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