Winter Wonderland in Strasbourg, France

Reaching Strasbourg is easy by car or train from Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich. After you've checked into your hotel, set out on foot to the center of town and all of the Christmas Markets. You can download a map of the markets ahead of time or your hotel may offer you one when you arrive.

Take your time exploring the markets, stopping to pick up a vin chaud (mulled wine) or chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) to enjoy on your walk. There are endless street food options available at every market so be sure to try as many as you can - flammkuchen, pretzels, roasted chestnuts, pretzel and more! It will be difficult, but try not to buy all the gifts and souvenirs on your first day.

If you're a morning person, get up and take a walk along the canals in Petite-France as the sun rises over the colorful streets before heading back to your hotel for a traditional French breakfast. The markets typically open mid-morning, so feel free to have a leisurely morning.

Start your day off by visiting the Alsatian Museum to see traditional furniture and art set in a group of homes turned exhibits.

Just a five minute walk from the museum you'll find the centerpiece of Strasbourg, the Cathédral Notre-Dame, which welcomes visitors daily. The cathedral is a massive Gothic structure built from pink sandstone.

After touring the cathedral, spend the afternoon exploring the Christmas Markets during the day. They all look quite different from day to night!

If you've tired of street food (if that is possible,) Strasbourg is also home to two Michelin- starred restaurants, one of which is found right in the center of town, called Au Crocodile. If you'd like to try some traditional Alsatian cuisine in a more relaxed atmosphere, I recommend Saint Sepulcre.

Spend your last day in Strasbourg picking up all of the souvenirs you've been eyeing - candle holders, scarves, ornaments and more. Galeries Lafayette Strasbourg offers gifts for all budgets in a department store setting, making it easy to pick up holiday gifts for everyone back home.

If you want to explore a bit more of the Alsace region, Colmar is a quick 30 minute train ride from Strasbourg and has its own treasure trove of Christmas Markets. The town of Colmar has six Christmas Markets in the downtown area and it is a simple day trip from Strasbourg.

Colmar looks like it was made from gingerbread, so even if you just spend a few hours walking the streets you will be in awe of the decorations. Visit La Petite Venise and enjoy the food at La Terrasse du Marche along the canal before taking the train back to Strasbourg for the evening.