Or simply put, the USO, is a non-profit organization that provides services, programs, and events for the United States military‘s service members and their families. Established by President Roosevelt in 1941 in preparation for the Second World War, the USO celebrated its 75th anniversary this year!

The USO‘s main mission is to help strengthen America‘s military service members by “keeping them connected to their families, home and country throughout their service to the nation.” Based out of Arlington, Virginia, the USO has offices and holds events all over the world. On various military bases, in airports, and even at overseas duty stations, they go where we go. Providing service members and their families with whatever it is they might need. They offer a little taste of home even when you´re hundreds of miles away. Did you know? The USO is not a part of the federal government. It is run by dedicated staff and a powerful family of volunteers relying on the support of their local communities, organizations and corporations in order to complete their goals.

This past July the USO Stuttgart held its 25th annual Golf Tournament at Golf Club Hammetweil (4 Stars) in Neckartenzlingen. This tournament is not only meant to provide a little bit of recreation and entertainment for service members and their families—it helps to strengthen the bond between the German and American communities. Germans are encouraged to come out and play alongside their American friends. A lot of people came together to make the tournament work; American and German Volunteers, the USO, German companies, and even United Airlines.

One question that comes up all the time in any spouse or pet group is where to find a puppy or kitten in Germany.

Germany does not support the sale of cats or dogs in pet stores since they are viewed as animals that need to live in a social environment.
There are plenty of places to get puppies and kittens from; you just need to know where and how to look.
For many, the first place they look is the internet, and while most breeders do have websites, search engines don’t make it easy to really find a breeder or even just an ad for one.

Your first step should be to decide what kind of dog or cat you want and does it fit your lifestyle.
If you opt for a rescue, you have plenty of options to choose from; there are rescue groups that bring dogs into Germany from all over Europe or your local animal shelter.
A word of advice though, quite a few German ran shelters have decided against adopting pets out to US military members and families, because they were abandoned or left behind too often. Don’t despair though, there are plenty of shelters that still do adopt to Americans; it just may take some searching.

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The hot summer months are fast approaching, and one of the most popular things to do in Germany is spending those days at one of the many pools or lakes. Thousands flood the lawns in public pools every year, and most communities have at least one outdoor pool.
Most of the outdoor only pools open by mid to end of May and stay open all the way through September. They all offer at least an Olympic style pool and often have a kiddie pool and or fun pool in addition with slides and spouts.
The outdoor pools “Freibad” often are equipped with playgrounds and bistros and have big lawn areas for relaxation and tanning. You can also bring your own food and drink.

It is finally here! Summer… it felt like this year was going to stay cold and rainy, but now the sun has made an appearance, the temperatures are climbing and the people are heading outside to enjoy the weather.
It really does not matter if you are the public beer garden type or like to soak in the warm sun at home, the heat will make you thirsty. What better way to cool off on a hot day with some of Germany’s most popular summer refreshments.

So get your ice cubes and glasses ready!

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Germany's Largest Seasonal Theme Park with over 14 roller coasters, water rides, and a number of exciting theatrical shows! Experience the sights, sounds, and culinary delights of 15 European countries (and at least two worlds of fantasy and make-believe) without ever having to leaving Rust, Germany.

For up-to-date opening hours and a schedule of events check out www.europapark.de/en/park/events/opening-hours

Summer 2017 - April 1st -November 5th 

9 am to at least 6 pm (during the summer Europa Park is open longer).

Winter 2017/18 -  November 25th -January 7th

11 am to at least 7 pm

(the park is closed on Christmas Eve and Day)

Price for an Adult Day ticket: 47 euros

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Entering the parking area of the New England style hotel “Bell Rock” at the Europa Park was like entering a different era, especially once we parked and walked around the impressive exterior of the building.

We arrived at the hotel lobby, furnished with comfortable arm chairs, and glanced up the rustic interior staircase leading you to the other floors; right behind those we located the hotel bar “Spirit of St. Louis.”

Since we still had to check in, we headed to the reception on our right where time era, appropriately dressed staff welcomed us warmly. We were handed our room key, a chip card that also enabled access to the pool area and the saunas, more about those later in the article.

Summertime is moving time, and one of the things that stresses people out the most is turning that rented apartment or house back to the landlord. Fearing that last walk-through, hoping and praying he finds nothing needing to be fixed or deducted from the deposit.

We have all been there, pictures and shelves come off the walls leaving big, ugly holes in the walls. That big Schrank was sitting too close to the wall causing it to grow some mold. The cat scratched the wallpaper….

