The number of firsts happening here is all a little mind-bendy.
This is my…
first: time writing a post while connected to the internet from an airplane – like literally from the sky. As in right at this very second I’m literally IN THE SKY. We’re so living in the future.
first: time writing a post from my iphone! WHAT! I feel so modern and sneaky. mobile all the way.
first: big trip where I’ve left both my laptop and my DSLR camera at home. 😱 You don’t even understand. My carry on feels like a dreamy soft pillow – light and free and yayyyy. Thank you iPhone 7 plus for being a phone, camera, and computer.
and most importantly, first: time traveling to Europe with my bae!
Bjork and I are taking the next two weeks to do one of the things we’ve always said we wanted to do but just never took the time to do because life: traveling through Europe.
That little thing called a DUE DATE? BB’s puttin some legit time pressure on those bucket list items. In, like, three seconds there is going to be a huge belly on the scene and then diapers and nurseries and books and school and OMG it’s going to be so great. ❤️
But let’s just go to Europe real quick first.
Our itinerary includes a Viking River Cruise through the southern part of France as well as some off-road adventuring through Switzerland and Germany. We’ll be back in business again in early December, which means we have exactly two weeks dedicated to travel and adventure and bucket-listing.
Since things will be pretty quiet around here for the next week or two, you can catch our Europe updates on my brand new personal Insta account creatively titled @lindsaymostrom. And I’m doing plenty of daily stories from my regular Pinch of Yum insta account.
I hope you all had a great long holiday (those who are in the US) and I’ll see you lovers in two weeks!
Also! if you have recommendations for things to eat and do in Lucerne or Munich or the places in between (we’ll have a rental car and a decent amount of flexibility), please share! The recs we’ve gotten on instagram for Lyon have been 100% fabulous. 💙🇫🇷
Europe or bust!
More Europe pics! Here we go.
Oooh, in Switzerland you obviously have to eat Rösti and Käs (cheese) Fondue. A great thing to do near Lucerne is go up Mt Pilatus, which has all sorts of activities – https://www.pilatus.ch/en/. There’s also of course the highest railway station in Europe https://www.jungfrau.ch/de-ch/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/. On your drive to Munich you can take in the rhinefall https://rheinfall.ch/de/ which is pretty spectacular! When in Munich, make sure you visit a christmas market or two and drink some Glühwein (mulled wine) from a stand, and also go and see the insane river surfers who still come out when it’s this cold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisbach_(Isar)#Surfing_on_the_Eisbach and visit a real beer garden and go for a long walk in the English Gardens. There are also all the castles in the region, some easily day-trippable from Munich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_castles_in_Bavaria
This is amazing Penny! Thank you! We made it up to Mount Pilatus and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Loved it! Even if I *did* almost pass out from the nerve-wracking gondola ride up there.
Try and come to London if you can haha! But make sure you wrap up warm, Europe is cold now. Enjoy x
London is my fav. But my mom says that Viking river cruises are for old people and she’s like, in her 70’s, ya know? But tlet’s face it….those old people are the treniest looking old people I’ve ever seen! I hope I’m that in shape and cool looking when I’m 80!!! Have fun guys!
You won’t believe the bakeries in Germany – so much amazing goodness to choose from. Try a laugencroissant (aka a pretzel croissant – yes, it’s a thing, and it’s amazing). Enjoy your travels!
They were so amazing! It’s one thing that we really don’t have here in the US is bakeries like that!
Except we do have them here in Minneapolis: https://akisbreadhaus.com/
It is right by our house so I can bring you some or you can stop by on your way to the office. It has some really good stuff, and as best I can tell it is the real deal.
In Munich it’s hard to go wrong with food, but for amazing Bavarian food, check out Wirtshaus in der Au. Their dumplings are epic! And for the traditional weisswurst and brez’n breakfast the place to go is the Weisses Brauhaus off of Marienplatz.
“Weisses Brauhaus off of Marienplatz.” Exactly – that came into my mind at once as well. But be sure to be there before noon, or you won’t get any Weisswurst! (They are traditionally only served until then!)
Walked right by it! but didn’t make it happen because Bjork was sick. 🙁
Wow, welcome to Europe!! What kind of restaurants are you looking for? Comfort food? Enjoy every minute of this very special time!
