On the Thursday that you arrive in Frankfurt, there is a large, local Farmers Market just a few blocks from the Jugendherberge on the Konstablerwache. This is a favorite of the residents of Frankfurt, and they will all be gathered here at tables drinking wine or applewine. Lots of local cheeses, honey, herbs, fruits, veg. mushrooms, and meats. Recommended German restaurants near you would be Atschel or Dauth-Schneider. You could also visit the Klein Markt Halle, just a couple blocks away from the Konstablerwache, for a totally different experience, as here there is food from the entire world on offer.

The Farmers market in Hoechst is easy to find, as it is just a block from the river, and there are signs directing you to the Alt Stadt as well as to the Market. It is open from 8-13:00 as well as the market hall there. Do visit the Justinus church, as it will be open from 14:00-16:00 as well as the garden behind the church. Both of the restaurants sitting up on the city wall here, offer good food. St. Josefs church is also worth visiting, but with a surprising Art Deco look to is inside. Do you have your hotel for Hoechst yet?

Thanks so much! Any suggestions about the Bacharach/Cochem possiblity? I just found reference to Cochem and it looks lovely, but maybe there is plenty to see at Bacharach. We were considering a boat ride, so was hoping maybe this was an area that it would go to.

The youth hostel in Bacharach is in a castle - you probably know that. It's quite a hike from the hostel down to the river and town. Will your mom be able to make that? Otherwise there are plenty of other places in the area, including at least two in Bacharach that are built into parts of the old city wall.

"April 12-13 Bacharach, staying in Castle hostel

Is it backtracking too much to go to Cochem and possibly do the knights dinner? Possible to do river cruise to this area and take train back to Bacharach?"

There's only one KD boat per day from Koblenz to Cochem; that stretch alone takes nearly 5 hours by boat, and you'd need to board by 9:45 (and there are no boats arriving in Koblenz from Bacharach by 9:45!) It would be possible to catch a train to Koblenz and get to the docks by 9:45, but I just don't think the Mosel cruise itself merits spending most of a day just to do it, and pulling into Cochem so late in the afternoon won't leave you much time.

If you want to enjoy the river scenery without driving, just take the train. The tracks along both Rhine and Mosel follow the river almost the entire way between Bacharach and Cochem and the sightseeing is great. The trip takes just 1.5 hours (each way) so you'll have some time to enjoy Cochem's old town, the castle and falconry show, the chairlift ride, or whatever. Get a daypass from a ticket machine at the station (Rheinland-Pfalz ticket, 26€ for two good after 9 am weekdays, anytime on Sat or Sun on the regional trains.)

vrminfo.de/en/…rheinland-pfalz-ticket

What time is the Knight's meal over? Last trains out of Cochem for Bacharach leave just before 10:00 and 10:30, usually.