First off, be aware that you can fix most things on your own without ever having to tell your landlord. Or if you don't have the time or skills, you can hire someone and shop around for estimates. Having those little damages fixed before the walk-through will make the whole ordeal much less stressful.

Here are some quick fixes for common issues:

The Marxzell Car Museum is an hour drive from Stuttgart or 1.5 hours from Kaiserslautern. Coming from Stuttgart, take the exit Karlsbad on the A8 to Karlsruhe. At the exit turn left, and then you're only 20 minutes away from the museum. From Kaiserslautern go via Neustadt to Karlsruhe, then through Ettlingen to Marxzell. This car museum is entirely unique to Germany. It has been owned by the Reichert family for the last 50 years, and through various additions and conversions, there is now over 40,000 square feet of exhibition space. When coming to the museum, you'll notice that the first of the exhibits are already visible from the outside.

Since some of the participants showed quite an interest in the outcome of my survey, I figured I would share some of the results with you.

But first I would like to express my great appreciation to all participants and supporters that stepped in and helped me on my way to success on the bachelor thesis.

I would like to present you a summary of work that I think would be of interest to you, since I don’t want to bore you with lots of numbers, data or statistics. If anyone wants more in depth info or has questions, feel free to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please be aware though that a reply can take a bit of time since all my work is in German and would have to be translated first.

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Firework madness!

Germany may not be known for huge firework celebrations, like the 4th of July parties back in America, but to some folk’s surprise, Germany has some of the best pyro technicians in the world. And what better place to show off their skill sets, then an international three day competition! And you can win tickets! Our friends of the festival were so kind to donate us free tickets! So we are going to run a giveaway for 3x2 tickets. You only have to like our page on Facebook and comment why you should be one of winners. You have to be 18 years old to enter the game.

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The bicycle is celebrating its 200th birthday on June 12th this year. This popular vehicle has quite a moving history.

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With Summerbreak almost over, stores are stocking their shelves with school supplies for the new school year. The isles and baskets are overloaded with binders, pencils and books. Colorful school back packs are lined up along with sports bags, matching lunch boxes and these odd looking upside down matching dounce hats….

We tested Stuttgarts steak restaurants for you. The same question keeps popping up on the Facebook pages and groups, “Where do they serve great steaks?” We checked out 3 restaurants and really would like to recommend you one of them.

You may call us crazy, but last month we decided to take our kids to Disneyland in Paris. I do have to add, our kids are 19 and 15, but they had been bugging to going back to Disney for years now. So what do good parents do? You eventually give in, sit down and order tickets….

For all of you who are new to Stuttgart, or not just new to Stuttgart, but new to Germany – Welcome, to Germany and to Stuttgart. Stuttgart is not only my hometown, but, with over 620,000 residents, the largest city in the state of Baden-Wuertemberg. It is also the B-W capital and the sixth largest city in Germany. Stuttgart is also the center of the “Stuttgart region” which includes the cities of Boeblingen, Esslingen and Ludwigsburg.

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Different trash cans

Usually the trash is sorted into the following:

The worldwide second largest beer fest is, right after the Oktoberfest, the Stuttgart or better the Cannstatter Volksfest. As every year, starting on Sept 22nd, 2017 until Oct 8th, 2017; it’s time to head to the "Wasen”.

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This dish is a flavor bomb, that’s for sure. Usually I try not to use the same fresh herb twice in one dish, but Oregano is very prominent in this creation.

However, and this is very important to me, it really is a great fit. BE CAREFUL with using salt in the meat balls, the grated cheese already adds a lot of flavor. If you prefer a thicker bell pepper sauce simply add some food starch, or add some raw ground potato to it.

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The Cannstatt Volksfest is now coming to an end, and after two weeks of beer being sold by “Maß”, it’s about time for something new, don‘t you agree? Following the lines of this little bit of Swabian advice “Wein nach Bier, das rat ich dir!”, which means something along the lines of “Wine after beer and you‘re in the clear”, the Fellbacher Herbst festival starts on the second weekend of October, and the last weekend of the Volksfest. The Fellbacher Herbst is one of the largest Thanksgiving and wine festivals of the region, and it is expected to draw in around 200,000 visitors over the course of 4 days—which is understandable because this festival has a lot to offer, for those big and small!

