And the winner is...Freiburg (im Breisgau)

I tried to play hard-to-get with the 'Boulder, CO' of DE. I was worried about its ego. When you live in one of the coolest places, it's hard not to let it go to your head. The truth is, I was pretty much immediately won over by the cyclist bridge directly in-front of the train station.

If you're traveling with children under the age of eight, the first stop is to buy some wooden boats to 'sail' along the canals. 

Side note: yes, Carmen has semi-permanent pink hair. I was in a rare position to make Carmen's pink hair dreams come true a couple of weeks ago. 

Step 1: Lost in Translation moment of booking one, two hour appointment instead of two appointments in one hour.

Step 2: Post field trip stroller nap

Step 2b: Continue sleeping once transferred to bike.

Step 3: Show me a happier kid.

But I digress...

Paul's former colleague, Cassandra, was the best tour guide of all time. She brought her own map, and showed us all the things.

And of course, Cassandra worked in stops for Carmen do what she does best:

Kuchen: 0, Carmen: 1

And she offered an optional hike extension for Hugo to be in his happy place:

The next day she lent Paul and me bikes so we could tootle around. 

Greenlake of Freiburg: check

Urban hike: check

Not pictured, acceptable Mexican food: check

The next day we head to Munich. 

The family snuggle seating on Munich S-Bahns was a plus:

I mean, look how much fun my kids are having.

And breakfast overlooking the city was baller:

Thank you Grandpa and Abuela for sponsoring such luxury!

But at the end of the day, no amount of frolicking in and around the city could hide that Munich is big and not the slowed pace we're seeking. 

I'm thankful that we still have another almost year-and-a-half in Berlin. I need time to convince more people that summer 2026 is the time to move to the Black Forest. I dare you not to fall in love with this city.