GARMISH, GERMANY
By Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes, Special Guest Blogger
Michael and his family enjoy the amazing scenery
The Village of Garmish-Partenkirchen: Nestled on the border of Germany and Austria, this small, combined village is absolutely breathtaking. At the center of it all is the Zugspitze, or the tallest mountain in Germany at 2962m (9717 ft). One thing about selecting this particular village to visit, was the accessibility of getting around. They are loaded with cabs, as well as a free bus system offered through many of the hotels. We took advantage of the latter, due to having a 2 year old that can sometimes get fussy when walking for too long. The busses run every 10 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about being out in the cold for a lengthy period of time. The two villages were combined (in 193), due to proximity to one another. Interestingly enough, they both have their differences. On the Partenkirchen side, you have a very Bavarian feel with cobblestone paths and an overall ‘smaller’ feel to it. Some will say that Garmish is more German based, with lots of upscale shopping, and more foot traffic. Both are very quaint, and the people there are all helpful, and very friendly. Most speak some English as well, or enough to help you out should you hit a language barrier.
Activities:
Our love for the outdoors is known amongst my family, but that being said, I am still in awe when I see something like the Zugspitze. There are two ways to get up the Zugspitze, one is by rail, and the other is by gondola. Both will cost 45.50 Euro, and it is good for the day. The cost will also include a lift ticket to the skiing available on both sides of the Zugspitze. My suggestion is to take both routes to get the full experience. We took the rail car up, which includes 4.8k through the mountain! It took about an hour to get to the top from Garmish. The trip down via the gondola was only 15 minutes, but breathtaking to see that side of the mountain, and the surrounding views below.
Garmisch, Germany Video
Food/Drink:
This is a large part of many Germans daily consumption
The first night we arrived, we were tired, and wanted to find somewhere that was child friendly, but still authentic and local. So, naturally we walked to where the locals in the area went, a restaurant called Trastevere, which was just 800 meters from our hotel. This place was perfect for what we were looking for. Great food, good environment, and friendly service. Note: It is best to call to make reservations at most of the restaurants in Garmish. We had delicious German dinner on Christmas Eve at a place called Zum Wildschutz. The place had large tables, often with other families sitting with you. We sat with another American family, as well as a German family. Great environment, with wonderful service and food.
Suggested activities for the next visit:
-Explore the elaborate trail systems. With a 100k trail race here in June, there is a lot of exploring yet to do.
-Partnach Gorge
-King Ludwig Castle
-Werdenfels Castle
-Richard Strauss Museum
**Michael Hayes currently resides in Germany and Ultra-Marathons several times per year. His next post will feature his 100k trek at the 2016 Gran Trail Du Lac, located in the French Alps!
Here are some pictures taken in October 2016:
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