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