Austria Off The Beaten Path - Zell am See, Innsbruck and Bad
Gastein
Mention Austria and everyone thinks of Vienna and Salzburg. In
addition to great names, Zell am See, Innsbruck and Bad Gastein
are great locations off the beaten path.
Zell am See
Zell...am...See. The name just rolls off the tongue, but it
pails in comparison to the place. Often described as heaven on
earth, Zell am See is a dream location in the mountains of
Austria. With towering mountains on one side and a lake on the
other, the town looks like something out of a postcard. If you
pull up photographs of the town, you'll swear they have been
touched up with a software program. This town is simply that
beautiful. In the winter, Zell am See is all about skiing with
numerous resorts for glacier skiing. In the summer, one can
lounge on a boat on the lake or hit the mountains for hiking,
camping and rock climbing. The Krimml Waterfalls are extremely
impressive. Zell am See isn't the cheapest of travel
destinations, but it should top the list if money isn't a
concern. The best month to go is December when skiing is good
and winter festivals occur in the town.
Innsbruck
Built on the Inn River, Innsbruck was the home to the 1976
Winter Olympics. And for good reason. As with much of Austria,
the town is picturesquely set against mountains and ripe with
street cafes and surrounding areas that look like something out
of the movie Heidi. As the Olympic designation would suggest,
the town is a good launching point for hitting the slopes, but
there is much more to it. The historic district has the
cobblestone atmosphere you've come to expect from town in the
Alps. In addition to atmosphere, you can visit historic
locations such as the tomb of Emperor Maximilian 1.
My only gripe with Innsbruck is the boring, modern developments
around the core of the town that were brought on by the
Olympics. They sort of kill the mood, which brings us to Bad
Gastein.
Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein definitely gets a nomination for name of the year.
It just sounds like a town where bikers would hang out.
Admittedly, it is hard to image Austrian Hells Angels, but you
get my drift.
Bad Gastein is an old Austrian village without the droll modern
fixtures of Innsbruck. Built overlooking a valley, the town has
some incredible views. Historically, Bad Gastein is the spa town
of Austria with emperors and other VIPs taking in treatment. For
atmosphere, the town feels like it hasn't changed since the 19th
century. If you're looking for old world Austria, this is the
place. Make sure to hurry though as the town is supposedly
grabbing the attention of developers who are thinking hotels and
casinos are a must.
If you visit Austria, Vienna and Salzburg are definite
destinations. Just make sure you get out to the incredible towns
in the mountains.