If you have traveled to Germany, you have probably visited cities like Berlin, Nuremberg and Munich or you have been on a river cruise on the Rhine, Main, Moselle or Danube visiting the beautiful towns and cities along the way. Who has visited the Northern part of Germany? Have you been to Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), Brandenburg or the Free Hanseatic cities of Lübeck, Wismar, Bremen and Hamburg? If you haven't, you should get back and experience this beautiful area of Germany.

This area is very diverse from the lowland with virtually no hills on Schleswig-Holsteins’s west coast to the east coast that is lined with fjords, bays, cliffs and rolling hills and many, many lakes. Even though the highest elevation in only about 500 ft., these hills are often called the “Switzerland of Holstein”

The North Sea and the river Elbe are the natural boundaries of Lower Saxony, however, a part of Hamburg is located on the south side of the Elbe. Located just south of the Elbe you will find the Lüneburger Heide (Lüneburger Heath). In the summer you’ll find mauve coloured heather as far as you can see. Pines and silver birch are also common. Sheep native to this area are called Heidschnucken and their delicious meat is offered in many of the restaurants. Further south and to the east you find the highest mountain range in Northern Germany the Harz and it's highest peak the Brocken at about 3,700 ft./1,142 m. Off the west coast you find many islands and Halligen,

Bordered by the Baltic Sea to the North, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein to the west, Brandenburg to the South and Poland to the east, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been an area of former East Germany. Having one of the longest Baltic coastlines, many island, lakes and Nature Reserves that makes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern an ideal spot for relaxation and waters ports.

In Northern Germany, you also find three city states: Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin. Bremen lies in the heart of Lower Saxony and Hamburg shares its borders with Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. while Berlin is located in Brandenburg.

I can’t wait to tell you more about these areas. The perfect playground for hiking, sailing, biking, surfing, kite surfing, swimming and much more. Stay tuned.