Every good road trip begins with a full tank, a good playlist, and a wagging tail. At 3:00 PM sharp, we pulled out of Wiesbaden—our family of four plus Marley, our ever-faithful travel dog—ready to begin our Baltic Road Trip 2025. The goal: reach Finland by way of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, tracing a route rich with history, culture, and winter charm.

The drive to Poznań was long—about seven hours—but familiar. Much of this corridor once echoed with U.S. military convoys during the Cold War, part of the routes connecting NATO allies through Germany and Poland. Passing through the same terrain today, it’s easy to feel the layers of history beneath the hum of modern highways—an enduring reminder of how far Europe has come, and how deeply American and European stories intertwine.

We crossed into Poland after dark, the road wet with drizzle and city lights reflecting off the pavement. Poznań’s “Betlejem Poznańskie” Christmas Market had opened just the day before, and even from the car we could see the glow of festive stalls in the Old Market Square and on Plac Wolności.

Tomorrow, we’ll explore the market properly and walk through Citadel Park, which, fittingly, stands on historic military grounds once fortified by Prussian and later Soviet forces. For tonight, though, we’re just grateful for warmth, lights, and the first stamp in Marley’s growing list of dog-approved adventures.