USA TODAY International Edition
POCKET GUIDE GERMANY
10Best Local Experts take you to the best spots around Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich
GO SEE ... BERLIN 1. Berlin Wall Memorial
The Berlin Wall may be gone, but it will never be forgotten. This outdoor museum, which includes the last remaining stretch of the wall in its original location, explains how the barrier divided a city and its people for 28 years. Bernauer Strasse 119
+ 49 30 467 986 666
2. Stasi Prison
Former inmates lead tours of the prison where the East German secret police held suspected opponents of the regime — most of them innocent of wrongdoing. Genslerstrasse 66
+ 49 30 9860 8230
3. Panoramapunkt
For the best bird’s- eye view of central Berlin, let Europe’s fastest elevator whisk you 24 floors to this lofty perch above Potsdamer Platz in a mere 20 seconds. Potsdamer Platz 1
+ 49 30 2593 7080
4. Schloss Charlottenburg
See how the Prussian kings who ruled much of Germany until 1918 lived at this mini- Versailles, framed by a lovely park perfect for summer picnics. Spandauer Damm 20- 24
+ 49 30 320 911
5. Humboldt- Box
This multimedia exhibit accompanies the ongoing reconstruction of the city’s Prussian imperial palace, which was demolished by the communists in 1950. Humboldt- Box introduces the future tenants and explains how the huge building will fit within the city’s historic center. Schlossplatz 5
+ 49 180 503 0707
6. Pergamonmuseum
This crowd- pleaser wows with monumental antiquities from Greece, Rome and the Middle East. Star exhibits include the radiant blue Ishtar Gate and the intricate facade of a caliph’s palace. Bodestrasse 1- 3
+ 49 30 266 424 242 7. Neukölln neighborhood
Catapulted from gritty zone to vibrant district, Neukölln is perfect for DIY exploration. Cafes like Katie’s Blue Cat invite lingering between stops at vintage boutiques and hipster bars.
Katie’s Blue Cat Friedelstrasse 31
+ 49 178 806 9701
8. Jüdische Mädchenschule
A former Jewish girls’ school in a Bauhaus- era building has evolved into a cultural hot spot, featuring cutting- edge galleries, a museum about the Kennedys and even stellar restaurants. Auguststrasse 11- 13
+ 49 030 3300 6070
9. Museum in der Kulturbrauerei
This exhibit in a former brewery uses original documents, photographs and objects to peel back the Iron Curtain on daily life in communist East Germany. Knaackstrasse 97
+ 49 030 4677 7790
10. Bikini Berlin
Browse fashion and design at Germany’s first “concept mall,” in a 1950s landmark building with front- row views of the monkey enclosure of the Berlin Zoo.
Budapester Strasse 38- 50
GO SEE ... FRANKFURT
1. Palmengarten
Established in 1868, this oasis in the Westend is Germany’s largest botanical garden. Displays include more than 13,000 tropical and subtropical plant species. Siesmayerstrasse 61
+ 49 69 2123 3939
2. Hauptbahnhof Station
The busiest train station in Frankfurt consists of a massive main vestibule and two adjoining neoclassical halls made of steel and glass. Inside are a series of platforms, shops and food stands.
Am Hauptbahnhof
3. Museumsufer
A walk along the Main River’s Museum Embankment is a must. Twelve museums sit on a single tree- lined street, the most notable being the Städel art gallery. Städel, Schaumainkai 63
+ 49 69 605098 232
4. Rheinfels Castle
West of the city, this castle’s ancient stone ramparts rise over the Rhine at Sankt Goar. The ruins recall the Middle Ages, while the restaurant and its lovely terrace herald the modern day. Schlossberg, Sankt Goar
+ 49 6741 7753
5. Goethehaus
Grand wood staircases take visitors through the reconstructed timbered house where the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent his childhood.