With the end of the summer comes the end of light eating, yes!! Feel free to cheer! Out with the salads, light fruity cakes and grilled meat and in with thick gravy’s, hearty meats and layered creamy cakes. Fall is the time where food is plentiful, celebrated and fruit is turned into wine and spirits to keep it well preserved for the long winter months.

We already send you out to celebrate the harvest at the many little wine fests and thanksgiving parties, but if you like it cozy at home, why not try making the traditional onion cake yourself. Give it a try, let us know how it turned out, we love to hear from you!

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It is well known that Germany celebrates all kinds of harvests, the wine harvests, apple harvests, even pumpkin harvests. Like every proper celebration, with the harvest fests come the naming of the king or queen, like our wine queens.

As you may have noticed, there are little stands and booths popping up all over the place, especially at grocery stores or at your local farmers markets. They are advertising “neuer Wein”, “Federweisser” or “neuer Suesser” and it all really means the same thing, depending on which area of Germany you are in.

Germans love doing arts and crafts, especially during times of transition, like in the spring or fall. Families will often flock to the forests and fields on nice, sunny fall days, in order to gather supplies and ideas for their projects. Then on the gloomier, rainy days, they‘ll spend time at home with the kids doing crafts and realizing their envisioned projects. You might be surprised that there is such a huge interest in arts and crafts here in Germany, as there aren‘t any big arts and crafts supply superstores like the kind you see back in the States. However, they aren‘t really needed, as most of the big department stores here have a crafting section that will sell you all the basics. There are also online craft stores that can get you anything else that you might need...not to mention the fact that Germany is full of natural crafting resources. So why not put on some warm fall clothes, and some sturdy rubber boots, and give the German way of crafting a try? There are so many treasures that can be found in your local area alone. Go out and explore the woods, the fields, and the parks and see what you can find—plus its a great family activity your kids are sure to love! Be on the lookout for shiny chestnuts, acorns, beechnuts, interesting twigs and branches, moss, rose-hips, pine-cones and pretty colorful leaves and get to crafting!

Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in human history, the roots of which are buried deep in the traditional Gaelic Festival of Samhain. Originally Halloween was more of a Fall Harvest celebration, as the year of the Celts ended on October 31st . The summer was over, and the harvest was brought in, and this alone was a reason to celebrate.

This Saturday Clocks in Germany are falling back one hour, going from 3 am to 2 am, gifting us one extra hour of sleep.

Winter is coming to Germany and while you may have been told putting winter tires on your car is law, you might have been left in the dark when it comes to the specifics, or where given hieroglyphic remarks like “from O till O” or “have to have the snowflake symbol, but not really the S+M symbol does the job as well”?!?!

Today most Germans are usually not very superstitious, black cats, broken mirrors, or Friday the 13th doesn’t faze them anymore. Nevertheless, Germany is a place where you often feel, time standing still. Town centers can take you back to the middle ages and dark forests and  hidden castle ruins might remind you of times long ago. Still, some ghost stories and legends have survived over the centuries and are still told today. Recently ghost hauntings and paranormal research has spiked in popularity, and so people are once again flocking back to these ancient spots in hopes of catching a glimpse of “the other side...”

So, why not you? Lets head out on a foggy fall night and get to ghost hunting. I have searched through insider forums, newspaper articles, and books in order to bring you some of the most  haunted spots inside of Germany:

Bad Wimpfen and Burg Guttenberg are located in the beautiful Neckar Plain about an hour by car from Stuttgart or 1,5 hours from Kaiserslautern. Take the first exit on the highway A6 going towards Mannheim, the exit Neckarsulm and then head toward Mosbach. But beware – there are 4 stationary radar traps on this stretch of about  10 miles. Bad Wimpfen and the knights castle Burg Guttenberg were spared damage during World War II, so many old historical buildings are left intact. It is a wonderful, hidden sightseeing spot. Bad Wimpfen has been called the most beautiful riverside city in Germany. Bad Wimpfen’s most famous landmark is the blue tower. This tower is the defense tower of the castle built in the 12th century where the guards have lived for 650 years. The tower is a great place to get a magnificent view of the old town and Neckar Valley.

It´s that time of the year again, it is getting chilly outside, and the heaters are slowly being turned on. Every year the German-American Facebook groups and pages are then slammed with posts about “the walls  suddenly turning moldy” or “the heater making ‚off‘ noises”  o just plain confusion about that “big old dinosaur called heater” that usually lies in the basement.
So, let’s start with the basics:

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For sweet tooth under us, we added a recipe for the one and only, the world famous Black Forest cake. Authentic with a little dash of cherry spirit and beautiful shredded chocolate. The perfect cake to impress your friends and family with.

