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The Garmisch-
Classic ski area,
situated above town,
offers a wide variety
of runs on three
mountains and a
good network of lifts.

Garmisch traces its roots to medieval times, but smaller, more
charming Partenkirchen, with its narrow streets and quaint
Even if you don’t ski or board on the Zugspitze, a must excursion architecture, is even older, dating to the Roman era. Along
is the ascent to the summit, where 360-degree panoramas Frühlingstrasse in Garmisch you’ll
afford views all the way to the Swiss Alps and Dolomites of Italy. find many frescoed buildings,
The 55-minute trip to the top involves the Zugspitzbahn cog- some old and some modern. The
wheel railway (built in 1933), with boarding behind the main train pedestrian zone in Garmisch is
station, and a four-minute cable car ride to the summit, where popular with tourists shopping
you can enjoy hearty Bavarian specialties in the rustic for wood carvings, Alpine wear
Gipfelalm, the highest restaurant in Germany. and other souvenirs. Markt Garmisch-Partenkirchen

If you don’t mind sleeping in 30-degree temperatures and can Farther afield, attractions in
do without running water, consider staying a night at Igloo Village southern Bavaria include the
Zugspitze. Built every season, the complex of up to 20 igloos fairy-tale castle Neuschwanstein,
offers adventurous guests a bar, two hot tubs, a fondue dinner, the most famous of the fanciful
an evening of snowshoeing and breakfast in the Zugspitze ski retreats built by “Mad King” Ludwig II in the 1800s. You’ve seen
area’s glass-roofed Glaciergarden restaurant, built in 2007. it a million times on travel posters and brochures.

The towns of Garmish and Partenkirchen, with a population of More than 20 trains a day arrive in Garmisch from Munich, 55
about 30,000, offer more than 100 restaurants, with cuisine miles away. Innsbruck, Austria, is only 37 miles from Garmisch
ranging from typical Bavarian (sausages, schnitzels and and has the closest major airport.
dumplings) to Thai, Mexican and French. For après-ski life, many
hotels have dance floors and discos; some feature Bavarian Germany abounds with ski vacation options, offering some 300
folk dancing and zither music. Or try your luck at the town’s winter sports resorts in the Bavarian Alps, Harz Mountains and
casino, Spielbank Garmisch-Partenkirchen. (It’s not surprising Black Forest. But if you have to choose just one, a safe bet
to see a lot of Americans in Garmisch because it is home to a would be the grande dame of them all—Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
U.S. Army recreation center with hotels and its own ski hill.) (skigermany.com, gapa.de, zugspitze.de) ❄

www.skicmsc.com ❖ SPRING 2012 PLANNING SKI & RIDE CLUB GUIDE ❖ 21