Grosser Hirschgraben 23
+ 49 69 138 800
6. Gerbermühle
After cycling along the Main River, relax in the garden at this 16th- century flour mill renovated as a hotel complex. Gerbermühlestrasse 105
+ 49 69 689 7779 0
7. Hauptwache Station
This busy rapid- transit station resembles an underground city with its street performers, chalk artists, international markets, dry cleaners and even an entrance to the Galeria department store.
An der Hauptwache 17
8. Kleinmarkthalle
This market hall hosts some 60 vendors selling fresh food, wine and flowers every day except Sunday. Locals like a glass of wine in the outdoor garten upstairs. Hasengasse 5
+ 49 69 2123 3696
9. Römerberg
Heart of Frankfurt’s old town, this charming central square is lined with reconstructed halftimbered houses. Be sure to visit the Zum Römer, where Holy Roman emperors were coronated. Römerberg, Altstadt
10. Alte Oper
The Italian Renaissance- style Alte Oper is Frankfurt’s original opera house. Can’t make a show? Linger at an outdoor cafe on Opernplatz, the Opera Square. Opernplatz 1
+ 49 69 1340 0
GO SEE ... MUNICH 1. St. Peter’s Church
Munich’s oldest church, “Alter Peter” ( Old Peter) is recognizable by its 91- meter tower, offering some of the best views of the city. Rindermarkt 1
+ 49 89 2102 3776
2. Hirschgarten
This used to be part of the royal hunting grounds. Today it’s the site of a family- friendly beer garden ( Bavaria’s largest), serving top- notch local food. Hirschgarten 1
+ 49 89 1799 9119
3. Odeonsplatz
For photo opportunities, it’s hard to beat this square in central Munich. Odeonsplatz, named for the Odeon concert hall, is bordered by some of the city’s most significant buildings. Odeonsplatz 1
+ 49 89 222 324
4. Viktualienmarkt
From sausages and fish to exotic fruit, Munich’s open- air food market boasts the highest- quality gourmet groceries in town. At its center lies a beer garden with a lively atmosphere. Viktualienmarkt 3
+ 49 89 8906 8205
5. Alte Pinakothek
The former royal collection of Old Masters paintings resides here. Dürer, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens and El Greco are among those represented.
Barer Strasse 27
+ 49 89 2380 5216
6. Marienplatz
Munich’s main square since 1158, Marienplatz is abuzz with activity and a great place for photos, with the Gothic Revival- style New Town Hall in the spotlight.
+ 49 089 2330 0115
7. Residenz
Take a tour of the former main royal palace of Bavaria, with its 130 rooms and 10 courtyards. Residenzstrasse 1
+ 49 089 290 671
8. BMW Museum
From the earliest BMW engines to modern prototypes, the permanent exhibit here appeals to the car lover in all of us and rolls out fun for all ages.
Am Olympiapark 2
+ 49 89 125 016 001
9. Nymphenburg Palace
This baroque beauty housed Bavaria’s rulers beginning in 1675. Perhaps more spectacular than the palace itself are the 490 acres of formal gardens.
Schloss Nymphenburg 1
+ 49 089 179 080
10. Asamkirche
A rococo gem, Asamkirche was built as a private chapel for the brothers who completed it in 1746. Now it’s open to the public. Sendlinger Strasse 32
+ 49 089 2368 7989
Want even more great ideas? Go to 10Best. com for handy travel lists, cool pics and hot tips by Local Experts in popular destinations around the world.
Clemson will go from Trevor Lawrence to D. J. Uiagalelei. Alabama will shift from Mac Jones to Bryce Young. With Kyle Trask gone, Florida will turn to Emory Jones.
Some of the top contenders for the 2021 college football national championship have established clear succession plans under center. Not every program is so lucky.
With spring football underway in most conferences, attention shifts to the most marquee of all offseason competitions. These are the contests that will define the spring and likely trickle into the summer and fall camp:
Brigham Young
Contenders: Jacob Conover ( RS Fr.), Jaren Hall ( So.), Sol- Jay Maiava- Peters ( RS Fr.), Baylor Romney ( Jr.)
