FS Adventures

01/01/2026

Kicking off 2026 with an updated look for FS Adventures! Here’s to a new year filled with love, joy and new adventures! We look forward to working with you to make your travel dreams come true!

12/12/2025

Exploring Salzburg in December is like being on the set of an amazing Hallmark Christmas movie. With its beautiful buildings, historic charm, and snow-capped Alps as a backdrop, the city is lovely at any time of year but Christmastime is special.

The Christmas markets were impressive — from the classic Christkindlmarkt at Domplatz & Residenzplatz with traditional stalls to the more contemporary Stern Advent Market tucked behind Old Towns pedestrian alleyways, they were some of our favorites of the trip.

There is plenty to see beyond the markets. We always recommend a walking tour as an introduction to a new place and we took our own advice! Our tour included many of the city’s highlights including Mozart’s Birthplace, the famous yellow townhouse that is now one of the city’s most-visited museums; Salzburg Cathedral, a massive baroque church whose iconic dome dominates the skyline; Mirabell Palace & Gardens, whose fountains and geometric gardens were used in The Sound of Music film; Salzburg City Hall, a Old Town landmark with a classic clock tower and St. Peter’s Abbey, one of Europe’s oldest monasteries.

We did not visit Hohensalzburg Fortress — a medieval castle perched high above town — but it should be on any sightseeing list. Take a funicular to the top for incredible views of Salzburg and beyond.

12/11/2025

Munich knows how to celebrate the Christmas season! We embraced the festive vibe, wandering through the Christmas markets, sipping warm Gluhwein in Marienplatz, exploring the charming stalls at Residenz Christmas Village, and taking a step back in time at the medieval-themed market at Wittelsbacherplatz.
Beyond the markets, we did a half day walking tour with an amazing private guide that included all the highlights of Old Town: Town Hall and the famous Glockenspiel clock; Frauenkirche, the iconic twin-towered cathedral; Residenz, the former royal palace known for its ornate rooms (we also toured the interior); St. Peter’s Church, Munich’s oldest parish church whose tower offering one of the best views in the city; Maximilianstrabe, home to luxe brand stores and boutiques; and Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s open-air food market. A trip to Munich wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a beer hall! We had fun dinner at Hofbrauhaus – the famous (and touristy) beer hall and a more authentic experience at the much smaller Zum Durnbrau. If you’re dreaming of a festive European escape filled with sparkle, music, and warm holiday vibes, Munich checks all the boxes.

12/09/2025

Just a sampling of the foods we sampled while visiting the 🥨 🍷 🍺 🥐 🥖 🍖 🧁 🧀 Savories included bratwurst and currywurst pork, beef, or veal, served in a bun with mustard or ketchup.
Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes): Crispy, fried potato fritters, usually served with applesauce or sour cream.
Raclette: Melted cheese scraped onto bread or potatoes.
Käsespätzle: German egg noodles with cheese, similar to mac and cheese.
Champignons: Mushrooms fried with garlic and topped with a creamy sauce.
Or if you prefer sweets: Gebrannte Mandeln (Candied Almonds): Almonds roasted in sugar, a quintessential market snack.
Lebkuchen: Heart-shaped gingerbread cookies, often iced with messages.
Stollen: A rich, fruit-filled bread.
Marzipan: Almond paste molded into various festive shapes.
Schneeballen: Fried pastry dough balls, often dusted with sugar a must have in Munich!
Waffles & Crepes: Freshly made with sweet toppings like Nutella or fruit.
And of course the Drinks (Warm & Spicy)
Glühwein: Spiced mulled red wine, served hot.
Eierpunsch: A warm, spiced eggnog punch.
Feuerzangenbowle: A potent rum punch with a flaming sugarloaf. And
Heiße Schokolade: Rich hot chocolate.

12/07/2025

We had an interesting day exploring Germany’s Romantic Road as we traveled from Rothenburg to Munich. The route links some of Bavaria’s most charming small towns, with medieval walls, vineyards and castles dotting the landscape along the way. Our first stop was a quick tour of Dinkelsbuhl, an amazingly well-preserved town, with colorful half-timbered houses and the stunning, 15th century St. George’s Minster church, with one of the most beautiful nativity scenes we saw on our trip. Further south we visited Nordlingen, a municipality set inside an ancient meteor crater. The circular wall surrounding the town remains completely intact — visitors can walk around part or all for views of the town and its surroundings. Nordlingen’s main church, also named St. George’s, has a unique baptismal font with a water heating system that spares babies from being baptized with frigid water (see last photo). Like Rothenburg, these towns (and others along the road) have Christmas markets and festive decor but are visit worthy any time of year.

