Naab River Rope Swing
If you're old enough you remember those Mountain Dew commercials where the 20 somethings swig their Mountain Dew while swinging into a body of water on a hot summer day, you'll appreciate this swimming spot on the Naab River. For those not familiar with the Naab, some days it’s warm, some days it’s chilly, and some days its off the coast of Maine chilly. Your best bet is to make sure it's sunny and hot and if it's one of those days where the water is Maine cold, well at least it will be refresing. The drive from Hohenfels to Duggendorf is approximately 25 minutes and the town is just below Kallmunz. If you are coming from the Velburg, Lupburg, Parsberg triangle it will take you approximately 25 minutes as well via the A3 using the Beratzhausen exit. As you enter the town coming from the North you will see a bridge on your left spanning the Naab River. Turn left and cross the bridge. Almost immediately after exiting the bridge you will turn right into a grass parking lot. In the...
Etterzhausen On The Naab
Just down the road from Kallmunz and before you get to Nittendorf is a swimming spot located in Etterzhausen on the Naab River. For those not familiar with the Naab, some days it's warm, some days it's chilly, and some days its off the coast of Maine chilly. I still haven't figured out the cause for this variance. Back in New England you may find the swimming waters slightly cooler following a rainstorm. The rain would elevate the water levels and cause more movement (think rushing brooks) which would allow less time for the water to pool and heat on sun drenched afternoons. We had passed this swimming spot numerous times on our way to Regensburg and the Nittendorf Rewe before I could figure out the entrance. I had even left the main road once in an attempt to reach this seemingly Valhallah of swimming spots only to find myself on the opposite side of the river staring across at the destination I was seeking. The riddle was finally unlocked when driving down the road one day we...
Rothsee
Being a kid from Vermont I seek the water. I grew up swimming in lakes, ponds, swimming holes, brooks, rivers, streams, gorges, and quarries. Here in Hohenfels I'm looking for those same water opportunities for my children. That's why on a sunny day with temperatures in the 80s, Hunter (11), Eva (9), and Acadia (7) and I jumped in the car for the 80 minute drive to Rothsee. Had we taken the Autobahn the drive would have been 60 minutes but what's the point of racing to a place where you are trying to relax? Why not take the backroads? Indeed. And the drive was beautiful. Just before arriving at Rothsee we went through the town of Hiltpoltstein where a castle sits on a hill nestled in the center of town. After Googling the castle I learned you can spend the night in this thousand year old structure. When we entered the closest parking lot, the first words out of Eva's mouth were, 'can we come here again?' I was a bit stunned and asked if the parking lot was that great that she...
