Most Beautiful Swiss Villages

Switzerland, a landlocked country, is located in western Europe, between Austria, Germany and France. Switzerland is known for its bilingual nature. Parts of the country speak French, while others speak German and, in some towns, residents speak both. There are beautiful villages all around Switzerland, many of which date back to the fourth century. Some villages offer lakeside locations and mountain views, plenty of hiking trails, boat cruises and snow sports in the winter.

Spiez

• Spiez is a small village on Lake Thun in north-central Switzerland. On the edge of the village are the Niederhorn mountains that run all the way to the Bernese Alps; the village is also encircled by vineyards and boasts a large castle as the high point of its skyline. Visitors can visit the castle, which doubles as a church, or book a cruise on the lake. Those that prefer hiking can walk trails around the lake or in the nearby mountains. History or wine aficionados can visit Spiez's museum of viticulture and local history or simply enjoy a glass of wine in a lakeside restaurant.

Ringgenberg

• Ringgenberg is located in northeastern Switzerland, on Lake Brienz. Ringgenberg is a popular summer destination for Swiss vacationers looking to swim since the lake's summer water temperatures are quite warm. Building codes ensure that the buildings in this village retain their centuries-old veneer, giving the village a historic look. The village museum gives visitors a peek into the town's past; it stands alongside a cheese storage shed, a main house and an oven building. Nearby are the villages of Goldswil and Niederreid.

Appenzell

• Appenzell is located in northeastern Switzerland, in the Alpine region. The town is the capital of the area known as Appenzell Innerrhoden -- the region of Switzerland with the smallest population. Appenzell is recognized for ornamental houses, which makes it an ideal destination for those hoping to snap stunning photographs. Shoppers can find a large number of local products in the town's stores, which are perfect place to scoop up souvenirs or gifts for friends. In the summer, when the snow on the Alps is partially melted, large and majestic rock formations can be seen on the cliffs around Appenzell. Hiking trails in the hills are also open to hikers in this temperate weather. In the winter, however, there is an abundance of snow for cross-country and downhill skiers.

Sion

• Sion, also known as Sitten in German, is the capital of the Swiss region of Valais, a bilingual area speaking both French and German. The area around Sion is marked by vineyards and castles; the Valeria Fortress, for example, can be seen from a distance and is one of the defining features of the Sion landscape. Sion is also Switzerland's oldest town. The Valais area in which Sion resides is known as Switzerland's premiere winemaking area and some of its wines, such as Fendant, are known the world over. In and around Sion are the Saint-Leonard subterranean lake -- an underground lake big enough for boat cruises -- and the Derborence forest.

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The Advantages of the Roman Arch

Although the Roman arch didn’t originate with the Romans, they’re the ones who pushed its limits and spread its popularity. They incorporated the use of arches into their infrastructure. The Roman arch consists of bricks or “voussoirs.” These voussoirs are built in such a way that they push outward and downward from the “keystone” or central voussoir. The keystone supports the other voussoirs. Even today, architects and builders make use of Roman arch design because of its clever design.

Large Areas

• Roman arches stacked together side-by-side are able to cover long distances and large areas of roofing. Common examples of this are aqueducts and barrel vaults. Barrel vaults – used today in stadiums – were commonly used for entrances and exits for large buildings. These consist of a series of arches, or a continuous arch, to form the ceiling of a structure – often looking like the inside of a tunnel or barrel. Ancient sewers also made use of barrel vault technology. Later, medieval churches and cathedrals made use of modified barrel-vault ceilings.

Large Interior Spaces

• Using arches in structures allows for a large spatial area in rooms. For example, the use of arches in barrel vaults, groin vaults, pointed arched vaults and roofs allows for a much stronger and larger space than what would be possible with a traditional flat roof lacking an arch. The prevalence of barrel vaults in public buildings allowed larger buildings that could accommodate more people.

Versatility

• One of the many advantages of the Roman arch, or arch variations, is the capability to be formed into other architectural structures, such as vaults and domes. Domes consist of arches that meet at the center. Vaults are arched-masonry structures made to form ceilings or roofs. Examples of vaults are the barrel vault, groin vaults and cloister vaults.

City Growth

• A huge advantage that the arch provided was enough stability to successfully build long aqueducts over large regions. Previously, cities needed to be built close to a river or other source of water; however, after the Roman arch made aqueducts possible, large cities connected to distant water sources could grow large due to water availability.