Well,we can’t wait to see tons of pictures of beautiful cakes, have fun giving them a try!

Like many others, Americans love researching their roots. May it be heading you south of the border, to Asia or perhaps towards Africa… but if your family lines bring you to Germany, you should definitely come prepared if you want to pursue your research “in the field.”

One of the most anticipated Christmas traditions every year has to be the Adventskalender or Advent-Calendar. Choosing just the right one, is of the most important things for children as it marks the beginning of the Christmas season for them. We have all heard at least one horror story from our families, of having to run out to get another Advent Calendar at the last minute because one of the youngsters decided to plunder it early, eating it all at once and stores are virtually sold out everywhere after the first of Advent (the fourth Sunday before Christmas).

Christmas markets are one of the most popular attractions during the winter month in Germany. Every larger city has one and everyone has their own little perks. One of the most charming markets has to be the medieval Christmas market in Esslingen. The market is located right in the old center of town and surrounded by medieval half-timbered houses built anywhere from the 13th to the 16th century. The stream that heads through the town with is little bridges just adds to the feeling. Actors and performers are dressed in the era appropriate garb, making the illusion nearly perfect. The market was visited by over one million eager time travelers last year, why not join them?

The official start to the Christmas season here in Germany has to be the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath, which is usually also the time that most of the big Christmas markets open up. The Christmas markets have to be one of the most anticipated attractions for tourists during the season and there are just so many of them. With there being only 4 weekends to hit the further out markets and evenings to visit the markets close by, it is useful to have a battle plan, so you can hit as many markets as possible. In our Christmas markets recommendations, you can find some of the most popular markets in Germany and some great tips and tricks.

The people that know me would probably all agree that I am not a work out kind of girl… so let’s just say I was more than surprised when I was told to check out a fitness place… oh dear, poor me. So, off I went to see what the big hype was about.

If you are a passionate traveler, or just a weekend trip fan this fair is right up your alley and a must visit, for sure. Hosted by Stuttgart, you have a whole 9 days to check out the craziness, starting January 13th and ending on January 21st, 2018.

For someone like me who has lived in the Stuttgart area for over 20 years it is possible to miss out on some great local restaurants.

Last Sunday, my family and I visited a restaurant that we’ve always known about, driven passed, but never stopped to have a meal. Big mistake! The “Zum Brückle” is one of those overlooked treasures located on a side street in the town of Stuttgart Plieningen, near Kelley Barracks.

You may have noticed that stores are setting up party items, costumes and streamers. No, Germany is not having a blow out on Halloween costumes, but is preparing the high season of Karneval, Fasching or as Americans may know it, Mardi Grass. You probably didn’t even know that the so called 5^th season started all the way back in November, on the 11^th of November to be exact, right at 11:11 am. Clubs and avid partiers have since been meeting, planning and working on the highlights of the season. Unless you are member of a Karneval club, you normally don’t sit in through meetings and the important voting of the local Fasching royalty. A Prince pair is elected each year to lead the campaign. They get to attend all the events and parties and dress up in fancy dresses.

The Stuttgart zoo is one of the largest and well-known zoos within Germany, it draws in over 2.1 million visitors every year. The park covers an area of almost 70 acres, about the size of 40 football fields and is bordered by the Neckar river and the suburb of Bad Cannstatt.

Founded in the 19th century by King Wilhelm the first, the kings vision was truly one of a kind. A private botanical garden, all with a stunning oriental flair, that was in style at the time. And an orange garden; that was a must have for every fashionable ruler back then. The architect tasked with the job, Karl Ludwig Zanth, oriented himself on the Moorish architecture in Spain. Since Alhambra in Grenada Spain had spectacular buildings, the architect decided to copy those and designed a stunning recreation of Alhambra, at the Neckar river. The park next to the castle, with its mineral rich springs, was turning more and more into a vision of Arabian nights, and was named after its creator, Wilhelm.

After the freezing temperatures, mild weather is finally on the radar and with that comes not only the bloom of the snowdrops.  We finally get to see the 3 new additions of the meerkats; peeking out of their holes at the Wilhelma. The triplets were born January 27^th.

The Snow Leopards at the Wilhelma have something great to look forward to: the zoologic-botanical garden in Stuttgart built a beautiful large outdoor areal on a steep slope, exclusively for the climbing enthusiastic cats. Edith Sitzmann, the finance minister of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, formally opened the new enclosure in the Wilhelma in Stuttgart on Monday March 26^th, 2018.

