional Dutch Dinner, followed by an evening wine & cheese canal cruise in Amsterdam (D-11); Bus tour & special Postdam dinner (D-20); Hummel (Goebel) tour (D-24); Octoberfest booth (D-28). NOTE: Alcoholic beverages are not included in any of the meals or functions, but may be purchased separately at the individual’s own expense. †DATES: The start date for the 2011 Western Europe Caravan will be Sunday, August 21, 2011, and it will end on Friday, October 7, 2011. *RESERVATIONS: The venues and/or attractions so marked in the above itinerary all REQUIRE an advance reservation if you desire to view these exhibits. We HIGHLY recommend that you make these reservations well in advance (the sooner the better), if you really want to visit these venues, and this can be done via the Internet or your travel agent. Go to the “Green Vault” website <www.skd-dresden.de/en/museen/gruenes_gewoelbe.html> andlook for the “Online-Ticket-Booking Historic Green Vault” button and follow the directions. NOTE: If any tours are not self-guided then remember to ask for an English speaking one. Remember to lookcarefully at all of what you want to do when we are in a city where reserved attraction(s) occur and you may wantto spread out your “reserved” event(s) over the different days and “fill in” the balance of a day with the “lesser”events, so you do not run yourself ragged trying to get from one reserved event to the next.
This itinerary may be changed or modified at any time without advance notice at the will of the caravan travel consultants. This itinerary is theexclusive property of Overseas RV Camping Caravans. Although the consultants have made every effort to provide accurate, up-to-date information they accept no responsibility for loss, injury or inconvenience from unplanned sightseeing occurring to any person as the result of using this information. © Jim & Sally Elmlinger