Stuttgart

Do you have a cousin or friend stationed in Stuttgart and have always wanted to visit? Though it is not on the traditional tourist trail, you needn’t worry about getting bored, as there is lots to do in and around Stuttgart

and it is a great starting point for explorations into famous Bavaria and other parts of Germany. Stuttgart is beautifully situated in a valley of vineyards and is blessed with relatively good weather, though entertainment is also provided for rainy days. The capital of Baden-Württemberg State is the cultural center of the Bundesland, and the locals are renown for their hospitality and leisurely attitude toward life. This is beautifully mirrored in the Höhenpark Killesberg, a green oasis of quietness right in the middle of town. The park was designed to suit the needs of lunch breakers as much as families with little children, and you will find playgrounds, a petting zoo, cafes and even a pool on the park premises. A narrow-gauge railway circles the park and is immensely popular among kids. A tower at the highest spot of the park offers a brilliant view and should you have forgotten which playground you left your kids on, this is the place to go.

After some family-oriented fun or a nap in the sun you can hit the town center revolving around the Schlossplatz. This square is the gravitational center of Stuttgart and the entrance to Königstrasse, a pedestrianized shopping street. Schlossplatz itself is a baroque garden containing a music pavilion and a beautiful fountain. Also you can see the old and the new castle from here.
This is also where you can visit the extravagant Kunstmuseum (art museum), housing the city art collection of regional painters and contemporary art. Should this not saturate your appetite for art there is always the old and new Staatsgalerie (state gallery), showing works from the 14th to the 19th century, including famous painters like Rembrandt and Memling.
For some sophisticated nighttime entertainment visit the Staatsoper (national opera), staging excellent musical theater mostly in the original language of the play.

Between September 28th and October 14th you have the unique chance to attend the Canstetter Volksfest, a colorful folk festival. The festival is all about what people in the Schwaben region like best: eat, drink, music, and a good time. The food is hearty, the beer is cold, and the wine is regional, so designate a driver and enjoy.

After a turbulent day at the festival you might want to take it easy and see Stuttgart without investing too much effort. A boat tour on the Neckar is just the thing for you. The boats leave opposite the Wilhelma in Stutgart-Bad Cannstatt.
The Wilhelma is a fabulous zoological and botanical garden, home to around 9000 different animal species and 1000 species of plants. The gardens are artfully designed and include tropical green houses, orchid collections, magnolia groves, and aquarium with a crocodile hall, chorale fish, a petting zoo and a huge birdcage the visitors can go inside.

Not far from here in Stuttgart-Möhringen you can end your day in the SI Erlebnis-Centrum, an entertainment center consisting of theaters (currently they show the ABBA musical “Mamma Mia” and “Three Musketeers”), numerous theme restaurants, cinemas, and a four star hotel. The Schwaben Quellen, a big spa complex, might just recharge your batteries after a long day out.