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How to Call Amsterdam From the USA

When you do not know how to make an international telephone call, it can seem rather confusing. After all, foreign phone numbers seem to be so long in comparison. If you are planning on making a phone call to Amsterdam -- which is the Netherlands' capital city -- from the United States, the process is very simple and quick.

Things You'll Need

Telephone with a long-distance calling plan
Telephone card (if necessary)
Phone number in Amsterdam

Tips For You

1. Make sure that you have a long-distance calling plan or an international calling card. If you do not have long-distance set up on your telephone, you will not be able to dial numbers outside of the United States. One way to get around this is by purchasing an international phone card on the Internet or at your local drugstore. These phone cards are relatively cheap. Buy roughly or just over the amount of minutes that you need to be on the phone to Amsterdam. For example, if you plan to speak for about 45 minutes, purchase a card with 60 minutes on it.
2. Be aware of dialing codes. To make a phone call abroad from the United States, you must dial the international access code, which is 011. Then, research the Netherland's country code. To make a call directly to a nation, it is vital to be aware of its specific country code. In the Netherlands' case, the code is 31. Dial the international country code with the country code immediately following it.
3. Take the "0" away from the start of the city code. The Amsterdam phone number you have begins with "020," as that is the city code. To make international phone calls, it is always necessary to remove the "0" from the beginning of the code first. After you do this, the beginning of the phone number you are going to dial should look like "011 31 20" with the rest of the digits following.
4. Figure out the local time in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is in a totally different time zone than the United States, so avoid being rude and calling at an overly early or late hour. Amsterdam is six hours ahead from the East Coast of the United States and nine hours ahead of the West Coast. Think ahead before making a call to Amsterdam. You do not want to risk waking someone up and dealing with a groggy and unhappy person.
5. Make your phone call. Be sure you have entered your international access code, the country code for the Netherlands and the city code for Amsterdam. Enjoy your call, and maybe you'll pick up a few words in the Dutch language.

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Main Foods of Kosovo

It's not hard to find a juicy burger and crispy fries in Pristina, but indulging in the young capital's Italian or Irish offerings means missing out on some of the best Balkan comfort food around. Whether cozying up in a corner restaurant or being invited into the home of mountain-dwelling Kosovars, fill up on traditional pastry, meat and savory accompaniments.

Flija

• In the U.S., summertime campfire baking may consist of melting chocolate and marshmallows together with graham crackers. In Kosovo, a large, flaky, signature pie is the masterpiece that comes out of hours around an open fire with family and friends. Flija consists of layer upon layer of a simple crepe-like batter cooked in a flat round pan with a special metal cover heated over the coals. Between the thin layers of pastry, a melted cream-cheese mixture gently is applied. The flija is cut into wedges like a pie and serves as a base for all sorts of tasty adornments, from sweet honey or jam to pickled vegetables and cheese.

Meat

• Meat lovers can find something to chew on in Kosovo. Residents prep for the winter by preparing pasterma in advance, a dried beef served with pickled vegetables. One favorite casserole in the country, elbasan tava, is a hearty mixture of chunks of lamb baked with a blend of corn flour, yogurt, eggs and garlic cloves. Raznjici is a Balkan kebab that usually features pork or veal. Cevapcici consists of barbecued minced meat -- much like a sausage without the casing. To find a traditional patty-shaped meat dish, ask for the Balkan burger known as a pljeskavica, which can include beef, veal, pork or all of the above in the mixture.

Burek

• Burek blends Kosovars' love of meat with flaky flija layers in a pie that depending on the filling and one's tastes may be consumed for any meal of the day. Call it Kosovo's traditional fast food, as bakers roll minced meat or vegetables with the dough, slice up the finished product and serve it with yogurt for an anytime snack. Burek may be stuffed with cheese, spinach, fruit filling or chunks of potato. Not every traditional bread in Kosovo is light and flaky, though, as households regularly enjoy proja with a meal. This cornbread becomes extra rich with yogurt and cheese blended into the batter of flour, cornstarch, eggs and milk.