A couple weeks before Easter you may start noticing that German bakeries offer little lambs, made from biscuit, a cake very similar to the American pound cake. They are sold glazed or just dusted with confectioner’s sugar and often carry or wear a little flag.

The Bongos in the Wilhelma seem to be enjoying their enclosure, that was renovated in 2016, very much. Those extremely rare forest antelopes, here in the Stuttgart zoologic-botanic garden, had a baby again this year…just like 2017. Mother Asante gave birth to a calf on March 16^th. Daughter Amarie carefully set her hoofs on the outdoor enclosure for the very first time this week. There are only about 100 east African Bongos left in the wild, they exclusively exist in Kenia.

Living in Europe, traveling, seeing the old world…these are usually the visions families have when getting the news of a new duty station overseas. But then reality hits and there it is, the pile of “what to do next” and “how to do that”. Thankfully the internet has made things much easier and google can be a close friend during this time of need. While your move and tickets and or hotel may be all paid for by the government, try putting some extra cash aside in the months before the move, you may encounter some unexpected costs. If you end up not needing the back up money, treat yourself to your first European trip with it.

The German Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are right around the corner, perfect time for a little day trip. Gondwana, das Praehistorium is offering an amazing deal to celebrate those special holidays with your favorite dinosaur specialist. On Thursday May 10^th, German Father’s Day, the entrance fee for dad is free if a child (over 4 years of age) accompanies them to Gondwana, and on May 13^th Mother’s Day, the entrance fee for mom is free if a child (over 4 years of age) is accompanying them

The Wilhelma in Stuttgart is offering a special free event for Mother’s Day this weekend.

“Visitors are amazed when I say that Sigmaringen is Germany’s most important castle,” the guide says with a smile. “But this castle belonged to, and still belongs to, the Hohenzollern dynasty that played a vital role in German history.” Towering on a steep limes­tone cliff, high above the Danube River, the family’s ancestral seat is 90 minutes south of Stuttgart and only an hour from Lake Constance in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. And it provides a fascinating stop when touring southern Germany.

As many of you are going through the PCS madness, I know- just about now, you are writing a mental list of last minute shopping trips of things to bring back to the states. Your parents want something from Germany, Auntie Maggie made sure to remind you on your last phone conversation, how much your uncle loves German food…. The family is breathing down your neck for those European goodies.

Hear ye, Hear ye!!

In just one month the gates for the famous Horb knight games will open. Horb, located 35 miles south of Stuttgart at the A81, is one of the largest medieval markets in the Europe. This medieval festival doesn’t just lure its visitors in with an awesome market, but there are also the jousting matches.

One of the biggest issues and fears when people get over here to Germany has to be ending up with a nightmare Landlord. As an admin for a “Landlord troubles group” on Facebook, I see the complaints and horror stories on a daily basis. While there are always two sides to a story, a lot of the issues would have been preventable if the renters would have been informed about their rights and duties ahead of time.

You may have seen them on the news, or even out when you are walking around town or the woods. I am talking about caterpillars, oak processionary caterpillars in particular.

Ticks are widely spread all over Europe and especially Germany. Ticks themselves are not dangerous, yes, they bite… but the bite itself isn’t any worse then a mosquito bite. What makes the ticks so dangerous is that they carry diseases and pass them on to their host.

If you like the outdoors and want to treat your family to a natural, down to earth experience, these parks may just be the thing for you. Barefoot parks or dedicated barefoot trails are set up mainly for barefoot walking and playing. These open parks provide families the opportunity to feel the natural ground or various other surfaces with their bare feet. During the last two decades, hundreds of these leisure places have been founded in European countries, but most barefoot parks are located in Germany and Austria.

While living here in Germany, you may encounter some of us natives and more often then not friendships bloom. Especially if you live off base, you might strike up a neighborly conversation or get to know the other parents from your child’s daycare, kindergarten or school. This whole interaction thing may lea you to be invited to a birthday party, or to come over and hang out.

To this day Germany has one of the highest alcohol consumption worldwide, beat by only a few other countries. But drinking here, is very different to what you may be accustomed to from back home in the States. In this piece we will talk about the differences of drinking, alcohol laws and the issues each of the 2 countries tackle when it comes to drinking.

