Tuesday, March 22, 2011

3 Reasons to Visit Hallstatt in Austria With Your Kids


Your children are school-aged now, your life is busy, and you find your mind frequently wandering off to a quiet place, perhaps surrounded by mountains, with a calm, clear lake in the distance and a gurgling creek outside your rustic chalet.  You don’t hear the sound of traffic, or electric leaf-blowers, or the evening news.  You smell fresh rain and warm apple strudel as you get cozy on the couch under the fluffy down-filled comforter you pulled off the bed.  But then, your family get-away to the Austrian Alps is ruined because . . . the kids are bored!!  This won’t happen if you take them to one of the most charming villages in the Alps, Hallstatt, in the upper Austrian region of Salzkammergut.  Just getting there is fun:  it is only accessible by ferry unless you have a car (which isn’t optimal because car parking in town is verboten.)  The kids will love the ferry ride, and mom and dad, well, their jaws will drop at the beauty of the approaching landscape and enchantment of this secluded, fairy-tale village.  Hallstatt is etched into a mountainside, sits precariously on the edge of stunning Lake Hallstätter, and is a World Heritage Site for Cultural Heritage for its many major Celtic archaeological findings (i.e. it’s very, very old).

On the ferry crossing over to Hallstatt

The lake has a beautifully designed children’s playground and swimming area with a diving platform, a slide into the water, and a two footbridges over to a little man-made island.  Of course the water’s cold (it’s melted glacier) but my kids didn’t have a problem going in!

The little island you see is part of the children's play area.

In addition to the lake, there are two other fantastic activities for families in Hallstatt that will defeat any child’s boredom or rainy day blues.  The first is a tour of the world’s very first known salt mine, and the second is a trip to the Dachstein Ice Caves.

It’s an easy hike along the hillside, with sensational views, from the town center to the Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine.  (There’s a two-way funicular available to ride too, if you’d rather.)  At the start of the tour, each guest dresses into a colorful cover-all with a padded leather fanny.  This padding is essential, for guests enter the mine the same way the miners do:   straddling a 209 ft. long thrilling, wooden slide.  They take your family picture racing down the slide together and measure your speed with radar, too.


The subsequent tour of the underground salt lakes and crystal chambers is fascinating for children and adults, and to exit the mine you ride out aboard a tiny train.  Talk about fun for kids of all ages!

The train that takes you out of the salt mine.

The Dachstein Ice Caves are not directly in Hallstatt, but only a short bus ride to the other side of the lake above the town of Obertraun.  Once there, follow the signs to the Dachsteineishöhle (Dachstein ice hole) and you will find the ticket office for the gondola which takes you up to the caves.  After you reach the top by gondola, you will then walk about 15 minutes up a trail with incredible views of Lake Hallstätter.  Soon you will see the cave entrance.  Pull on a sweater and enter stunning caverns of ice stalactites and stalagmites, illuminated natural ice sculptures, and narrow passageways with your very informative guide.  Your family will gasp at this mysterious natural wonder.

We have very fond memories of our stay in breathtaking, panoramic Hallstatt and recommend it to anyone, not just families.  Even the hotel we stayed at in Halstatt was picture perfect, and probably one of my favorite inns ever.  It will take another post just to describe, so stay tuned!

437 comments:

  1. Following back from Adventures of a Thrifty Mommy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh My Gosh! I am so saving this idea for when we finally reach school age! It sounds soooo fun and photos are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a cute blog... and this looks SO much fun! Thanks for the follow.
    I'm following back from scathingweekly.blogspot.com - the spot for scathing book reviews ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to let my kids visit. I have really enjoyed visiting your blog today

    ReplyDelete
  5. what a great blog! Thanks for coming over to our blog. Followed you back. Looking forward to seeing more.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun and inspiring blog! :-)
    If you're interested in coupons, my blog is thesaratogasaver.com if you'd like to follow back :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. really fun blog! and GREAT tips on what to and not to do with young kids! thanks for posting. Wonder if you have tips on what to see with young kids around Lake Constance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are some great bike trails around Lake Constance and you can rent bikes for the whole family! Lindau is a terrific medieval town - actually on an island in the lake - and you can take boat tours from there. From Lindau you can walk or bike to Bregenz, another great town, and if you're there in July or August and can get a babysitter, be sure to get tickets to the Bregenz Festival - it's a floating theater! Also checkout nearby St. Gallen in Switzerland - one of the most charming towns ever.

