Hello and Happy Monday, friends!
I hope you had a GREAT WEEKEND!
If you missed yesterday’s post, I am going to *try* and have a SUNDAY RECAP each week. Make sure you pop over there and check that post out too 🙂 .
Today is PART THREE of our winter vacation. I’m going to cover two great days…MUNICH + NUREMBERG.
If you missed OUR ARRIVAL DAY or OUR DAY IN SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, make sure you check those posts out too.
We finally got some winter weather in North Texas, so I’m snuggled in and enjoying my coffee and work this morning. I hope you’re snuggled in and enjoying the start to your week too.
Here’s a little recap to kick off our Monday…
We woke up on this day…
…to just the perfect amount of snow in Munich. It wasn’t heavy snow…just those magical big, fat flakes that make things festive but not freezing/messy/wet. This was the view from my hotel room.
I got up, went to the gym, showered and dressed for the day…
…bundled up and ready to go!
On this day, we took it a bit slow. After a big day in Salzburg the day before (and knowing we had a big day the following day), this was a nice day to just enjoy Munich…
Munich is such a beautiful city. It’s clean, the people are friendly…it’s just one of my faves.
The Christmas decor was still up and beautiful on this December 30th.
We popped in a few stops. My three girls were most excited to visit Zara and Brandy Melville…which always makes me giggle and think of Putty on Seinfeld asking Eileen “what does the Gap have in Rome that it doesn’t have in NYC?”. Bahaha! Exactly. They had fun though, so that’s all that mattered.
Everyone was out and about enjoying this beautiful Munich morning.
We stopped for lunch at Killans Irish Pub. It was decked for the holidays too!
DELICIOUS!
A snowy little post-lunch walk…
…we were living our best lives.
With all of this walking, we did a lot of eating. This little area of Munich is extra adorable…
…my family got Nutella crepes and brats…
…and cups of spätzle…
…because why not?
You know me though…
…I stopped here for some mulled wine 🙂 .
It was so nice having a light day between two busier days. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
On our way to dinner that night, we stopped by the Glockenspiel again…
…before arriving at Giorgia…
…this Italian restaurant was ADORABLE!
Not only was the food delish, but it was just decorated floor to ceiling in the most adorable way.
We filled up on pasta and headed to bed.
The next morning, we were up bright and early to celebrate the last day of 2025.
First stop…
…the train station! We had tickets for a morning train from Munich to Nuremberg, Germany.
This town has historical WWII significance and both Smith and Andrew had just watched the movie, Nuremberg, so this was on their priority list.
We boarded our train around 10:00 that morning…
…happy as can be on the train! It was only one hour to Nuremberg, and I thought the scenery out my window was beautiful. I had my coffee in my hand and gorgeous German countryside out my window.
We arrived and Nuremberg was SO CUTE! It was very Christmas-y, so I was in extra heaven…
…I mean, hello?!
We walked from the train station into “town” (it only took about 5 minutes) and found a place for lunch…
…more pub food because THAT’S WHO WE ARE 😉 .
So cute, right?
After lunch, we headed back out…
…with HAND WARMERS, of course! (Man, I love these things!)
We walked in to the heart of the town…
I love traveling with this guy!
There were holiday stalls everywhere and an extra New Year’s Eve buzz in the air…
Everything was so charming. We popped in and out of shops…
…took in the beautiful cathedral…
It was a really sweet day.
After all of that walking, we, OF COURSE, had to eat some more…
How cute is this area? It was VERY yummy too…
We grabbed snacks…
Smith had spätzle with sauerkraut and sausages…
…and then Andrew and all four kids had…
…brats…
I enjoyed more mulled wine. Bahahaha! Listen, I never drink this at home, but goodness, give a Christmasy European town and I require mulled wine.
Cheers to exploring a little Nuremberg!
We took the train back around 4:00 and arrived back in Munich about 5:00. We headed out for our annual New Year’s Eve dinner. It was a festive night in Munich…
We had dinner at Zum Franziskaner which was another yummy authentic German restaurant.
GOODNESS, this place was delicious!
On New Year’s Eve, we have a tradition where we go around and say something nice about each person from that year. It always ends with Andrew crying 😉 . We all got a little teary this year looking back over 2025. It’s a very sweet tradition for our family.
Our server brought us out…
…one big apple strudel to ensure our 2025 ended VERY FULL.
Two really, really great days in Germany.
Next up, we go to POLAND!
I can’t wait to share those days with you!
Whether you’re thinking European Christmas markets or Germany in the summer or somewhere else, we would LOVE to help you with your next vacation too. Our agency does all the research, makes all of the reservations, handles any issues that arise, and creates custom, unique, concierge-style vacations. Whether your budget is small or large, whether you need something for just yourself (we love solo travelers!) or a huge group, we can handle it. We can even create destination weddings (complete with personalized websites for your wedding party and guests), corporate group events…if you are thinking travel, please think of us. Contact us today for more information. We would love to work with YOU!
Have the best Monday, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow. xx
Elspeth Mizner says
Wow! Those sound like some great days! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
faith says
I always thought you and K were twins- but I look at this picture and realize how similar you and S’s facial structure is and how similar Andrew and K looks! Genetics are wild!
Mix and Match Mama says
They are wild! Mades will swear to you all day long that she looks just like her dad too 😉 .
Sheaffer says
Well now I’m STARVING.