Hajvar

• Ajvar, a savory relish that may include red bell peppers, eggplant and garlic, works in harmony with Kosovo's other main dishes as a complement to flija, a condiment for pljeskavica or a spicy kick for a veggie burek. According to the Southeast European Times, ajvar gets its start by frying red peppers before they are peeled, then grinding and boiling them. The mixture is slowly stirred for hours while salt and oil are added to the paste, with hot peppers added for a spicier variant. A similar paste called pinxhur combines eggplant, tomatoes, garlic and peppers; both are canned and stored.

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Time Difference Between Ramstein, Germany & California

Ramstein is located within the German state of Rhineland-Pfalz. The city is a part of Kaiserslautern county and it adheres to the Central European Time Zone. In the month of March, the clock moves ahead one hour due to daylight-saving time. California is in the western United States and falls within the Pacific Time Zone. Like Ramstein, California's clock also moves ahead one hour during the early summer months.

Time Difference

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is nine hours ahead of California's Pacific Time Zone. So when it is 5 p.m. in Ramstein, it is 8 a.m. in California. When it is 2:35 a.m. in Ramstein, it is 5:35 p.m. in California. The time of hour will always vary, but the minutes will not.

Coordinated Universal Time

• The world's clocks are regulated by a time standard known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Currently, the UTC is officially held at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. This time standard is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). All of the world's time zones are regulated in terms of positive (+) or negative (-) hourly offsets from the UTC. Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is listed as UTC+01:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. This means that the time in Ramstein, Germany, is always one hour ahead of the time in Greenwich, London. During daylight-saving time, the Ramstein clock moves ahead an hour, changing from UTC+01:00 to UTC+02:00. California's Pacific Time Zone is listed as UTC-08:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. Therefore, California is always eight hours behind Greenwich. When daylight-saving time is in effect in California, the Pacific Time Zone moves to UTC-07:00.

Time and Dates

• Due to the nine hour time difference in Ramstein and California, dates can vary. The difference allows for it to be a Tuesday morning in Ramstein when it is still Monday night in California. When it is 4 a.m. on June 25 in Ramstein, for example, it is only 7 p.m. on June 24 in California.

Daylight Saving

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone skips an hour ahead during daylight-saving time. Since 1996, this change typically occurs on the last Sunday in March. Central European Time becomes known as Central European Summer Time. The time switches back in Ramstein on the last Sunday in October. Since 2007, daylight-saving time comes in California on the second Sunday in March. Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time, and the clocks move forward an hour. Daylight-saving time ends in California on the first Sunday in November.

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What Are Some Italian Landforms?

Italy, with its distinctive boot shape, is a European peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea. The country is mountainous with two major chains, the Alps in the north and the Apennines extending the length of the country. A cluster of volcanoes is located mostly in the south and southwest. In addition to the peaks, plains, rivers and foothills make up a major part of the geologic landscape of the Italian peninsula.

The Po-Venetian Plain

• The Po-Venetian plain is located in northern Italy between the Adriatic Sea, the Alps and the Apennine mountains. The plain was once a gulf in a tectonic trough that filled over time with deposits from the seas, rivers and glaciers. Today, these deposits are almost 5 miles deep. The majority of the plain is flat. Once covered with forests that have since been harvested, the Po-Venetian plain is now considered the breadbasket of Italy for its rich agriculture land. Swamps and bogs are common throughout the plain.

The Italian Alps

• The Italian Alps are part of the Alpine chain in Western Europe formed when the continents of Europe and Africa collided. The Italian Alps are divided into three parts: the Western, Central and Eastern Alps. The most famous peak in the Italian Alps is Monte Cervino, also known as the Matterhorn, located on the Swiss-Italian border.

The Apennines

• The Apennines are a range of mountains that travel the length of the Italian peninsula for 830 miles ending on the island of Sicily. Often called the backbone of Italy, the Apennines are the source of most major rivers in the country. The highest peak in the Apennine range is Mount Corno at over 9,000 feet. Like the Po-Venetian plain, the Apennines were once heavily forested but due to thousands of years of human harvesting have now lost most of their forests.

Mount Vesuvius and Other Volcanic Structures

• Italy has a large number of volcanic structures for such a small country, due mostly to convergence between the African and European continental plates. The most famous Italian volcano is Mount Vesuvius, part of the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, known for the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano, active in vaying degrees, are other famous volcanoes on the Italian mainland and surrounding islands.

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What Are the Russian States?