      Delete
  8. Nice to be visiting your blog once more, it has been months for me. Well this article that ive been waited for therefore long. i want this article to finish my assignment within the faculty, and it has same topic together with your article. Thanks, nice share. waterproof twin mattress

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oktoberfest, the widely acclaimed celebration in Munich, moves networks the world over to have their own renditions of the German lager celebration every year. positive behaviour support - RisenSparkle

    ReplyDelete
  10. The most well known kids ride on toys for the young ladies are, in all honesty, essentially pink in shading. Kids ride on cars

    ReplyDelete
  11. Divans are simply boxes on wheels so they can be easily moved or boxes on legs so there is storage underneath. Sprung edge divans have coils or springs set on a frame. cheap truck mattress

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles
    AE Casino
    Casinoae
    คาสิโนAE

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles
    เว็บเดิมพันคาสิโนUFABET
    เว็บUFACASINOออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles
    eBET
    eBET Casino
    อีเบทคาสิโน

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles.
    SLOT UFABET
    เกมสล็อตออนไลน์บนมือถือUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles
    Venus Casino
    รีวิวเว็บVenus Casino

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. Gold Diamond Gaming

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. ทางเข้าเว็บพนัน138BET.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เล่นเกมกำถั่วออนไลน์. รีวิวเว็บเกมกำถั่ว.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I amazed with the research you made to make this actual submit incredible.
    Great activity!

    Have a look at my homepage;카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  21. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits.คิงเมคเกอร์ฝากไม่มีขั้นต่ำ

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.แทงบอลUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  23. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. พนันบอลออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. แทงบอลได้เงินจริง.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. ป๊อกเด้ง

    ReplyDelete
  27. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally.เล่นป๊อกเด้ง

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also เดิมพันป๊อกเด้งบนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  29. This was an outstanding piece of content. I really liked it. I'll be back to see more. Thanks!

    Also visit my webpage - 온라인슬롯
    (mm)

    ReplyDelete
  30. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. เดิมพันกีฬาออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also.พนันกีฬา

    ReplyDelete
  32. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.เว็บเล่นพนันกีฬา

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. รีวิวเว็บพนันกีฬาUFABET.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. สมัครสมาชิกยูฟ่าเบท .

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. ทางเข้าUFABET.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I unquestionably esteeming each and every piece of it and I have you bookmarked to look at new เดิมพันบาคาร่า

    ReplyDelete
  37. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits.เล่นไฮโลออนไลน์ฝากถอนออโต้

    ReplyDelete
  38. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. เล่นคาสิโนสดบาคาร่า.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.วิธีสมัครสมาชิกแทงไฮโล

    ReplyDelete
  40. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. Slot PG .

    ReplyDelete
  41. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.เล่นRed Tigerขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  42. I unquestionably esteeming each and every piece of it and I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post. เกมเสือมังกร.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. หวยonline.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.แทงไฮโลฝากถอนAUTO

    ReplyDelete
  45. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. เล่นสล็อตบนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  46. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also.เว็บสล็อตออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  47. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. สล็อตออนไลน์ufabet

    ReplyDelete
  48. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.ไฮโลออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  50. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. ทางเข้าแทงไฮโลออนไลน์.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. Slot Online

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.Slot Online

    ReplyDelete
  53. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เกมคาสิโนยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  54. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เว็บสล็อตออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด

    ReplyDelete
  55. We provide best services to all class of clients. Roulette online

    ReplyDelete
  56. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. รูเล็ตออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  57. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. สมัครเล่นยูฟ่าเบทบนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เกมยิงปลาUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  59. I value the article.Thanks Again. Much obliged. เกมเสือมังกร

    ReplyDelete
  60. I value the article.Thanks Again. Much obliged. สล็อตขั้นต่ำ1บาท

    ReplyDelete
  61. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work.เว็บเสือมังกรที่ดีที่สุด

    ReplyDelete
  62. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. เล่นเสือมังกรขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  63. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เดิมพันบาคาร่าขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  64. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits.แทงบาคาร่าขั้นต่ำ10บาท.