And if you have enough of going out in restaurant after being on the road for a bit – you would be warmly welcome to come for an home cooked dinner to our flat. I remember the feeling being pregnant and far away from home :-). We live in Munich, so who knows…
Aw. That is so kind!
You’re so sweet Tina! I should have gotten in touch with you on our last day! Bjork was sick and had to stay in the hotel room all day so I was just roaming around by myself. 🙂
In Munich, make sure to go to the English Garden! When I was there for two weeks, we rented a car and took a road trip around the German Alps and it was amazing. We ended up in Fussen and saw Neuschwanstein castle. Definitely recommend!!
Oh my goodness, the English Garden was SO on my list but then it was so cold that I just couldn’t handle it! We need to go back in the summer! but the castles were amazing!
Looks like Europe has beautiful produce! I hope you guys have some fun. The food….just looks so good!
Ya’ll are just the cutest!! Enjoy your time away before you get busy with that upcoming bundle of joy. Babies are the best!!
Thanks Sue! 🙂 Love comments like this.
So jealous!! Can’t wait to follow along on IG. My brother and his wife did a European adventure, with stops in Lucerne and Murren (their favorite). Here’s a link to the beginning of their blog posts for the trip if you need some reading material. http://mplusbdiaries.blogspot.com/2015/04/europe-trip-2014-day-1.html
This is awesome! Thank you Amy!
SOOO happy for you guys! It sounds like a dream trip. Have the BEST time! 🙂
Thanks Tieghan! 🙂 🙂
I’m soooo jealous! I still have to wait 7 months until I get to go to Munich. I fly home (Germany) every other year only and I can’t wait!!! Enjoy every second of it. One day I’ll move back. One day…..
Ahh, so excited for you though. The food! I was blown away! So so good.
Is BB short for Baby Boy?
Hahaha – no, just B-B like bee-bee like baby. Just a dumb nickname, no meaning!
Lucerne is my favorite city ever!! You’re going to love it. It’s just such a walkable, livable city where you can easily feel at home.
You MUST go to the Museum of Transport. You will feel like a fifth grader on the greatest field trip of your life. Also eat dinner at one of the many restaurants on the river. The fortress wall is also pretty neat. Take lots of pictures by The Bridge. You’ll know the one when you see it 🙂 A short train ride away is Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Titlis, where you can partake in a number of adventures including: hiking, via ferrata (assisted rock climbing, quite difficult), riding cable cars, the steepest cog wheel train in the world (Pilatus), and a number of other fun mountain activities. If it were warmer I’d recommend swimming in the lake in Lucerne…because they just let you do that there. At least take a walk on the gorgeous walking path around the lake.
Enjoy!
Mt. Pilatus is a must! The view is just awesome! And if you have time, you can try to have a daytrip to Jungfraujoch.
Yes to Mt. Pilatus! Literally one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been on earth.
Mt. Pilatus was life-changing!!! I’m so glad you recommended it. Amazing!
The Christmas markets in Munich are amazing! Definitely try out some pretzels while you’re there, as well as roasted chestnuts. Germans also love honey, if you can find a stand at the market that sells lots of different kinds they make great gifts! German bakeries are amazing and offer some of Europe’s best bread and pastries. As for drinks, definitely give their soft drinks a try — they love mixing fruit juice with soda water, it’s a nice change from our US sodas!
On a more somber note, I highly recommend going on a guided tour at Dachau. I just checked their website, they are only 3 euros, last 2 1/2 hours, and occur twice daily: 11pm and 1pm. My tour guide was a university history professor, he did an excellent job (in English) explaining everything. I left with a new understanding of WWII and the concentration camps.
I hope your European adventure is exciting and illuminating! Enjoy 🙂
You have no idea how sad I am that we did not make it to Dachau. We saved it for our last day because we were both so looking forward to it as a meaningful trip experience, but then Bjork got sick so we weren’t able to go. I really mean it when I say I hope to go back and get a chance to see it firsthand. Thanks Jenna!
Wow! Sounds like it will be a great trip! My mom and I have a Viking River Cruise on our bucket list too! Have an amazing trip!