During the warm summer months and especially during summer break, Germans have festivals and celebrations all over. Particularly popular are village or town celebrations.  The festivals are usually hosted by the city, while in smaller communities, clubs and villages get together to host a fest. Even kindergartens or schools host celebrations, usually for attending families or potential new students. Vineyards run culinary hikes or festivals, often in conjunction with restaurants. And who could forget the beer and wine fests towards the end of the summer.

The green Ampelmann – Green man on the pedestrian light

-you wait, alongside hundreds of other people, until a traffic light turns green, even if there’s no car in sight. You wait patiently to cross the street when the little man is red, because you are afraid that some old lady might start scolding if you don't.

Germany has quite an obsession for its little sayings, phrases and proverbs. You may be learning German already or have a basic knowledge of the language, but all the sudden you are complete at loss in a conversation, because your conversation partner starts talking about an elephant in a porcelain store or a gifted horse… like what in the hell???

For 12 days Stuttgart will be celebrating wine and great food. Local specialties, sweets and over 250 different wines are there to represent the area.

Frankfurt Bonobo baby is finding a family at the Wilhelma. When Grandma had to fix it. Hopes are that the reunion with his grannie Kombote will be the fix for the little Bonobo from Frankfurt. Xhosa will receive his second chance to grow up with his kind in the zoologic-botanical garden Stuttgart. The first steps have been so promising that he is not viewable for visitors too.

Germans love a good party, and even more so when great food is involved. This weekend the Schwabengarten in Leinfelden is hosting a special party. A party to celebrate all that makes America great and to show some appreciation to our American friends!

Creepy, haunted hour with spooky spirits

hen giant spiders build their nets, pale skeletons hide behind bushes, then it is time for the creepiest day at the Wilhelma. Witches, vampires and ghosts are taking over leadership at the zoological- botanical garden in Stuttgart on October 31^st. it is their mission to spread a spooky good time in the historic garden.

Bestwhisky, a store with quite a promise, is located only about six miles, or 10 minutes, away from Patch Barracks in the Rotenwaldstreet 41, Stuttgart 70197. My first thought upon entering the store was, “feel free to lock me up in here and throw away the key!!”

Though celebrating Valentine's Day has only become popular within the last few decades in Germany, there are several traditions the Germans have taken on whole-heartedly. This includes giving cards, sweet treats, gifts and flowers to their loved ones on this special day.

Would you believe it if I told you that German windows sweat?

Most likely not, and they really don’t…but, when the cold season starts, you may notice water collecting on the windows inside your home. This condensation can ruin wooden windows, cause mold stains on the silicone seals and even cause mold to grow in your rooms. I will help you out by sharing some easy solutions to prevent that from happening.

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Spring is moving in quickly at the Wilhelma; the milder weather has caused the blossoms of the Azaleas to literally explode inside the historic greenhouse, and in the Moorish Garden, the first blossoms of the Magnolia trees are starting to open.

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On May 25, 2019, Duesseldorf, the traditional stronghold of Japanese business in Europe, is expecting several hundred thousand visitors from near and far. Duesseldorf is the most important city for Japan in Germany, and therefore, the location for the largest Japanese cultural celebration outside of Japan. The festival is being prepared with great care by Duesseldorf’s Japanese community. The city is home to around 7,000 Japanese nationals. Japan Day will be held, as always, right along the Rhine River, right in the city of Duesseldorf (in North-Rhine-Westphalia).

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As soon as the sun starts warming things up, the snow begins to melt and it starts staying lighter out longer, Germany awakes from its hibernation. People flock outdoors in droves as parks, zoos and amusement parks reopen for a new season.

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Keukenhof has to be one of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands during springtime. It is one of the largest flower gardens in the world, known everywhere for its famous tulips, and was nicknamed the “Garden of Europe.” Keukenhof is located in the city of Lisse in South Holland in the Netherlands. The area is coincidently called the “Dune and Bulb Region.”

Germans love their insurance, and insurance is offered for virtually everything. While most policies or plans don’t really make sense for Americans that are temporarily stationed here, others really do. Time has shown over and over that, especially during PCS times when stress levels are already through the roof, insurances have saved the day more than once.

The Brezel Fest is a long-standing tradition in Speyer. It was originally born out of an idea to bring money into the city in 1910, when the merchants and bakers were suffering. The city council founded the tourism club to help with filling the city treasury in 1907. Three years later they decided to host a celebration in honor of the bakers, tobacco farmers and brewers. Back then, it was called the Tourism and Brezel Fest.

