Nosh: Tirol

Tirol

As the weather was *perfect*, we took advantage of a Thursday holiday (and Friday "bridge" day) to zip down to Tirol. The area is rimmed with Alps and studded with emerald green lakes, not to mention the clear, cold rivers created by the melting snow.
Our first stop was Bad T�lz, a semi-touristy town with a pretty main street and a wide river running beside it. As always, we were hungry and headed for the local Ratskeller, which had a small and lively biergarten. The men was in full holiday gear. I've never seen more flowers in a guy's hat:

(Notice the BUGA 2005 coasters!)

From there, we drove to the Sylvenstein am Fall area ... in every direction, beautiful vistas.:

Continuing on, in about 15 minutes we reached the Achensee - a breath-taking lake and surroundings. You have near-complete access to the lake (no private property) - you can drive, bike, rollerblade, or walk around most of the lake.

After exploring a bit and stopping for a wine/water, we continued driving south in hopes of finding a way through to Italy. But, our road ended and there was no way around taking the Austrian highway ... so we decided to head back to the lake and look for a place to stay overnight. We found a little hotel on the opposite side of the lake that had an apartment (with kitchen and balcony) for 27 Euro each! The view was unbeatable ... when I woke up in the morning, I sprang out of bed and ran for the window and was met with a stunning panaroma in early light. Floating high above were colorful paragliders ...

We enjoyed breakfast in the quaint dining room and then headed off to see the natural park just 5 minutes away. The nature preserve is an enormous area of mountains and green, and ice-cold snow fed rivers as clear as air. Even though it was 30C/92F, there was snow on the roadside...

...Chris made a snowball for you to see...

On the return trip, we stopped at a biergarten overlooking the Tegernsee. It was the kind of biergarten I love -- classic, with good food and drink, a happy atmosphere, and a beautiful view ...

For a complete set of photos, have a look here!

Road Trip Route:

A95 (dir Garmisch-Partenkirchen) to Exit 6, Wolfratshausen direction Geretsried. Take the 11 and follow signs for Bad T�lz.

Gastst�tte Ratskeller
Ludwig Schmid
Marktstr. 48
83646 Bad T�lz
Tel.: 08041/ 41954

Take the 13, direction Lengries. When you get to Sylvenstein, you'll know it!
Stop and take photos.

Take the 307 to the 181, direction Achenkirch (Achenseestrasse).

Restaurant on the 181 before Maurach but there is a high terrace overlooking the Achensee and a parking lot to the right:

Firma
Bergkristall
Familie Steurer
Buchau 170
A-6212 Maurach am Achensee, �sterreich

Tel. +43(5243)5384

Drive around the Achensee to Pertisau, where you will find a cute pension with an astounding view:
Pension & Appartments Knappenhof
Familie Klaus W�ll
Hnr. 3
A-6213 Pertisau, �sterreich

Tel. +43(5243)5250
Fax +43(5243)525033
E-Mail: knappenhof.pertisau@aon.at

Highly recommended -- Alpenpark Karwendel (nature park)

Free for bikers and walkers; 3.50 Euros for cars. Countless trails of varying difficulty. There are 2 chalet-type restaurants in the park.

Company
Informationsb�ro Pertisau
Ms Dagmar Fankhauser und Brunhilde Hintner
Hnr. 53 d
6213 Pertisau, Austria

Tel +43(5243)4307
Fax +43(5243)5939
E-Mail: pertisau@achensee.info

Biergarten at the Tegernsee:
Gut Kaltenbrunn in Gmund