A former walk- on, Romney was last year’s backup to star Zach Wilson, throwing for 261 yards and a touchdown in seven games of garbage time. He was more effective in 2019, when he won both of his starts and had seven touchdowns across 85 attempts. While he missed last season due to injury, Hall also saw time in 2019 ( 420 yards on 9.1 yards per attempt) and played well before suffering a concussion in November. The two redshirt freshmen were highly recruited prospects and will be given the opportunity to impress first- year offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and grab the starting job.
Prediction: Romney. Experience gives him the edge on Hall. The two freshmen are talented but not ready to rise up the depth chart.
Kentucky
Contenders: Beau Allen ( RS Fr.), Joey Gatewood ( Jr.), Will Levis ( Jr.)
Gatewood was expected to contend for the starting job in 2020 after transferring from Auburn but made little positive impact; like many transfers or newcomers, an incomplete offseason and abbreviated regular season hurt Gatewood’s development. Allen is a local talent who classifies as the one traditional pocket passer in the competition. Levis comes in from Penn State but won’t be on campus until the summer.
Prediction: Levis. Eventually, at least. That he’s not around this spring will make it more difficult for him to start the season opener, giving Gatewood or Allen the chance to start fast and keep the transfer on the sideline or in a secondary role. But Levis has shown a more complete skill set than Gatewood and has the experience of playing in 13 Big Ten games in the past two seasons.
Notre Dame
Contenders: Tyler Buchner ( Fr.), Brendon Clark ( Jr.), Jack Coan ( Sr.), Drew Pyne ( RS Fr.)
Clark’s injury history makes him difficult to handicap, though he might have the biggest arm of any quarterback on the roster. Pyne needs more development but has starting potential. Buchner was one of the top signings in Notre Dame’s recent recruiting class but hasn’t played competitively since 2019, putting him way behind the curve. Coan played at an allconference level at Wisconsin in 2019 before an in
jury cost him the job prior to last season.
Prediction: Coan. He is steady and reliable as a pocket passer but not as athletic as Ian Book, which might subtlety change the direction of the Irish offense. It would be surprising, if not shocking, to see anyone else under center for the opener.
Ohio State
Contenders: Kyle McCord ( Fr.), Jack Miller ( RS Fr.), C. J. Stroud ( RS Fr.)
Neither redshirt freshman attempted a pass behind Justin Fields in 2020, though Stroud did run for a 48- yard touchdown late in a romp over Michigan State. Stroud had also taken over as Fields’ backup by the tail end of last season. That might give him the edge as the Buckeyes make another run at the national title, but it’s too soon to count out Miller or McCord, a five- star prospect on campus for spring ball.
Prediction: Stroud. Ryan Day has said ( and will continue to say) otherwise, but Stroud will enter the spring as the odds- on favorite to replace Fields. After he put some distance between himself and Miller over the course of last season, Stroud’s toughest competition might come from an incoming freshman recently named the National High School Coaches Association Player of the Year.
SMU
Contenders: Derrick Green ( So.), Tanner Mordecai ( So.), Preston Stone ( Fr.)
One of the top- ranked recruits in recent program history, Stone represents the future at the position. Green is the only quarterback on the roster to attempt a pass at SMU, even if that consists of just three throws in 2019. And Mordecai transferred from Oklahoma, where he was unable to unseat Spencer Rattler, and has the chance to follow Shane Buechele as the next Power Five transfer to have his career rejuvenated by SMU coach Sonny Dykes.
Prediction: Mordecai. There might be a temptation to roll with Stone and let him develop, but Mordecai is the right choice
for a team aiming to compete for the New Year’s Six.
Texas
Contenders: Hudson Card ( RS Fr.), Casey Thompson ( Jr.)
