Aalen is a nifty little city in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Roman ruins, thermal baths, and quaint old buildings from a bygone era, very well-preserved. Much of Aalen bursts with color. Great place to stop for a change of pace from the cities, or to soak in the vibes of Germany's more rustic past. Marktplatz is a great place to start your explorations of the town; dozens of shops and cafes in half-timbered houses line Marktplatz's cobbled lanes. Very cozy vibe. Another cultural bonus: Aalen finds itself in the region where many people speak Schwäbisch -- a dialect that I've frequently heard other Germans refer to as "cute." So, language-lovers can enjoy the novelty as well of this dialect little-spoken outside of Germany. Aalen is definitely worth a visit if you have the time. Well-connected by bus to cities like Ulm and Nürnberg (1-2 hours), close also to Stuttgart (1 hour), and about a day's bus ride from Berlin (~7 hours).