Every year a different German city has the honor of hosting the national garden show. This year the task has fallen upon Heilbronn. Each city designs and sets-up a huge public garden with their hometown’s touch. Those gardens are laid out over several square kilometers and offer much more than just flowers. During the time the show is running, the city offers a huge entertainment program, featuring concerts, theatre plays and exhibitions. Weekly reoccurring events like water fountain shows, sport meet-ups and club meetings with hobby enthusiasts make for great opportunities to meet people and hang with locals.

Germans love to spend their time outdoors. Even better if you can keep the kids occupied at the same time. Strawberry fields make for a great family outing opportunity. Not only are those sweet treats great for snacking, but also awesome in cakes, jams or even salads.

The “Gartenschau” garden show in Kaiserslautern is reopening its gates on March 30, 2019. Known as one of the most popular outdoor hang outs in the area, this place is perfect for a family with younger children. The garden show is laid out like a huge park, with flowerbeds, walking trails, several playgrounds for kids (even some water ones), a barefoot trail, several themed gardens, a shop and, of course, the dinosaur trail.

There are so many different ways to explore the outdoors or the historic cities in Germany. If you like riddles and treasure hunts, then becoming part of the geocaching community might be just the thing for you.

One of Germans favorite past times during the warm summer months has to be visiting medieval markets.

Many of the old city centers are transformed into something from times long past. Cities like Horb offer trips right into the busy hours of a crowded 12^th century market, complete with jesters, traders and the many treasures they brought along with them.

As every year, the summer months are the main time for PCSes. And while the permanent change of duty station is nerve wrecking enough, the dreadful turning over the keys on moving day is often completely overwhelming.

We have all heard the horror stories, the big fights over the return of the deposit or the ridiculously high utility bills. On top of that, time is running out, and there isn’t really any way to go out and meet with housing or lawyers.

One thing that is forgotten about too often during the PCS madness are the pets. Beloved companions that have been living in the home for years without any issue, suddenly become major issues, because of breeds, time of PCS or the realization that it may be quite costly to ship them to the new duty station.

Why Is Pet Owner Liability Insurance Important?

Whether you are out on horseback or on a walk with the dog, you are liable for any damage to objects or persons your animal may cause, and that can be expensive.

The Stuttgart Messe is opening its doors to the Comic fans again. Today and tomorrow (June 29^th and 30^th) it’s all about comics, movies, cosplay and everything that comes along with the kingdom of nerds. Hang out with cosplayers, chat with you favorite artists or meet some kindred spirits at the huge Lego station. So much to see and to do.

This year Stuttgart’s beloved jeweler Ruth Sellack is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of opening her store front in the Eberhardstrasse in Stuttgart. While it was just a short move distance-wise, the team was finally able to establish themselves in a place that was designed to fit their needs. They got a workspace and sales floor with lots of light as well as great views and contemporary style to showcase the work and artisanship that Ruth puts into all her pieces. It matches both her work methods and her interaction with customers and jewelry enthusiasts, as she is known to always be on the lookout for new inspiration and shapes.

Summer is traveling season, and no matter if you travel within the country or all over Europe, thieves are everywhere. Especially the large European capitals are hot spots to rip off tourists.  

Germany is the most populated country in Europe, so crowds are to be expected. With crowds, come the pick-pockets. People often assume themselves too safe here, because, compared to other countries, Germany has a relatively low crime rate. But, theft is still one of the most common crimes here. 

Surprised? Yes, even Germany has beaches. I know it’s a well-hidden secret. Since most Americans are kind of concentrated in the center and south of Germany, the North is often left out. But that’s just where the oceans are at. 

Germany has two coast lines, each very different from the other one. If you prefer sunbathing, warm water and heat, the Baltic sea with its beaches is for you. Thebeaches on the North Sea are more rugged and the climate is cooler.  

“Why don’t German homes have air conditioners?” is one of the questions that come up every year. By the time May or June hits with the first hot days, Americans are flabbergasted. How do Germans survive the summer without the wonders of AC? 

There are many reasons why air conditioners are rare in German homes. I guess, the biggest reason is that it is very expensive to have them installed after the house was built. Its easier to calculate in central heat/AC if you are planning and building your home, versus having to add it later on. Also, ACs do use a lot of electricity, so again a matter of cost. The maybe funniest reason is the dreaded draft. A cold draft, in Germany, is still considered a threat to your health. Responsible for everything from a cold to joint pains, especially the older population worries about getting cool drafts, even on hot days. 