Sam Ehlinger’s successor will be given the keys to new coach Steve Sarkisian’s quarterback- friendly offense. Card was a borderline top- 100 recruit in the 2020 class who chose Texas over offers from almost everyone, including Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State. He played in two games as a rookie while Thompson exploded in his limited duty, tossing two touchdowns in the opener against Texas- El Paso and four in just 10 attempts in an eye- opening performance against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
Prediction: Thompson. The bowl showing is impossible to ignore. Thompson will begin the Sarkisian era as the favorite, but Card might benefit from the blank slate provided by a new coaching staff.
Texas A& M
Contenders: Zach Calzada ( So.), Haynes King ( RS Fr.)
The spotlight is on Calzada and King as the Aggies look to build off a top- five finish in
2020 and reach the College Football Playoff. Calzada has an extra year in coach Jimbo Fisher’s system, though that’s not enough alone to give him the advantage. King is the son of a highly successful Texas high school coach and has the confidence and swagger to play at a high level.
Prediction: King. He’s been unofficially anointed as the successor to Kellen Mond since stepping on campus.
Texas Tech
Contenders: Henry Colombi ( Jr.), Maverick McIvor ( RS Fr.), Behren Morton ( Fr.), Tyler Shough ( Jr.), Donovan Smith ( Fr.)
Shough comes in from Oregon, where he led the Ducks to another Pac- 12 title but was unseated in the postseason by Anthony Brown. He’s immediately the favorite to replace Alan Bowman, who opted into the transfer portal, though Colombi could pull off an upset by building off his uneven 2019 season. ( He averaged just 6.4 yards per throw.) The freshmen are behind the pack.
Prediction: Shough. He’s an all- conference contender if able to grasp the system before the opener.
Move over Cowboys, Raiders, Steelers and any other legacy NFL franchise with an outsized national fan base.
The Cardinals have muscled their way into that class with a series of bold moves, the latest of which adds JJ Watt, arguably the greatest pass rusher in the history of football.
We’re not going to spend much energy on the X’s and O’s of this signing. There will be plenty of time for fans and analysts to argue over strategy, fit, contract, longevity and durability. Each topic represents a valid concern that will be addressed in due time.
Right now, we should recognize how general manager Steve Keim and owner Michael Bidwill have maneuvered the Cardinals into the spotlight.
Watt is a huge addition, literally – the guy is 6- foot- 5 and nearly 300 pounds – and figuratively. He’s the only player in the history of the NFL to get 20 or more sacks in multiple seasons.
Watt has gotten to the quarterback 101 times through 128 games. There are only six guys in NFL history with better numbers. Perhaps you’ve heard of a few of them? Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller.
This marks the third offseason in a row that the Cardinals’ personnel moves have been the talk of professional football. Last year, Arizona acquired the best wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. And two years ago, the Cardinals drafted the game’s most dynamic young quarterback, Kyler Murray.
But Watt, Hopkins and Murray are also going to sell the Cardinals by raising the organization’s profile with football players and fans across a landscape that’s decreasingly tied to location and increasingly connected to star power.
The major television networks will be all over this move. Prime free agents will consider the Cardinals as a wish- list destination. And fans in no- hope NFL cities will have a new squad to keep an eye on.
It’s debatable how Watt will fit with Chandler Jones; that’s a matter of opinion and imagination. ( The guess here is that those guys will work together just fine.)
It’s debatable whether Hopkins or Julio Jones or Michael Thomas is the best receiver over the last five years; that’s a matter of value and bias. ( It’s Hopkins, though. Just sayin’.)
And it’s debatable whether Murray can put himself on the list of the game’s greatest quarterbacks by acting like Barry Sanders combined with Brett Favre consistently over a full season; that’s something time will only be able to tell. ( And man, is that evolution going to be fun to watch.)
What isn’t debatable is the legitimacy of these debates. If there’s value in being the talk of the league, the Cardinals are about to find out exactly what it is.
Keim and Bidwill have crashed a party that has typically invited teams that first made their mark decades ago.
It’s not an overstatement to say the Cardinals have entered a new class thanks to a series of bold moves, including the addition of Watt.