Like the United States, Russia is a federation. The Russian Federation has 83 federal subjects or sub-national levels of government. Each federal subject is represented by two delegates in the Federation Council, which is the upper house of the Federal Assembly. Subjects are also organized in eight federal districts, which are administered by an envoy appointed by the president of Russia, who serves as a liaison between the federal subjects and the federal government.

Oblasts

• The most common federal subjects are oblasts. As of May 2011, there are 46 oblasts, also known as provinces or regions, recognized in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Each oblast is named after its capital city. Although provincial legislatures are locally elected, governors of each oblast are appointed by the federal government. Unlike republics, oblasts have charters rather than constitutions.

Republics

• Republics are relatively autonomous in comparison to provinces and territories in the Russian Federation. Unlike oblasts and krais, republics have their own constitution and official language, along with Russian. Republics also have their own parliament and president. There are 21 republics in the Russian Federation, as of May 2011. Republics are often home to ethnic minorities and have been established since 1919. Despite their autonomy, republics are still represented by the federal government in international affairs.

Krais

• The Russian Federation includes nine krais, or territories. These regions are similar to oblasts, although they retain their designation as territories because of their historical role as frontier regions. They maintain their own elected legislatures and charters, and have governors appointed by the central government. As of May 2011, Russia's krais were Altay, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorsky, Stavropol and Zabaykalsky.

Autonomous Okrugs

• Autonomous okrugs, or autonomous districts, were once autonomous entities within oblasts and krais. They were created specifically for minor ethnic minorities, and as of May 2011, there are four in Russia. Autonomous okrugs remain administrative subdivisions of krais or oblasts. Although these districts are federal subjects, they remain administratively subordinate to the krai or oblast they are part of, with the exception of Chukotka. Khanty-Mansi and Yamalo-Nenets are subordinate to Tyumen Oblast, and Nenets is subordinate to Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Autonomous Oblasts

• Beginning in 1990, all of the autonomous oblasts were elevated to republics. The Jewish Autonomous Oblast is the only autonomous oblast or autonomous province remaining in the Russian Federation, as of May 2011. Tracing its roots to 1930, the region is located in the Russian Far East ,and from 1938 to 1991 it was an administrative subordinate of the Khabarovsk Territory. In 1991, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast was elevated to a full federal subject in the constitution.

Federal Cities

• Moscow and St. Petersburg are classified as federal cities or cities of federal importance in the Russian Federation, placing them above other cities in the country. They are federal subjects recognized in the constitution and act as separate regions. The mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg are the administrative leaders of the regions, similar to governors in oblasts. Moscow shares its borders with the Moscow Oblast, while St. Petersburg is surrounded by the Leningrad Oblast.

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What Are Two Russian Landforms?

Russia is the largest country in the world, and it covers one-seventh of the world's landmass. Because of its massive size, Russia contains some of the most diverse ecosystems of any country in the world, from the arctic hinterland of Siberia to the steppes in the south of the country. As part of these ecosystems, there are numerous landmasses in Russia that define the landscape of the country.

The Volga Delta

• The Volga Delta is the largest delta in Russia and the whole of Europe. The delta is created by the Volga emptying out into the Caspian Sea. The delta is home to a large variety of plant life, much of which is rare. Some types of plants found in the delta include the sacred lotus and water chestnuts. The delta is inhabited by many types of animals, including 230 species of birds, 61 species of fish and 30 species of mammals.

The Kama River

• The Kama River, starting in the Upper Kama Upland in Udmurtia, is the largest tributary to the Volga River. The river is 1,125 miles long and passes through the cities of Solikamsk, Berezniki, Perm, Sarapul and Naberezhnye Chelny. The river serves as a waterway connecting many cities, including Perm and Moscow. There are many different types of fish living in the river, including sturgeon, perch and carp. The river provides electricity to cities along its banks through dams and hydroelectric generators.

Kuznetsk Basin

• The Kuznetsk Basin is a 10,000-square-mile basin that is known for its many coal deposits. The basin was the second largest coal producing site in the Soviet region. The region has a history of being an industrial center, with the first iron-smelting works founded there in 1697. Coal was discovered in the basin in 1721 and was mined starting in 1851.

Khamar-Daban Mountains

• The Khamar-Daban Mountains are located south of Lake Baikal, close to the border of Mongolia and Russia. The mountains are a relatively low chain, with an altitude of only 1.24 to 1.43 miles in height. The climate is wet and mild, and most of the range is undeveloped and inside the Baikalsky National Park. Fauna in the range include deer, grouse and bear. Flora include birch, pine and fir.

