is the perfect shopping destination for you, your family and your friends. Just one mile east of Stuttgart´s Patch Barracks, the Schwabengalerie is centrally located, easy to find, and has everything you could possibly need for a fun day of shopping. With over fifty shops and businesses, there´s plenty to do and see! From a delicious ice cream bar and cafe, to the original and delicious Tex-Mex restaurant, Chilli´s-Enjoy your coffee, ice cream, drink, or meal out in the sun at the Schwabengalerie´s second floor roof top patio.

On these last few warm summer days, you can bring your little ones to play in the rooftop´s floor water fountain (or simply sit and enjoy the sun with the relaxing sound of flowing water in the background). There´s also a fresh supply of delicious fruit at the downstairs market, a DM, Bijou Brigitte, a flower shop, Ernstings family (the perfect place to get your familyR17;s back-toschool attire), a Kaufland and an Aldi (for your grocery shopping needs), a fitness studio and much more. You can either park directly in the Schwabengalerie´s park house (and walk straight inside), or you can take the bus. Great deals, amazing products, the brands you love, all conveniently located-and with excellent customer service, what more could you ask for?

One of the great things about living in Europe is that you can travel from country to country in a matter of hours. Borders are open to the most parts, and while there are sporadic border checks, you are pretty free to transport bought goods for personal consumption.

Since the Kaiserslautern/ Ramstein area is located right along the border of France, it's super easy to just jump in the car and drive to one of the many stores near the border. The only thing you need to worry about is having an international driver’s license and your official passport and you are ready to go. One of the bigger store chains in France is Cora and well comparable to a Walmart back in the states.

If you are used to the smaller German grocery stores, it can be quite overwhelming at first, but the true American shopper in you will reemerge in no time and let you tackle the isles. The Cora in Forbach offers everything from clothes, jewelry, groceries, pet supplies and even gardening stuff.

The only issue I regularly encounter is that the staff at the store speaks neither English nor German, but they are willing to do broken sign and point language. Cora offers amazing baked goods sections, fresh seafood and the fruits and veggie tables are loaded with any kind of exotic fruit you can think of.

A cold cut and fresh cheese counter is also overloaded with fresh quiches and other savory specialties, whose names I can't pronounce.

You will notice many of the familiar German items, but also many of the goodies that you may have been missing from back home and then on top of that all the French items. Cora also holds wine markets in the spring and fall with a huge tent in the parking lot and bottles upon bottles of yummy French wine.

After an exhausting shopping marathon inside of the store, be sure to check out the small shops located across from the cash registers and stop for a snack at the bistro or restaurant inside. I had no issue using my debit cars or German giro card there, but if in doubt bring Euros.

They do have an ATM in there, but there will be withdrawal fees.

In the vicinity of the Cora store, you can find several fast food places like McDonald’s and KFC, and lots of other stores and shops.

Be prepared for a fun day of shopping and bring your own shopping bags; Cora only has the reusable bags for sale.

The address for Cora is: Avenue de l'Europe, 57602 Forbach, France

Happy hunting

The most beautiful supermarket in Germany can be found right in 70794 Filderstadt Bonlanden, located only eight miles from Kelley Barracks, 12 miles from the Patch Barracks or 14 miles from Panzer in Böblingen. Now this is not just my personal opinion. The Gebauer EDEKA market in Bonlanden was voted No. 1 under more than 11,000 Edeka stores Germany-wide in 2016. Free parking is plentiful in their own parking garage.

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If you are a treasure hunter like me, this is definitely the place to go. Founded in 1975 the Homburg Antique and Flea Market is the biggest of its kind in southwest Germany and draws in people by the thousands.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.