I thought that if I found Germany barefoot-friendly enough, I might take a vacation there, also to meet up with other barefooters if possible.

Nice to meet you here. If you like to come to Bamberg I can show you something. Bamberg is a more than 1000 years old town and world heritage. You can fly to Munich, Nuremburg or Frankfurt an than go by train to Bamberg. In Germany most it is no great problem to go barefoot everywhere.
What are you doing barefoot in the USA. By my visit there I found the USA very barefoot unfriendly. Everywhere I had problems. It was forbidden to enter barefoot holidayparks, ships, hotels, restaurants and shopping-malls. Everywhere was written no shirt, no shoes, no service or shoes required. In a great shopping mall in Florida I was clutched from four savety guards as I came from the restroom. They brought me outside of the building and told me, that it is for my own safety to wear shoes in the building. One men told with a mobile someone that they have caught a tourist who speaks no English. I think this was my luck.

Greetings to the USA

Lothar