Now that everyone in my family is vaccinated and those that are eligible have been boosted, we’re thrilled to be able to travel a bit more. Travel is one thing that we were looking forward to doing more this time around in Germany, but we have waited until we felt “safer” to do so.
We made plans to visit Cologne, Germany for our first weekend trip over the four-day for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is just about a two-hour drive from where we live, but there was enough to do there that we wanted a little more than just a day.
Koncept Hotel International
We stayed at the Koncept Hotel International and we were all super impressed with our experience at this hotel. The kids’ room had two bunk beds with reading nooks and foot lockers. I was a little nervous about the check-in process since it was all digital and there are no on-site personnel, but after a quick phone call to get a code for the door everything went great!
Walking Downtown
One thing we enjoy almost more than anything else when we’re traveling in Europe is walking through the downtown area of a city. I love how the cities here close off the main downtown areas from traffic so they are easy for walking, shopping and just exploring the city and culture. We did just that our first night in Cologne along with stopping for dinner at McDonald’s. Eating at McDonalds is a much better experience in Europe than in the states…and I knew there was no way we were going to eat in a restaurant with a group of six without reservations.
Cologne Cathedral
The biggest site we wanted to see in Cologne was the huge Cologne Cathedral. This cathedral is one of Germany’s most visited sites and I am so thankful that we were able to see this ornate Catholic Cathedral. It is currently the tallest twin-spired church in the world and has a rich history. Construction of Cologne Cathedral was started in 1248 and was completed in 1880. During World War II this Cathedral was hit by ariel bombs fourteen times, but remained standing even as the rest of the city was flattened. Repairs of the war damage were completed in 1956. In 1996 the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites.
We were all in awe of this incredible place of worship. It was incredibly ornate and the stained glass was beautiful!
Old Town and Roman Ruins
After leaving the Cathedral we walked through the Old Town section of Cologne with colorful buildings and saw some of the Roman Ruins that were everywhere!
Chocolate Museum
Our next stop was to visit the Chocolate Museum which is located on the Rhine River. We walked along the river to get to the museum and spent the afternoon learning all we would ever need to know about the history of chocolate.
This museum was really interesting and interactive. Lindt chocolates is a partner is producing exhibits and there were lots of Lindt chocolates to sample (and buy!). Some of the attractions included a small tropicarium, miniature versions of machines used in producing chocolates, a chocolate fountain (that was closed due to COVID), and a special exhibit on chocolate production and child labor that was impressive.
Before leaving we visited the gift shop to get some special chocolates.
Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe
We noticed while walking downtown our first night that there was a Hard Rock Cafe there and we made reservations for Saturday evening. We had a blast eating there and dinner was delicious! Of course, Keith and I had to explain to the kids how iconic this restaurant is.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Cologne and would love to visit again when it’s a little warmer.