Kristin says
We are from Wisconsin, so we grew up eating brats, and still love them. Those brat buns are making me want to cry. They look AMAZING. I can NOT find good brat buns in Kansas City. I guess my goal for 2026 should be to perfect my own recipe for them. Munich looks amazing. I’ve never been to Germany, but obviously Munich needs to be on the itinerary when I finally get there.
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that goal! If you perfect a recipe, please send it my way to try!!
Kristin says
Will do!
Savannah says
My husband and I went to Germany this year too before Christmas. We visited Cologne and Berlin. Seeing your post with the mulled wine and the Christmas markets is making me want to go back. The very best place to get in the Christmas spirit.
Susan Jeffries says
Your lovely ladies at Mix and Match Travel Agency are helping us plan Munich to Austria this year!! I am so excited to see your posts!! My daughter and I are even learning German so we can talk to the locals!! Thanks for sharing!
Mix and Match Mama says
And we are SO GRATEFUL to do it! I love, love, love that you girls are learning German together too!
Allison says
Your mulled wine made me lol! I agree though, it’s a must. Any time I go to Fredericksburg during the holidays, it is also a must for walking around! 😉 Great pictures, so beautiful!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s a MUST with the cold weather and holiday decor!
Paula Hobbs says
I love wine, but I have never had mulled wine. I can’t wait to try it one day!! The pictures are just amazing. I can’t wait for the Poland recap. Happy Monday, everyone!!
Lisa D says
Goodness, you are “living your best best life”!
I am looking forward to your Poland posts!
I’m making your white chicken chile this week, it’s been a favorite for years and this is the recipe that introduced me to your blog years ago 😊
Mix and Match Mama says
I am SO happy it introduced you to me! Thank you so much for sharing. xx
Erika Slaughter says
Madeley’s smile with that Zara bag…WORTH it!
CC says
Hi! How were the gluten free options in Germany? We have one GF kiddo 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I’ve said this before, but it’s certainly worth repeating, I personally think Europe has even more/better gf options than the US. There are always, always great options.
DeAnnah Hunter says
Where did you get your black coat?! Love it!!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s from The North Face! I’ve had it a few years. That brand never lets me down!
Valerie A says
Everything looks so charming and the food delicious!!
Shay, you may have mentioned this before in other posts, but is your family still gluten free? If so, do you find you can eat the bread and dishes that use their flour in Europe without problems? I have friends that are gf and they tell me that they have no problems there.
Mix and Match Mama says
We are no longer gf (I blogged about it here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2024/08/second-opinions/ ). That being said, I have had MANY clients tell me the same thing about eating breads in Europe too.
Valerie A says
Thank you for the response. Somehow I missed that post, but that is great news about not needing to be GF!
Ginger says
We really enjoyed Nuremberg; it had one of the best Christmas markets we saw. We also visited Courtroom 600 and many of the Third Reich sites there, which I highly recommend to anyone going there.
Ellen says
I was going to ask about any memorials to the trials. We are a family of history buffs, and I’d like to see that, although I’m sure it is quite harrowing.
Deb Weber says
Your Germany posts are great! That apple strudel looks amazingly yummy. Thanks for taking us along 🙂
Laura says
looks like such a fun trip! did you spend any time in nuremberg exploring/learning about the history?
Mix and Match Mama says
We didn’t have a car, so we just stayed inside the city center area for our time there.
Cris says
I’d love to know more about your family New Year’s Eve tradition! Does everyone come prepared to say something about everyone else? Or do you and Andrew do the talking? A whole post on this would be awesome!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh by now, they all know that we do this. I can’t remember when we first started…but it was a long time ago. We just go around and everyone says something nice about everyone else from the year. Over the years, what they say has changed A LOT (because they’re older now), but it’s always sweet.
Cris says
I just love this. You’re doing such a great job with these people of yours!
Diane says
I am going to be honest that I’m leaving a comment because you are such an awesome prayer partner. Please pray for my home state of Minnesota and specifically the city of Minneapolis. My niece was adopted from Korea and she is terrified to leave the house because of ICE agent presence. MInneapolis ISD is offering virtual learning until Feb 12 because families are afraid to take their children to school. This is not a political statement but the reality of the situation is much more terrifying than Trump and Noem are saying. Thanks from this reader in Waco, Tx.
Lora says
We were in Munich the week before you; it’s fun to see your pics and recognize the locations! (But that apple strudel at the end? That looks like kaiserschmarrn to me!)
Mix and Match Mama says
It probably was…I’m sure the server “American-ized” his description for the six of us 😉 .
Shelby says
Is apple strudel similar to Kaiserschmarrn? My family is German and makes that. It looks delicious either way.
Mix and Match Mama says
It certainly might be? I love that your family makes authentic German food. I’m jealous!
Alison says
I love that NYE tradition!! This is a silly question, but how do you take your family selfies and up with such a beautiful frame with everyone’s faces?! I have a blended family of six and we can never get one without someone’s face being really close or cut off (we all fight over who has to take it, and it usually ends up being me 😂). It doesn’t really look like you’re using a stick, so I’m curious what your secret trick is!
Mix and Match Mama says
We are almost always using the arm of a man who is 6’5″, haha! That’s how we do it 😉 .
Mary says
What an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing!
Ellen says
Love Nuremberg and Salzburg. But all time favorite Christmas place is Strasbourg France. Nothing better than drinking mulled wine in the snow!
Ellen says
Such an amazing city!
(Signed, another Ellen!)
Amanda says
We also ate at Georgia this past summer when we were in Munich. It was so adorable!