Give the U.S. this: if anybody knows how to pick a spot for their military bases, consulates, embassies, and resorts, then the Americans do. 

Of course, having a military presence and being part of the allied armies during WWII certainly helped. Germany was in no position to tell the victors what to do. So you would like this castle for your next administrative headquarters? Nein. Whoops, on second thought, I have a better idea: take it! And that gun you're holding at my head has nothing to do with it. 

But that's only part of the formula. Location is everything, and I'm wondering if every military unit had a real estate agent in its ranks. Prime examples? The military base in Wiesbaden. The consulate in Frankfurt. The embassy in Berlin. The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And that is just Germany. I could name the consulates and embassies I've seen worldwide, but I think you get the point.

Garmisch was always going to be a no brainer as a base of some sort for the U.S. Remember what I wrote about Schönau at the Königssee. Garmisch itself is one of a hundred charming little towns in Bavaria. The difference is the Alps. 

Note how I use the abbreviated Garmisch for the town. That's only one half of the town, in quite a literal sense. The town used to consist of Garmisch and Partenkirchen, and, if anything, the half of Partenkirchen has the nicest place, the famous Ludwigsstrasse with its fabulously painted houses, an absolute must if you need a photo opp that does not include a mountain, meadow, or lake.

That said, it doesn't take an American to like Garmisch. Garmisch is the outdoor Mecca for hikers in Germany. From here, you'll have easy access to Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Granted, that's getting more and more difficult these days in the age of turbo tourism, with hundreds of hikers now queueing to reach the summit. Here, it's simply Alpine beauty. There are lakes and mountains, followed by...more lakes and mountains. And of course winter sports galore. 

Garmisch itself can be passed by car in 5-10 minutes. Garmisch is the place you reach following gnarly curves and hairpin turns through mountainous routes that will make that schnitzel you had for lunch suddenly not sit so well. But then you get out of the car, breathe the air and...yes, back to civilization. In the middle of all the hoopla with the hotels and restaurants, people seem to forget there are actually people living here. These people are always friendly, without exception, now that their stake in the town grows with each arriving tourist and businessman. 

And if the Americans are so good at picking locations, imagine what kings can do. Case in point: The King's House on Schachen, also known as the hunting lodge (really a party house) for none other than King Ludwig II. Of all the castles and royal mansions I've seen, this might just take the top prize.