Today's plans were ambitious, as there is plenty to do in the Oberammergau area. Albeit exhausting, it was an awesome day!
The drive to Mittenwald, with views of Alpine peaks, is gorgeous
We started 1 1/2 hours away from Munich near the small town of Mittenwald at "Leutaschklamm" - the Leutasch Spirit Gorge that runs from Austria to Germany. I knew we could park in the gorge's parking lot in Austria but also Mittenwald's tennis club or at the chapel on the road to the Austrian side of the gorge.
Crossing into Austria to get to Leutasch Gorge
The "Hollkapelle" (chapel) was a hut with a pullout that maybe could fit 3 small cars
The gorge trail is a part of the Way of St. James!
I pieced together the little info I could find (in English) on the gorge. There's a very short trail (1/8th mile) into the gorge for €3, walking close to the water. There are also 2 loops high above the water which I read are "an easy hike for anyone." Connecting the 2 trails is a cool panorama bridge high over the gorge. We only did the blue route to get to the lower gorge because we didn't have a lot of time. It's a loop but half of it was closed so we doubled-back on the same path - for a total of 2.3 miles. From what I read, the entire 2 loops would take 2 hours and half would be 50 minutes ... but we took a leisurely pace, enjoying the walk and views - which we had entirely to ourselves - and spent almost 2 hours on just half, which included picking up the pace at the end when it started to rain. Ironically the trail got much more crowded when it started raining.
The start of the blue "Goblin Trail" is at the entrance to the short trail leading to the gorge's waterfall (Wasserfallsteig)
Map of Leutascher Gorge trails
A metal pathway follows high above the gorge's river
Some points are suspended 75 meters above the river
Walking along the metal pathway clinging to the cliff
Panoramic Bridge with amazing views
The Panoramic Bridge is super high up! Jeremy confidently crossed the bridge, and then breathed a sigh of relief, "Whew," holding his heart; he does not like heights.
From the Mittenwald Gorge Kiosk you can enter the short trail along gorge's river
We were the only ones on the trail
When the trail started going up, Kate asked, "Does it all go up?" And then on our way back - along the exact same route - she asked again, "Is it all up?" Yup, uphill both ways!! She's lucky she has a nice brother to carry her.
Next we drove to Oberammergau to go on the alpine slide. I would've skipped it in the rain, but the rain stopped by the time we got there. The entrance to the parking lot is not well-marked or obvious so we passed it on the first try; it is out the back of the town. There are different activities at the top of the mountain, so you can piece together what you want to do - at a minimum you have to buy a ticket up the chairlift. The lift plus one alpine slide ride down the mountain cost a total of €12.50 per person.
Kate was the only one expressing excitement to go on the coaster. But getting closer, and seeing it, she kept repeating: we don't have to go. Then afterwards, she said: we can go again!
Taking the chairlift up to the top of the mountain
The chairtlift takes you high above the town of Oberammergau
Getting on the alpine slide
The slide whips you down the mountain
The alpine slide starts at the top of the mountain and goes all the way down - for a total of 8,530 feet. It was super fun ... totally awesome!! The chairlift took us high up over the town. At the top, the guy said it is safe to go down without brakes - so we went all out. It throws you around the turns, which is a little frightening and a lot exhilarating! I caught up with Chris because he "had to go slow to make a video."
If you haven't heard of Oberammergau, it is a small, whimsical Bavarian town famous for its performance of the Passion Play every 10 years for the last 400 years. It's also known for its wood carvings and the frescoes ("air paintings") on the buildings.
Oberammergau is a whimsical, quaint town
Oberammergau is known for its stunning "Luftmalerei" - air paintings which show the owner's status and wealth
We bought a cuckoo clock here. We found the one we wanted on Munich's main shopping street and then ordered it here (out of a catalog) for 250 euro less
One of Kate's trip requests was to try "spaghettieis" in Germany, and we found it here
Our last stop of the day was at one of crazy King Ludwig II's castles - Linderhof Palace. It is the only castle he ever saw finished in his lifetime. I liked the small castle because it was quite ornate, with every inch covered in beautiful, intricate, wealthy materials. (You are not supposed to miss its grotto but our guide told us it is closed for the next 6 years!)
Crazy King Ludwig's Linderhof Palace
Palace gardens inspired by Versailles - with fountains running every 30 minutes
Multiple conversations today about moving to Europe. Jeremy warned me to be careful about taking them places - I might end up with grandkids in other countries (than me); he said he could move to Germany in a heartbeat.
