 Poster: A snowHead
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While waiting for the ski season to start and for my wife's knee to fully recover after an ACL reconstruction, we plan to drive somewhere to the mountains in the last week of October (leaving from Brussels). We're looking for beautiful landscapes, autumn colours, castles, some light hiking with our four-year old. We could also rent bicycles if the weather permits and if there are flat trails (I've done that from Zell am See in the summer, some years ago). I'll do photography during early mornings and evenings. A hotel that has cool stuff for the kid would be useful, if anyone knows of one.
We have nothing booked and we're waiting to see what the weather will do before choosing a destination...but what areas should we consider?
At this point leading candidates are somewhere in southern Germany, or maybe as far as Austria. But given that most mountains are at least 7-8 hrs drive from Brussels, we have lots of options. We could also stop in 2-3 places (but obviously in the same broad area or on the same overall route).
For an idea of things we like, here are some of my photos from Slovenia a few years ago (but we won't get that far this time):
https://cedricpopa.zenfolio.com/p275005022
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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https://en.visitmosel.de/
Mosel Valley? Ticks a few boxes for you. Sorry to hear about Kolkie's knee. Hope it's on the mend though.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Neuschwanstein? Bavaria?
Actually, surely the Black Forest. Three hours’ drive closer to you. Stay somewhere near the Schwartzwaldhochstraße. I have a particular fondness for Obertal at the south end though I haven’t been for years. The castles aren’t Bavarian-style but all told you’ll have a lovely time with your four-year-old child.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Poland.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Klamm Franzer, we've been to Mosel once but it's indeed a good option! Not sure I'll have enough trees for autumn colours though (gotta have either mountains or autumn colours...)
@James the Last, the Black Forest is definitely a top option. I'm looking for where to stay / what to do if we go there.
@Whitegold, er, Poland is large. But, more to the point, too far to drive to compared to many other excellent options - we could be in Slovenia or the Dolomites faster...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Garmisch area? Bavaria is brilliant and would tick all boxes (easy hikes, autumn colours & big mountains). Though I might be tempted to stay in one of the quieter surroundings villages like Mittenwald or maybe Lenngries. Garmisch itself is pretty big / busy but probably less touristy in autumn. If you want to go just over border into Austria we had a great summer trip to Lermoos when kids were little. Cool views of Zugspitze and quiet.
Round about Feldsee in Black Forrest would be less driving from Brussels. Great network of trails / rolling hills for biking, trail running, & gentle hiking. Reminded me of the tweed valley in Scotland. Autumn colours would be great
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Interlaken. Huge variety of accommodation. Flat (between 2 lakes) mountains all around.
Bike hire plentiful. Autumn colours around the lakes are fantastic.
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Don't know what the Vosges mountains are like but on a cycling trip last year the towns around them are certainly very attractive indeed.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@horizon, how about Innsbruck as a base? Mountains and Castle literally either side of the city.
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Reminded me of the tweed valley in Scotland. Autumn colours would be great
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Why be content with a surrogate? Under 3 hours to Amsterdam, ferry to Newcastle, 1.5 hours to Berwick and you can enjoy the real thing 
Might not be the cheapest option though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Strongly recommend Sud Tirol; it’s the best in the Alps at that time of year and ticks all your boxes. Longer drive from Brussels though!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Berchtesgarden, very scenic, can nip to castle in Salzburg and it also has its own historic mountaintop building....
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Take a look at Hostel 4000 in Saas Fee. Good pool for 4 year old and all the lifts are included in the tourist tax for the resort (or at least were last time I was there).
You get an onsite spa too. Food is basic but good. Took our 4 year old and managed some hikes with him taking the lift up and walking down.
We took a video baby monitor and set it up so we could sit in the bar in the evening and keep an eye on him.
We took the train but there is a really huge underground car park and the rest of the village is car free.
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You know it makes sense.
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| snowheid wrote: |
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Reminded me of the tweed valley in Scotland. Autumn colours would be great
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Why be content with a surrogate? Under 3 hours to Amsterdam, ferry to Newcastle, 1.5 hours to Berwick and you can enjoy the real thing
Might not be the cheapest option though. |
Scotland great at this time of year...
Quiet and autumnal colours (with no midges)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Cedric, How about the Dordogne Valley? No proper mountains but hills and cliffs and ancient villages and castles (and caves). I've only been there in Spring and Summer but why not Autumn? Plenty of woods to change colour.
David Johnson
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 18-10-24 10:49; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wow, thanks all for the recommendations!
At this point, the two top contenders are the region around Mittenwald- Lenggries and specifically Walchensee-Kochelsee, which look great, and on the other hand Interlaken, which I visited a long time ago when I was at uni, and loved.
But there are lots of other good options. We'll give it a couple more days to see what the weather's likely to do (the outlook is good, though!) Also need to figure out bike rental, not sure I want to carry the bikes all the way from Belgium, though I do have a good bike support.
@clarky999, I checked this thread from my work computer (hence not logged in) and I thought you were the one who recommended Innsbruck! SudTirol is fantastic, and I really wan to see the Dolomites out of winter, just not sure if it's worth driving all that way for 6 nights, it's an extra 2-3 hours which doesn't sound like a lot but when tacked on to 8-9 hrs you feel it.
@basanix, we'll probably keep Mullerthal for a normal or long weekend, it's definitely somewhere we want to go.
But there are things I hadn't heard about - Berchtesgarden, or I hadn't considered, such as Dordogne (thanks @snowball!)
As for Scotland - I'd love to go there or to the Lake District...I'm afraid that the time and cost would not work out.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Some wonderful walking in the Dolomites with loads of marked paths graded for difficulty. Drive to a col and then walk, or go up a lift (lots of them will be working). Or even row on a lake. Might I suggest Hotel Cesa Padon a few km East of Arabba (great food and nice views)
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sat 19-10-24 17:32; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Don't know what it's like in Autumn, but the Saxon Switzerland area on the Czech/German border is well worth visiting.
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