Re: Harz Mountains, Germany.
The Harz is a GREAT region!
We stay at an inexpensive self catering place, Ferienpark Hahnenklee, that is close to the shops and close to Goslar, a BEEUTIFUL city with a wonderful shopping centre and fab medieval architecture.
There's some “great days” out places nearby (and a house of ill repute that we took for a B&B place we inadvertently stayed on one night when the car broke down – but that's another story!) there's mines to visit and even go into, there's “Schnellimbiß” places that serve the best of the wurst (ouch!) and scenery to beat the band.
And the cakes. And the food in general.
Nice people too. In my opinion less straight laced “Kinder, Küche, Kirche” than the South.