We made some friends on our Viking cruise that were there for a mother-daughter trip and it was just the cutest. They were so nice. You guys would have a blast!
have fun! I love Europe and we go at least once a year and explore somewhere new while visiting my family in Italy.
Just enjoy all the details and the time off! Well deserved.
Leslie
http://www.alifewellconsumed.com
Hey Lindsay,
Awesome to hear you’re getting a chance to experience Europe. And good parts, too. I lived in Southern Germany on the border of Austria for a while and didn’t a good amount of time in France and Switzerland. I’ve got some great restaurant recommendations for Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Munich, Germany if you’re in those parts at all. Also Strasbourg, France.
Have an awesome trip and congrats on the kiddo.
Ah just saw youll be in Munich. Great suggestions above – also the Paulaner restaurant right in the middle of the marienplatz. Great obazta (beer cheese, kind of) and schnitzel. Ate there all the time and never disappointed.
Also, ordering beer you don’t order the “brand” you order either “Helles” (light), “Dunkel” (dark) or some kind of Weiss beer if they have it. Different but it certainly uncomplicates things.
I’m headed to Munich, Strasbourg and Innsbruck next week. Any restaurant suggestions?
Strasbourg is great, the Christmas market is on already and near the big Church (Muenster) there are lots of nice restaurants. And the surrounding is just beautiful. My parents live just over the border in Germany 🙂 – if you got the time and if you are the person for this – the Europapark in Rust (Germany, near the border to France) has its winter special – very nice to see. Have lots of fun!
Restaurant Copains Comme Cochons in Strasbourg. Believe it or not I had the best ribs of my life there.
Paulaner Restaurant in Munich was my go to. It’s in the heart of the Marienplatz. That was my go to for schnitzel and Obazta.
Socher Cafe in Innsbruck to get the famous sochertorte (chocolate cake w/ slight hint of apricot).
It sounds like since you’ll be in Munich and Innsbruck you may also be in Garmisch-Partenkirchen? If so, best restaurants are Mukkefuck, Zirbel, Vain and Pub 33.
These are amazing recs. Thanks again!!
Thank you Nathan! 🙂 Appreciate that!
I was in Munich last year but for Oktoberfest, which isn’t going to work of you for all the obvious reasons, BUT, just wander around the city, don’t eat too many pretzels (they’re EVERYWHERE), and don’t be afraid to try the food – it’s fantastic! Happy travels! 🙂
I was not expecting the food in Munich to be sooo amazing, but I loved it all!
Congrats on the trip! If you’re in France I recommend going to Nice or Cannes in the South (gorgeous!) and in Switzerland I definitely recommend driving around lake Geneva (again – gorgeous) and poking through the town of Montreux (once again – gorgeous) and I recommend going to the Cailler chocolate factory in Gruyeres. Have fun!
Thanks Natalia! These sound like great spots.
Have a fantastic time you two!!! My hubby and I did the same thing pre-kiddo. Oh how I luuuuv Europe! And all the amazing food!
P.S. BB = baby boy?? You totally left us hangin’ ; )
No, haha! just bb like bebe like baby. 🙂
This may be more of an Austrian thing, but ask if places can make Kaissershmarrn, even if it isn’t on the menu!
ummm what is that. just googled and it looks amazing!
Love Bavaria! Herrenchiemsee is lovely – modeled after Versailles.
It was such a lovely part of Europe to visit this time of year!
Weisses Brauhaus in Munich has some awesome authentic German food!
Oh my! Have a wonderul trip. My husband and I spent two and a half weeks in Europe for our honeymoon in September. We also did a river cruise (Belgium and the Netherlands) and bookended the cruise with stops in Paris and London. All I can say is eat lots of cheese and fresh bread, and enjoy yourselves!
how fun! cheese and bread – done and done!
Lucerne is possibly my favorite city in all of Europe. I would recommend taking the elevator up the side of the hill by the small white castle overlooking the city/lake (you can’t miss it) and wandering through the woods up there. Amazing. And the Farmers’ Market is on point. Try all of the pretzels.
Loved this comment! I saw the castle but we didn’t get a chance to go up there, but thought of you when I saw it Lauren! 🙂