Places to stay/see on route to/from Nurburgring with family

[cailean]

Hi all, I'm dragging the family (wife and 10 and 8 year olds) to see WEC at Nurburgring in August. Having never driven to that part of Europe before can anyone suggest interesting places to stop on the way there and back? Will have say 2 days each side, doesn't have to be PH material, so good interesting other stuff is fine or just great towns/cities to stop over for a night at?

Ta
C