    ReplyDelete
  65. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. สล็อตขั้นต่ำ1บาท

    ReplyDelete
  67. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post. บาคาร่ายูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  68. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.บาคาร่า365

    ReplyDelete
  69. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting. บาคาร่าขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  70. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits. บาคาร่าขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  71. I value the article.Thanks Again. Much obliged. คาสิโนออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  72. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. สมัครUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  73. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. เว็บพนันยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  74. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. สมัครUFABET.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.
    UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  76. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally. เล่นบาคาร่า

    ReplyDelete
  77. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also.เล่นบาคาร่าขั้นต่ำ 10 บาท

    ReplyDelete
  78. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting. เดิมพันufabet

    ReplyDelete
  79. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally.ทางเข้าufabet

    ReplyDelete
  80. I went to this website, and I believe that you have a plenty of excellent information, I have saved your site to my bookmarks. เว็บพนันUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  81. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally.คาสิโนขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  82. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. เล่นคาสิโนฝากไม่มีขั้นต่ำ

    ReplyDelete
  83. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.รีวิวเว็บคาสิโนขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  84. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. เล่นคาสิโนได้เงินจริง.

    ReplyDelete
  85. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. คาสิโนออนไลน์ยอดนิยม2022

    ReplyDelete
  86. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. เคาสิโนออนไลน์เว็บไหนดี.

    ReplyDelete
  87. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. คาสิโนยูฟ่าเบทดีไหม

    ReplyDelete
  88. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting. PG SLOT

    ReplyDelete
  89. I went to this website, and I believe that you have a plenty of excellent information, I have saved your site to my bookmarks. เล่นรูเล็ตออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  90. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. Roulette Online UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  91. I value the article.Thanks Again. Much obliged. UFABETขั้นต่ำ20

    ReplyDelete
  92. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. เว็บยูฟ่าเบทที่ดีที่สุด

    ReplyDelete
  93. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits.เดิมพันยูฟ่าเบทบนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  94. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles. เว็บพนันออนไลน์บนมือถือ.

    ReplyDelete
  95. I went to this website, and I believe that you have a plenty of excellent information, I have saved your site to my bookmarks. UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  96. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also.เว็บพนันออนไลน์บนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  97. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  98. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. เล่นบาคาร่า

    ReplyDelete
  99. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. บาคาร่าออนไลน์.

    ReplyDelete
  100. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work.เดิมพันบาคาร่าออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  101. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally.UFABETขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  102. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. สมัครเล่นคาสิโนขั้นต่ำ10บาท

    ReplyDelete
  103. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. เล่นยูฟ่าเบทฝากไม่มีขั้นต่ำ

    ReplyDelete
  104. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. เล่นยูฟ่าเบทได้เงินจริง

    ReplyDelete
  105. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. แทงบอลUFABET

    ReplyDelete
  106. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. เล่นบาคาร่า

    ReplyDelete
  107. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. แนะนำเว็บยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  108. I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, regards for the post.เดิมพันแทงบอลออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  109. We help them as much as we can. If they need assistance with research, writing, grammar, formatting or proofreading, we provide our assistance to help them build their career. venus casino

    ReplyDelete
  110. This is a great web site, Good sparkling user interface and, very informative blogs. thanks. You may check our website also. คาสิโนออนไลน์ฝากถอนออโต้

    ReplyDelete
  111. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits. เล่นยูฟ่าเบทฝากถอนAuto

    ReplyDelete
  112. Wohh just what I was looking for, regards for posting.
    PG SLOT365X

    ReplyDelete
  113. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. เล่นไฮโลฝากถอนAuto

    ReplyDelete
  114. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. สมัครเล่นเกมไฮโลออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  115. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. ไฮโลออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  116. I went to this website, and I believe that you have a plenty of excellent information, I have saved your site to my bookmarks. เว็บพนันคาสิโนสดยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  117. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits. เว็บพนันยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  118. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work.ยูฟ่าเบทที่ดีที่สุด

    ReplyDelete
  119. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. พนันออนไลน์UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  120. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits. พนันออนไลน์UFABET

    ReplyDelete
  121. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  122. Photos available on your site even though producing attention rapidly some quantity submits. ยูฟ่าเบทที่ดีที่สุด

    ReplyDelete
  123. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. คาสิโนUFABETบนมือถือ

    ReplyDelete
  124. This is very Amazing and Very Informative Artical we get alot of Informations from this artical we really appreciate your team work keep it up and keep posting such a informative articles PG SLOT365X

    ReplyDelete
  125. I read this article. I think You put a lot of effort to create this article. I appreciate your work. แนะนำเว็บเล่นบาคาร่าออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...