Rhineland: Things To Do

Bergstrasse Wine Road Frankfurt is near some of the best vineyards in Germany, with the local specialty being fine rieslings. The area hosts wine festivals several times a year, and the fertile ground along the Rhine is home to many wineries. 14 miles east of Worms; www.bergstraesser-wein.de
road trip | outdoors | wine

Boat Exhibition Watersport enthusiasts of all stripes should drop their anchor at the Messe Düsseldorf (convention center) for the annual January boat exhibition. Messe Düsseldorf (convention center), Messeplatz; 011-49-211-45-60-01; www.boot.de
family | boating

Climb the Cathedral One of the world’s great cathedrals (begun in 1248 and finished in 1880), the 515-foot-tall Kölner Dom is the largest Gothic cathedral in Germany. Each of the nine chapels contains important artworks, and the panoramic view from the top of the south tower is unbeatable. Kölner Dom, Domkloster 3; 011-49-221-925-847-31; www.koelner-dom.de
family | architecture | history | great value

Deutsche Weinstrasse Traversing a pristine succession of orchards, vineyards, and villages, this scenic wine route begins at Bockenheim an der Weinstrasse (10 miles west of Worms) and ends near the French border at the Weintor (“Wine Gate”) in Schweigen. www.deutscheweine.de
road trip | tour | wine

Rhineland in Flames Between May and September, a series of mind-blowing pyrotechnic displays light the sky in flames above the most picturesque towns along the river Rhine. 011-49-228-770; www.firework.rhine-river.com
family | outdoors | festival

River cruise Taking a boat cruise along the Rhine is a must. You’ll pass rustic villages, idyllic wineries, and hilltop castles while enjoying live music and dinner. Bingen-Rüdesheimer, Rheinkai 10; Bingen on Rhine; Koblenz; 011-49-6721-14140; www.bingen-ruedesheimer.com
family | tour | smart splurge

The Lorelei Rock Stuff your ears with cotton when you visit the narrowest and shallowest part of the Middle Rhine; according to legend, a siren called Lorelei bewitched sailors until they crashed and sank. Koblenz; eastern bank of the Rhine near Sankt Goarshausen
outdoors | history