If you ask around, one of the “must-see” attractions in Germany is the Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden. I can only guess, it’s a combination of historiccuriosity andthe memory of the defeat of a real-life nemesis. 

If it wasn’t for its macabre history, the area would be no different than any other beautifully situated Alpine houses. Stunning, rugged, white-tipped mountains and cliffs, steep green valleys with forests and little towns surround the house.Today, it has been turned intoa nice restaurant with the typical Bavarian charm and delicious food. 

I am a huge sushi fan, so I did not hesitate when I was offered the chance to check out a new, local place.

Located inside the Schwabengalerie in Vaihingen, the restaurant is easily reachable by public transport, and there is lots of parking available. There are several large public parking garages right in the area. Mikomi sits right in the little courtyard, so you also have the option of dining outside.

We, from the Together Magazine, are super excited to be able to present this awesome event to you all!

Our partner, the Sprungbude, is hosting a Ninja challenge night for all American personnel and families stationed in the area. The ninja warrior challenge will be featuring 4 teams competing for fame, glory, prices and of course bragging rights!

Public pools and waterparks are immensely popular during the summer in Germany. While nearly every village has a local outdoor pool or swimming lake, the waterparks are a little more wide-spread. But, just like in back in the States, they have large slides, wave pools and/or nice artificial beaches.

Then the Stuttgarter Weindorf (Stuttgart Wine Village) is a must.

It is one of the finest wine festivals in Germany with regional specialties and a wide selection of excellent regional wines from Wuerttemberg and Baden.        

On the Stuttgarter Marktplatz (in front of city hall), the “Schillerplatz” and in the ”Kirchstraße”(downtown Stuttgart), there will be more than 30 hosts and winemakers presenting over 250 different wines in 125 different booths. And if you have a sweet tooth, you can indulge yourself at one of the confectionary retailers.

Germans love a good party, and even more so when great food is involved. This weekend the Schwabengarten is hosting a special party. A party to celebrate all that makes America great and to show some appreciation to our American friends!

Moved into your new home off base or curious about life in Germany? Struggling with daily life? Feeling overwhelmed? Having lots of questions and not knowing where to find the answers because they seem too trivial or too personal?

KIRAMIGA is the place to turn to with any questions and issues you might have.

We met with KIRAMIGA and asked them what their service is all about.

The legal expenses insurance of the Württembergische. The helper in almost every situation.

 An answer to every legal question.

Today, we know zombies are a thing of imagination, seen only on TV shows and in movies. Really, the only ones scared of them these days are probably little kids. However, for our ancestors here in Germany, that fear was a very real one.

By the time November hits in Germany, the days tend to be dreary, rainy and chilly. It gets darker earlier and takes forever to get light in the morning.

Along with November come some fun traditions, especially if you have little ones. You may have noticed the lanterns for sale at the stores. Children celebrate St Martin’s Day in Kindergarten and school by hosting lantern parades. While the holiday is mentioned in our other article, I thought it was a great idea to go into detail here.

Since we were visiting in the Stuttgart area, opportunity demanded a proper Swabian dinner. The Schwoabentöpfle was perfect for that occasion. Located on the outer skirts of Stuttgart, right by the public pool and soccer field, the restaurant offers a nice relaxing flair.

During the 4 weeks of Advent (roughly four weeks prior to Christmas) the Christmas Markets – Weihnachtsmärkte - open their doors.

They originated in German-speaking part of Europe & in the Eastern regions of France in the Late Middle Ages.

I have been getting a lot of requests over Facebook, of where to take the family out to dinner for those special holidays coming up…or at any time really. So, I decided to stop by the Maredo Steakhouse in the center of Stuttgart, on the Lange Street cornering Kronprinzstreet. I sat down to talk with the Manager Mr. Uwe Mack and enquired about their opening hours during the Christmas and New Year’s season. He replied that they only really close the place up for Christmas Eve to make sure the employees get to spend the 24^th of December with their families. December 25^th (Christmas Day) and the 26^th (Boxing Day) they are open. That goes for New Year’s as well.  Many of the family-owned businesses are usually closed over the holidays.

If you are new to Germany or not yet familiar with the Christmas market, you may be surprised to learn that the main beverage served at the market is a hot wine. It’s a great way to warm up from the cold weather and even though its just wine, it can be quite intoxicating.

If you are a passionate traveler, or just a weekend trip fan this fair is right up your alley and a must visit, for sure. Hosted by Stuttgart, you have a whole 9 days to check out the craziness, starting January 11th and ending on January 19th, 2020.