We are stopping in Zell am See to check out the town. We have friends that often go skiing there. Any great hikes or suggestions to spend the day? Our friends usually go there in the winter and just ski.

It's a nice little town...we stayed there for a week in July 2001. You can take a boat ride on the Zeller See, or take the train to Kitzbuehel where there is a lift up the mountain. Lots of shops and restaurants. There is hiking up the mountain, but didn't do that. There is a website for the area that should give you all the info you need though : www.europasportregion.info

Thanks for the web site informtion.

We enjoyed the walk around the lake that Zell is on, only takes a few hours on walking paths, an easy walk not Alpine hiking but great views all the way. Can mix boat with hiking if want.

Just returned from a week in the area, Stayed about 10 miles up the highway in Lofer so we only drove through Zell am See but the entire area is beautiful. Hiking trails and walking trails everywhere, you can actually walk from town to town.

The most magnificent sight in the area is just a few miles south of Zell am See, the Grossglockner road. It is part of a national park the Hohe Tauern. Ths entry fee is 26 EURO and well worth spending the day there. You can drive the entire highway (from Zell am See to Heiligenblut 45 miles) which winds through the alps. Stop at the look out points, some short hikes, picnic tables stratigically placed along the road for scenic views. Near the end of the road is the Franz Joseph Hohe where the glaciers come down from the alps. Heiligenblut is a charming town and worth a stop to see the church. Return the same road in reverse, your entry ticket is good for all day. Sunset is spectacular. Road is closed in winter due to snow and not recommended on a rainy day.

Another suggestion for the area, check with the Austria tourism department to see what local festivals are taking place. We attended a town frestival in Saalfelden a few miles north of Zell am See when they were bringing the cows down from the winter grazing grounds. All the town showed up for the parade with local foods, a beer garden, oom-pah band and dancing.

web sites:
http://www.hohetauern.at
http://www.austria-tourism.at/us/
(click on regions, Salzburgerland)

It seems like I am going to the same places that you did next week...you replied to my castle question. Thanks! How long of a drive from Fussen to the Zell am See area?

I forgot to ask...how was the weather?

We rented our car in Salzburg then took the train to Fuessen which means going back through Munich. That takes over 5 hours. Driving would be much faster, probably about 3 hours. Keep in mind that you cannot drive the smaller roads as quickly as you think. Even though Lofer is only about 20 miles from Salzburg the roads are two lane and winding along the river so it can take 30-40 minutes.

The weather in mid September this year was warmer than normal, maybe a holdover from the summer heat wave. We had highs in the 80's and sunny cloudless skies. By the end of our first week a cool front came through with some rain one day which drops temps into the mid 60s during the day, still very pleasant. We could sit ourdoors at restaurants and beer gardens every day.
The Salzburg tourism web site has a place to click for weather forecasts for the area.