August Travels and Adventures - Rhien River Cruise

What an amazing August we had traveling! Our first visitors inspired us to really get out and start exploring. Grandma and Grandpa were great travel companions! This was one of our first adventures. A local treasure to warm up before we ventured outside our day trip radius.

These photos are from our Rhein River Cruise trip. We visited a winery and took part in a tasting, toured a castle, and then cruised down the famous Rhein River past numerous vineyards, castles and literary monuments. And we wrapped the day up with a visit to Rudeshiem, a neat village along the river that sits below the German statue of liberty, a big statue they erected to celebrate a long sought after win against France.

Gpo, Gmo and Ben get ready for the climb up to the castle.

Ben and Daddy are ready to look for knights and princesses.

Benjamin stands guard at the entrance to the castle.

So into knights right now!

Grandma and Grandpa looking out over the Rhein River from one of the castle towers.

Benjamin and Daddy climb the tallest tower, looking for any princess who might need to be rescued of course.

Daddy getting some love from his little dude and mini me on board our boat cruise.

Liam loved the feel of the soft wind in his face, and I loved his hair.

Benjamin's boat picture, near the castle on an island in the middle of the river.

It was so beautiful, a definite highlight of our travels so far.

The river bank was sprinkled with castles, on both sides... we must have seen about 15.

At the top of the tower, you can see a small metal basket suspended out on a pole. It's a time out chamber. Seriously, that what they used it for!

They make some delicious wines here... we enjoyed some on our cruise.

Ben wanted a cool hand picture too, so we tried to make it look like he was holding one of the castles in his hands.

We had such a nice relaxing day.

This is on our ride up to the statue above Rudisheim, over the vineyards.

With my boys!

Our family in front of the statue.

The boys and I on the Drogglegasse (my spelling is totally off) a famous street in Rudisheim that is so narrow you can reach your arms out in some place and touch both sides at once.

Marc and Benjamin enjoy zwei Kugeln vanilla Eis.

And lastly, the wine tasting. Our host taught us the proper technique. We had fun practicing.

There's the look and smell...

The swish-a-dee-swish...

And the mixing with air, in your mouth... as shown by my expert demonstrators :)

This jolly German vinter was our entertaining host and teacher!

They even had apple juice for the children to taste test.

What an amazing day trip! And this was only the start of our August adventures!