Boots for Christmastime in Germany?
Dec 2nd, 2015, 07:22 PM
#42
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Hallo,
Great info, swandav2000, thanks a ton! The partnach gorge was one of the "must see" places I had on our list, but I never considered seeing it at night! Would you definitely recommend the torch-lit tour over a day hike?
I would love to hear your opinions on some good trails to hike. We would be better off with more leisure-oriented hikes for this trip... Nothing too strenuous, I guess I should say. I do also want to check out the view from Zügspitze, though we will be taking the quick way up.
I'm curious as to whether or not you have a suggestion one way or the other regarding finding a place in Garmisch to stay for a night or two, or just making day trips from München. I feel like there is plenty enough to see to warrant at least a couple days in the area, in which case I feel like staying in Garmisch would offer obvious conveniences over a couple day trips, but just wanted your opinion.
Also, have you heard anything about the very long toboggan run over close to Rottach-Egern? We thought that it sounded like a lot of fun!
Thanks again for the suggestions!
Bis Später
Great info, swandav2000, thanks a ton! The partnach gorge was one of the "must see" places I had on our list, but I never considered seeing it at night! Would you definitely recommend the torch-lit tour over a day hike?
I would love to hear your opinions on some good trails to hike. We would be better off with more leisure-oriented hikes for this trip... Nothing too strenuous, I guess I should say. I do also want to check out the view from Zügspitze, though we will be taking the quick way up.
I'm curious as to whether or not you have a suggestion one way or the other regarding finding a place in Garmisch to stay for a night or two, or just making day trips from München. I feel like there is plenty enough to see to warrant at least a couple days in the area, in which case I feel like staying in Garmisch would offer obvious conveniences over a couple day trips, but just wanted your opinion.
Also, have you heard anything about the very long toboggan run over close to Rottach-Egern? We thought that it sounded like a lot of fun!
Thanks again for the suggestions!
Bis Später
Dec 2nd, 2015, 09:20 PM
#44
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Hi again,
If it's cold enough for the water to freeze, then, yes, I'd definitely take the night-time torch-lit tour over a day walk (it's not really a "hike". . .).
One of my favorite walks/hikes that I've done in deep snow as well as in warm & sunny weather is the walk from the village of Krün to Mittenwald, and it takes about 2 hours (it's usually longer because I spend so much time taking photos). It's flat and wide, with beautiful views on the mountains in front of you, with rolling meadows on both sides. Take the bus to Krün and get off at the post/cafe in town. At the big intersection in town (Wettersteinstrasse on one side and Schöttkarspitzstrasse on the other side, with Walchenseestrasse/Highway 11 splitting them), turn onto Wettersteinstrasse and stay on it. Then take a left onto Hochstrasse and follow it as it goes under the highway (highway 2). That trail will lead you to Mittenwald.
Another nice walk is along the Kramerplateauweg, which runs from the Werdenfels ruins (12th century castle)/Pflegersee to Grainau along the western side of town. It is flat. You can get on or off the trail at various points in Garmisch.
And a third nice walk is along the Philosophenweg, which runs from the St Anton church north of town to Farchant. The trail runs over some hills, but nothing strenuous. You can take a town bus from Farchant to Garmisch.
The trip from Munich to Garmisch takes about 90 minutes, so a round-trip eats up 3h of your day. It would probably be more efficient to have a base in Garmisch for two or three nights. However, Christmas time is super-high season here, so you may not be able to find a good place to stay at a good price at this late date. If you wanted to look use the town's own tourism site at
www.gapa.de
Sorry, haven't done any toboggan runs, so can't advise you on that.
Have fun!
s
If it's cold enough for the water to freeze, then, yes, I'd definitely take the night-time torch-lit tour over a day walk (it's not really a "hike". . .).
One of my favorite walks/hikes that I've done in deep snow as well as in warm & sunny weather is the walk from the village of Krün to Mittenwald, and it takes about 2 hours (it's usually longer because I spend so much time taking photos). It's flat and wide, with beautiful views on the mountains in front of you, with rolling meadows on both sides. Take the bus to Krün and get off at the post/cafe in town. At the big intersection in town (Wettersteinstrasse on one side and Schöttkarspitzstrasse on the other side, with Walchenseestrasse/Highway 11 splitting them), turn onto Wettersteinstrasse and stay on it. Then take a left onto Hochstrasse and follow it as it goes under the highway (highway 2). That trail will lead you to Mittenwald.
