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Just because it’s cold outside does not mean you have to be stuck at home or indoors. The holiday flurry is over, so get out your ski and snowboarding gear for some outdoor fun and exercise in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
You won’t be “board”
Garmisch is consistently rated at the top for skiing and snowboarding destinations. For one, it’s extremely hard to top the experience of gliding down the slopes of the Alps. This wonderful town offers two stellar places to go enjoy the snow - Zugspitze Glacier Ski Resort and the Garmisch Classic ski area.
Zugspitze, Germany’s highest glacier, was the first in Germany to become an official Certified Ski Resort. Their 20 kilometers of runs cater to beginner to moderate difficulty. Not too far away, the Classic Ski Area boasts three different mountains (Alpspitze, Hausberg and Kreuzeck), with 40 kilometers of slopes and 17 lifts. You’ll find varying degrees of difficulty to accommodate all skill levels of skiers and snowboarders. This includes our younger generation of snow athletes. For you borderline professionals, put your skills to the test on Kandahar where the 1936 Winter Olympic Games and 1978 and 2011 Alpine Ski World Cups were held.
The cost to enjoy the epicness of the Alps in this area is totally reasonable. They offer all-day and half-day passes for adults, youth (16- to 18-years-old) and children (6- to 15-years old). If you want to save some euros, check out the family passes or Deutsche Bahn train and skiing combination tickets.
If you appreciate the outdoors in the winter but skiing or snowboarding are not your thing, give Mount Wank a shot. A gondola will take you up to enjoy a nice snow-covered hike or snowshoeing around the plateau of the summit. Kiddos young and old will be giddy over sledding or toboggan runs (depending on the time of year).
“Snow” more for me
When you’re ready to take a break from your thrilling runs, each location also offers several restaurant and bar options. The Kandahar may be above your skill level; however, you can enjoy the Kandahar 2 for a refreshing beer or hot coffee and a snack. No matter where you dine, the savory Bavarian food and spectacular views will not disappoint.
Beyond a day
On occasion, the military life affords us more than just one day to get away. If you stay overnight, there are several options for accommodations to choose from. One way to truly make your trip memorable would be to stay in one of the 20 snow houses in the Zugspitze Igloo Village. Not to worry! You won’t leave a popsicle. They provide more than adequate coverings to sleep beneath and bubbling hot tubs - get warm ahead of time and relax those muscles.
Don’t let the gloom of winter send you on a downward spiral. Head to Garmisch for some serious downhill time to bring those spirits back up!