12/04/2025

12/02/2025

Rothenburg is a magical place! This medieval village has remained nearly unchanged for centuries, with intact old town walls, half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets. Walking through one of the city gates feels like entering a fairy tale. Sightseeing highlights include the Market Square, Town Hall, St. Jakobs Church, and the walkable city walls with incredible panoramic views of the surrounding area. Rothenburg is especially charming during the Christmas season with markets scattered throughout town and a festive vibe in the air, but it’s a beautiful place to visit any time of year. I wish we had another day to explore and enjoy, 24 hours was not enough!

12/02/2025

A gorgeous day exploring everything Heidelberg has to offer including a 4 hour walking tour with and our fabulous guide Melanie that took us 8 miles and to five different markets! The streets come alive at night to experience all the sights, sounds and aromas of the season! 🎄🎄

11/18/2025

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10/29/2025

Vienna Immersion: Food. I saved the best for last! I’m a foodie and believe eating is a major part of any travel experience. Many of our clients feel the same way, that’s why every FS Adventures itinerary includes a restaurant recommendation list.

Viennese food itself might surprise you — it’s Austrian-based, with some Hungarian, Czech, Italian and French influences. Classics like schnitzel and apple strudel are common, but you’ll also more elegant dishes like Tafelspitz (a boiled beef dish that was supposedly Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite) and an amazing array of other pastries and desserts. Not everything is heavy, there are plenty of lighter, modern options. Vienna also boasts a vibrant international restaurant scene with cuisines from around the world.

We sampled a nice selection restaurants during the trip — from traditional to modern, with menus that varied from meat-heavy to seafood and vegetarian. Here is the list:
-Glacis Beisl (traditional Austrian)
-Atlantis Fisch Restaurant (Seafood-focused with some Viennese favorites) .fisch
-Cafe Mozart (Austrian classics)
-DO & CO Albertina Restaurant (Modern Viennese with a Mediterranean twist)
-Pfarrwirt (Vienna’s oldest restaurant service classic cuisine in a building dating back to 1080) .pfarrwirt
-Da Ferdinando (Pizza, pasta and salads near the Schonbrunn Palace) .ferdinando

One of our last activities was an amazing cooking class at Restaurant Wrenkh , a modern, mostly-vegetarian fine-dining restaurant just off Stephansplatz. The restaurant has a separate teaching kitchen and our group had fun making the extensive menu!

I didn’t take enough food photos during the trip so you’ll have to take my word for it that the Vienna is a great city for food and wine!

10/27/2025

Vienna Immersion: Hotels (Part Two).

The historic Sacher Hotel is ideally located in central Vienna, its immediate neighbors include the State Opera House, Albertina Museum and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Despite its storied history, the ornate, 5-star property is anything but dated or stuffy, with fresh public spaces and gracious guest rooms. The hotel has two restaurants, a cafe dedicated to the famous Sacher Torte, a spa and fitness center, and numerous meeting/event spaces. There are more than 2000 pieces of art on display, one of Austria’s largest private collections. Since it opened in 1926, the Sacher has welcomed heads of state and celebrities, and celebrates its notable guests with several photo galleries. With an emphasis on personalized service, the property is truly in a class of its own — an excellent choice for travelers looking for an authentic Viennese experience.

Rosewood Vienna is truly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve visited. The property seamlessly blends historic charm with modern sophistication in a beautifully restored 19th-century building just off the busy Peterplatz in central Vienna. Opened in 2022, the hotel features 103 elegant rooms and suites, and gracious public spaces with contemporary Austrian design, curated artwork, and luxurious touches. Their rooftop restaurant and bar boast breathtaking views of the city and beyond. The hotel also offers a spa, sauna, steam room and fitness center. As with all Rosewood properties, the hotel has a sense of place that here feels distinctly Viennese, while maintaining the brand’s high-level standards. I’d recommend the property to travelers looking for a premium hotel experience.

These are just a small sample of what’s available — there are over 400 hotels in Vienna ranging from basic to luxe, boutique to large-scale and family owned to global brand, with a range of rates — truly something for everyone.