Another nice walk is along the Kramerplateauweg, which runs from the Werdenfels ruins (12th century castle)/Pflegersee to Grainau along the western side of town. It is flat. You can get on or off the trail at various points in Garmisch.
And a third nice walk is along the Philosophenweg, which runs from the St Anton church north of town to Farchant. The trail runs over some hills, but nothing strenuous. You can take a town bus from Farchant to Garmisch.
The trip from Munich to Garmisch takes about 90 minutes, so a round-trip eats up 3h of your day. It would probably be more efficient to have a base in Garmisch for two or three nights. However, Christmas time is super-high season here, so you may not be able to find a good place to stay at a good price at this late date. If you wanted to look use the town's own tourism site at
www.gapa.de
Sorry, haven't done any toboggan runs, so can't advise you on that.
Have fun!
s
Dec 2nd, 2015, 09:29 PM
#45
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Forgot one great hike -- the walk around the Eibsee, which is flat and takes about 90 minutes. It can be combined easily with a trip to the Zugspitze. Just take the cable car from the summit down to the Eibsee, and walk around the lake. After the walk, have coffee & cake at the lakeside restaurant, and then take the Eibsee bus back to Garmisch.
s
s
Dec 3rd, 2015, 06:47 AM
#46
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S,
Thanks a ton for the great info and resources! I'm going to go ahead and try to find a room for a couple nights in that area. We will be checking out many of your suggestions!
Tschüs!
Thanks a ton for the great info and resources! I'm going to go ahead and try to find a room for a couple nights in that area. We will be checking out many of your suggestions!
Tschüs!
Dec 23rd, 2015, 08:39 AM
#48
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Well, we are in München. The city is beautiful!!
The weather and our trip timing are slight concerns of mine. We will stay tonight and tomorrow night in München, and then we will be in Garmisch for two nights, and one night at Rottach-Egern.
Will Garmisch be worth seeing for two days with no snow? I'm assuming the gorge won't have any ice? Also, I haven't been able to figure out whether or not everything is shut down in that area for Christmas.
We have had a great stay so far! Thanks for all of your help! We definitely over packed for this weather!
Tschüs!
The weather and our trip timing are slight concerns of mine. We will stay tonight and tomorrow night in München, and then we will be in Garmisch for two nights, and one night at Rottach-Egern.
Will Garmisch be worth seeing for two days with no snow? I'm assuming the gorge won't have any ice? Also, I haven't been able to figure out whether or not everything is shut down in that area for Christmas.
We have had a great stay so far! Thanks for all of your help! We definitely over packed for this weather!
Tschüs!
Dec 23rd, 2015, 09:10 PM
#49
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Hi again,
Glad you're enjoying Munich!
You're right -- it hasn't been cold enough for the waters in the gorge to freeze, so there won't be any ice.
Things in town (most restaurants & cafes, all shops) will shut down from about 14.00 today, tomorrow, and on Saturday for the holidays; then things will be shut on Sunday as usual. Next week, things will be open on Monday - Thursday and shut on Friday (except for the internationally famous ski-jump competition on 1 January).
But the slopes are open for skiers, and that means that all the restaurants on the slopes will be open, as well as all the rental shops and souvenir shops. This is high, high season for family ski vacations, and there is a lot of activity on the slopes.
Have fun!
s
Glad you're enjoying Munich!
You're right -- it hasn't been cold enough for the waters in the gorge to freeze, so there won't be any ice.
Things in town (most restaurants & cafes, all shops) will shut down from about 14.00 today, tomorrow, and on Saturday for the holidays; then things will be shut on Sunday as usual. Next week, things will be open on Monday - Thursday and shut on Friday (except for the internationally famous ski-jump competition on 1 January).