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Landforms in Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a distinctively isolated ethnic and geographic region located in Northern Europe, covering the whole Scandinavian Peninsula. It is comprised of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark. The most interesting and prominent landforms in Scandinavia include mountains, fjords, valleys and glaciers.

Mountains

• The Scandinavian mountains run across Norway, Sweden and Finland. This mountain range is often referred to as "The Keel," because it resembles a boat's keel. Most of the mountains on the Keel are around 3,000 to 6,000 feet, although the highest peak, Galdho Peak, reaches up to 8,100 feet. The highest peaks are mostly situated in Norway. Most of the Scandinavian mountain range is filled with glaciers and ice fields.

Fjords

• The Norwegian fjords are one of the most beautiful landforms in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Fjords form because of glacial activities, carving out a body of water surrounded by tall cliffs and steep mountain-sides. Fjords in Norway include the Romsdalsfjord, Geirangerfjord, and the Sognefjord. Romsdalsfjord and Geirangerfjord have snowy steep cliffs and green coastlines, while the Sognefjord is the longest fjord in Norway.

Valleys

• Although Norway is filled with fjords and mountains, most of Scandinavia also has valleys. Valleys are lowlands and plains between mountains and hills, typically situated near a river or a body of water. In Sweden, well known valleys include Lapporten, Rapa and Tarfala Valley. The Tornio Valley is a glacial valley located between the borders of Sweden and Finland.

Volcanic Landforms and Glaciers

• The volcanic region in Iceland makes up another landform situated in Scandinavia. Iceland is an island filled with active volcanic areas, providing a unique landform made from lava, similar to the process that created the Hawaiian islands. On average, at least one volcano erupts every five to 10 years.

  Huge glaciers can also be found in island. Glaciers are a combination of rocks, soil, snow and ice that form in places where ice accumulates because the snow that melts is much less than the snow that forms. Although Iceland is filled with volcanoes, about 11.5% of its land area is covered with glacial ice.

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Architectural Styles of Northern Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance refers to a period from around 1450 to the late 16th century in Northern Europe. Architecture transformed from a dramatic, Gothic style to an ornate and classically inspired style similar to that of Italian building. Renaissance architecture is perhaps most popularly associated with southern Europe -- Rome and Vatican City in particular. The influence of Europe's cultural rebirth can in fact be seen as far north as Norway and Sweden, with each European country developing its own particular version.

Great Britain

• British Renaissance architects incorporated the Dutch crow-stepped gable into their designs. Buildings such as Eilean Donan castle in the Scottish Highlands have stepped triangles at their gabled ends. Flemish strapwork also began to appear in Elizabethan England and these curling bands of metal carved and molded into decorative shapes are perhaps best exemplified in the bay windows of Longleat House in Somerset. Buildings of the period were also often influenced by Palladian style, recreating the clean lines and Doric columns of ancient Greek and Roman architecture.

Germany

• There is a strong Italian influence in German renaissance architecture. The famous Landshut residence in Lower Bavaria took its inspiration from Italy's Palazzo Te in Mantua and its large courtyard and palace chapel. St. Michael's Church in Munich is based on Il Gesu in Rome and, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, inspired the baroque architectural style that is typical of the German Counter-Reformation. Heidelberg Castle in Baden-Wurttemberg retains its Gothic heritage dating from 1214, but subsequent additions by Prince-electors of the 1500s brought an Italian flavor with columns imported from an old castle of Charlemagne's and royal residences built in the courtyards.

France

• Renaissance architecture in France created some of the country's finest chateaus, such as the Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley. While the lavish ornamentation recalls Italian architecture of the same period, the amount of decorative carving comes from a French Gothic tradition. Late in the Renaissance, Mannerism became fashionable in France, typified by dense engraving in a Roman style and exemplified in the work of Italian architects such as Sebastiano Serlio, who designed the Palace of Fontainebleau.

Scandinavia

• In Scandinavian countries, the Renaissance aesthetic tends to be expressed in the form of castles or castle-like manors. This is due both to the rise of Flemish-inspired architecture in Norway and the rise of Protestantism in Sweden, which ensured that ostentatious church-building of any kind was stopped. Buildings like Frederiksborg Palace in Denmark and the Wasa castles in Sweden tend to combine high gables with Palladian façades.

