Once upon a time, as one might say in all earnestness while travelling along Germany’s Romantic Road, I proposed to my wife. That alone would/should qualify the route as the “R” in my favourite ABCs of travel series, but I also have other motivations.

That’s because I had been there before and knew that the famous Romantische Strasse was an amazing 350-km thematic route through southern Germany that checked all the boxes that a visitor to Europe would seek: fairytale castles and medieval villages; splendid art, churches and palaces; wanderable and cyclable countryside; and, of course, plenty of great beer, wine and bratwurst.

And while I had enjoyed the road on my own, I also knew without a doubt that it would be an ideal place to be the official starting place for a lifelong journey for two.

Despite being dotted with towns with not-so-romantic sounding names like Rottingen and Dinkelsbuhl, I bided my time until Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the most famous stop on the route – a marvellous place of pastel colours, quaint squares and dreamy lanes, unique history, boutique shops brimming with German handicrafts and ubiquitous “schneeballen” (snowball) pastries, plus strollable town walls overlooking the countryside and serene Tauber River below.

I made my move – knee-d the deed – at the charming Romantik Hotel Markusturm. The former 11th-century tollhouse – a pale-yellow half-timbered gingerbread structure framed by bursting flower boxes – is located on an impossibly quaint cobblestone street beside the Roeder Arch and its ornate clock tower, and offers a suitably historic, yet elegant interior to match.

For the record, Jodi said yes.

We celebrated with Franconian wine at an outdoor café, the town slowly becoming even more romantic as the gaslights flickered up as the sun went down.

It was a magical moment, made even more special by the setting, Germany’s Romantische Strasse, an indelible life memory on our long and winding road.

Honourable mention: Redwood National Park, California

Bucket list: Rio de Janeiro

Unlike the song, I have not been everywhere, so please don’t wonder why one of your favourites wasn’t one of mine. Instead, tell me at baginski@travelindustrytoday.com. I’m already thinking about my next list.

Stay tuned to future issues for the rest of the list. And for previous entries, click HERE.