Feel like a drive? Choose a scenic route through SouthWest Germany. Great options include the Castle Road, which curves along the surface of the earth from Mannheim to Prague beside 90 castles and other spectacular addresses that include Heidelberg Castle and the Schwetzingen Palace Garden, Burg Guttenberg, Bad Wimpfen, Hirschhorn and the baroque palace of Mannheim. Sweeping through picturesque Neckar Valley close to Heidelberg, the route includes the 11th century Castle Hornberg, now a hotel with stunning grounds, valley views and lush vineyards. Pause for coffee in the small, medieval town of Bad Wimpfen, then stroll the narrow streets where charming shops feature local and artisan wares.

In Mannheim — where Carl Benz is credited with inventing the first automobile back in 1886, and his wife Bertha brought its potential to the public — you can make your drive historically meaningful along the Bertha Benz Memorial Route. This course replicates the world’s very first car outing on the path taken by Bertha herself from Mannheim to Pforzheim. Along the way, stop for a tour of Carl’s long-ago firm, the MWM Motorenwerke Mannheim; the Automuseum Benz in enchanting Ladenburg; and the Zum Ochsen pub, frequented by Carl after a long day of designing cars.

If you’d like to become more familiar with German wines, opt for a driving route through the wine production regions of Baden and Württemberg. The 100-mile-long Baden Wine Road takes in exquisite landscapes and low mountains, and is marked along the way with wine taverns. The Württemberg wine road stretches 318 miles from Weikersheim to Heilbronn. Along the way, explore the Museum of Viniculture in Stuttgart, meet local growers, and enjoy tastings. The Württemberg road also continues into the Neckar River Valley to Metzingen.