Berlin often seems to have little relationship with the land surrounding it. The region of Brandenburg is sparsely populated, little visited and suffers from high unemployment and other lingering social problems. Berlin residents, both German and expat, tend to look down on Brandenburgers as provincial and reactionary dolts. But beyond the stereotypes, the land of Brandenburg has a lot to offer daytrippers. Just a short drive from the city lie unspoilt forests and lakes, traditional villages, and roadside Gaststätte serving local freshwater fish. Closer to Berlin, lakes dot the city’s vast outskirts. The Prussian royal capital of Potsdam and the sobering Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg, both must-sees for any Berlin resident, are easy to reach by S-Bahn from the city. Finally, for an entirely different sort of contrast with Berlin, Brandenburg’s Tropical Islands provide nearby respite from the nasty Berlin winter in the form of a vast simulated tropical environment that may not sound so silly come February.