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Interesting Facts on the Zugspitze Mountain

At 9,718 feet, Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany. It is situated in the southern part of Germany that borders Austria, in the Bavarian Alps. There is a train that runs up and down the mountain, making it accessible to everyone without the strain of climbing. The summit of Zugspitze is marked by a golden cross, which is a popular tourist attraction.

First Summit Climb

• Officially, the summit of the Zugspitze was first reached in 1820 by Josef Naus, Johan Georg Tauschl and Naus's assistant, but people from the local area had been visiting the mountain top for decades before that. A map discovered in an archive in 2006 proves that people in 1770 must have been on the summit, as it depicts details that would not be known otherwise.

The Peaks

• Originally, Zugspitze consisted of three peaks, and one of these was 6.6 feet taller than the current summit. The lower middle peak was blown up in 1930 to make way for the trains and the train station, while the highest western peak was removed by the Nazis in 1938 to allow for the establishment of an airbase that never materialized.

Trains

• Many trains run up and down the Zugspitze. A cogwheel train takes skiers and snowboarders to a glacier just below the summit. A cable car line runs alongside the entire mountain side and another cable car line takes visitors from the glaciers to the peak.

Summit Cross

• The summit cross was erected in 1851 after a German minister complained that the country's highest peak lacked an ornament to mark its significance. An iron cross was carried to the summit by 28 climbers, but it had to be taken down for renovation at regular intervals, since it was prone to lightning strikes. After the end of World War II, the cross was used for target practice by U.S. soldiers and had to be replaced. The current cross is gold-plated, weighs 661 lbs. and is 16.01 feet tall.

Avalanches and Deaths

• The Zugspitze experiences frequent avalanches. The mountain has been monitored regularly ever since an incident in 1965, when a restaurant was covered in snow and 10 people died. The Bavarian Avalanche Warning Service has established safe zones that are under constant surveillance and are treated with blasts to remove layers of snow that could cause an avalanche. However, between 1965 and 2010, 114 people lost their lives on the mountain by either leaving the safe zone or because they didn't take appropriate precautions. In one instance, two cross-country runners participating in a race to the summit died in 2008. The sportsmen were only dressed in shorts and t-shirts as they attempted to run up the mountain side. They were surprised by the sudden approach of cold weather and died of hypothermia.

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Things to Do in Ramstein

Ramstein is a town in Germany located on the western side of the country, just southwest of Frankfurt. The city is home to an United States Air Force base, Ramstein Air Base, making a large percentage of the population military staff and their families. No matter if you are military or simply on vacation, you can find plenty of things to do in Ramstein that cater to a variety of interests.

Visit City Museum

• The City Museum (no website; Miesenbacher Street 1, Ramstein-Miesenbach; 011-49-06371-838186) is located right in the center of Ramstein. There, you can spend the day learning the city's history, exploring the old country store located within walking distance of the museum and exploring any number of the visiting exhibits that the museum features. A variety of lectures, presentations and concerts are also offered throughout the year. You can visit the museum Tuesday through Sunday between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Relax at Azur Water World

• For a little recreation during your stay in Ramstein, consider visiting the Azur Water World (freizeitbad-azur.de) for hours of aquatic fun for the entire family. The facility has a huge community swimming pool and a paddling pool for younger children. Additionally, a hot tub and a sauna is available for those who want a spa experience. The facility also has a waterfall and a water slide. Hours of operation are 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and holidays.

Golf at Woodlawn Golf Course

• For more outdoor recreation during your stay in Ramstein, check out the Woodlawn Golf Course (woodlawngolf.com). During the on-season, the Woodlawn Golf Course offers activities for all ages, such as a kids day each Sunday when admission is free with an adult. The course also features Ladies' Day each Wednesday, and frequently offers days exclusively dedicated to Active Duty only. If you are not interested in doing any golfing yourself, consider attending one of the golf tournaments that Woodlawn Golf Course hosts.

Go to Haus des Burgers

• Visiting a conference center might seem odd or boring if you do not have a meeting to attend, but not in Ramstein. The Haus des Burgers (hausdesbuergers.de) offers more than just accommodations for meetings and banquet facilities. It also features the local library, an Italian restaurant and even a bowling alley. Additionally, various events and festivals are held throughout the year, such as an International Brass and Drum Festival in July, and Oktoberfest.

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