But the slopes are open for skiers, and that means that all the restaurants on the slopes will be open, as well as all the rental shops and souvenir shops. This is high, high season for family ski vacations, and there is a lot of activity on the slopes.
Have fun!
s
Dec 25th, 2015, 04:10 AM
#50
Just back from three weeks in Germany and we didn't see s single snowflake. Sadly, our waterproof hiking boots and Yak Trax never made it out of the suitcase.
Enjoy your stay Gaphitter and that you've brought the snow with you!
Enjoy your stay Gaphitter and that you've brought the snow with you!
Dec 25th, 2015, 06:34 AM
#51
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"Just back from three weeks in Germany and we didn't see s single snowflake."
Sorry about that, Melnq8. This has been a very disappointing winter so far!! I really feel for the people who traveled thousands of miles (or kilometers) for a Christmas ski holiday only to find warm temperatures and barely covered slopes.
Either Mother Nature has some big surprises in store for us later this winter or the season will be a total dud and we'll have to hope for more normal weather next year (fingers crossed this weather hasn't become the permanent "new normal").
Sorry about that, Melnq8. This has been a very disappointing winter so far!! I really feel for the people who traveled thousands of miles (or kilometers) for a Christmas ski holiday only to find warm temperatures and barely covered slopes.
Either Mother Nature has some big surprises in store for us later this winter or the season will be a total dud and we'll have to hope for more normal weather next year (fingers crossed this weather hasn't become the permanent "new normal").
Dec 26th, 2015, 06:05 AM
#52
WeisserTee -
I too felt bad for the international tourists who'd flown in to ski.
No shortage of snow where I live. In fact, when we got back home on Christmas Eve, we had to leave the rental car at the foot of our steep driveway and drag our luggage up through 4-6 inches of snow. The rental car flat out refused.
I too felt bad for the international tourists who'd flown in to ski.
No shortage of snow where I live. In fact, when we got back home on Christmas Eve, we had to leave the rental car at the foot of our steep driveway and drag our luggage up through 4-6 inches of snow. The rental car flat out refused.
Jan 4th, 2016, 02:54 PM
#53
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Hello again,
We are back in Texas, where the land is not necessarily pretty, the buildings are thrown up as fast as possible by the cheapest bidder, the speed limits are rediculous with even worse drivers, and the food is generally not good.
Oh man... What a place?! Even though we took too many clothes and didn't see much snow outside of the Alps, the weather was beautiful and still (thankfully) quite a bit cooler than we're used to.
Swandav2000, thank you so much for your help! We walked the Eibsee, and it was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! Actually, pretty much everything we saw from München to Zügspitze and even more was absolutely gorgeous! It was so clear that we could see München from Zügspitze!!
We didn't get to walk the gorge. Actually, there were a lot of things we didn't get to. But that will serve as more reason to go back soon!
München with all the Christmas markets and Marienplatz was truly a surreal city. I LOVE that place!!
I had a Garmische-styled felted wool hat made at a hat maker at Tegernsee. Him and his wife gave me and my new wife a hand carved wooden Edelweiss in celebration of our honeymoon. So many wonderful people we met and so many wonderful memories we will have...
We are back in Texas, where the land is not necessarily pretty, the buildings are thrown up as fast as possible by the cheapest bidder, the speed limits are rediculous with even worse drivers, and the food is generally not good.
Oh man... What a place?! Even though we took too many clothes and didn't see much snow outside of the Alps, the weather was beautiful and still (thankfully) quite a bit cooler than we're used to.
Swandav2000, thank you so much for your help! We walked the Eibsee, and it was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! Actually, pretty much everything we saw from München to Zügspitze and even more was absolutely gorgeous! It was so clear that we could see München from Zügspitze!!
We didn't get to walk the gorge. Actually, there were a lot of things we didn't get to. But that will serve as more reason to go back soon!
München with all the Christmas markets and Marienplatz was truly a surreal city. I LOVE that place!!
I had a Garmische-styled felted wool hat made at a hat maker at Tegernsee. Him and his wife gave me and my new wife a hand carved wooden Edelweiss in celebration of our honeymoon. So many wonderful people we met and so many wonderful memories we will have...
