One of the most amazing things about Europe is that the foreign country is usually just few hours away. To fight the routine is easy - you need a jump into the car, train or plain and in short time you can submerge yourself to the different environment. There are so many places to discover, you can always see something different. I almost never repeat myself while traveling. With the a few exceptions, all places I have visited, I visited only once. I am not a person who finds comfort in repeating the same vacation ritual again and again. But in every rule there are exemptions. For the last 4 years, once in a year, I pack my bags and head to Going am Wilden Kaiser - petit town in Austrian Alps, that never stops astonishing me with its beauty. Located only 110 km away from Munich, Wilder Kaiser Region is excellent place to clear your head and to keep you feet tired.
Here are some things I recommend to do while in Wilder Kaiser region:
Have a breakfast on the mountain
Everybody knows food tastes better while enjoyed in the fresh air. Frühstück am Berg (germ. Breakfast on the Mountain) offers opportunity to fuel app before the long hike with a most hearty breakfast surrounded by stunning views of the mountains and meadows. There are more than fifty huts inviting to try their own specialities made with the fresh and local produce. Our favorite spot - Bergrestaurant Brandstadl offers breakfast for champion. It consist of huge plate of fruit, followed by picture like board of cold meat, cheese, homemade spread, hot bread and delicious jams. And of course breakfast wouldn't be breakfast without eggs, that are prepared to your liking with thick and crispy bacon strips. Pure heaven...Coffee and Juice are included as well.
Even though it is a lot of food don't try to send back unfinished plates. People here still live close to the land, work hard and take pride in their products. Throwing good food may be considered as insult to their effort. To solve the tricky dilemma we made few sandwiches for the road leaving the waiter happy and avoiding food coma.
https://www.wilderkaiser.info/en/tyrolean-specialty/breakfast-on-the-mountain.html
Visit Kaprun Dam
Shaped by human and nature Kaprun Dam looks like a picture from some futuristic movie, hologram created to disguise the reality, too pretty to be true. Dam is located 2040 above the sea level, in the mountains over the Kaprun town in Salzburg region. It is hard to be believe that the concept of Kaprun Dam was developed in 1928, almost 100 years ago.
Way to the dam is equally impressive. Route lays through extensive tunnels and very scenic landscapes and includes two bus rides along with one lift on the Europe′s longest diagonal outdoor elevators. Transportation costs are included in the ticket. Buses leave from ticket office every 20-30 minutes and are perfectly synchronized with each other.
Brave hearts have the possibility to climb 107 m high dam wall.
Less courageous can enjoy numerous hikes or visit Dam Museum.
https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en/region/places/high-mountain-reservoirs
Take a hike
If in Italy all roads lead to Rome, in Tyrol all the roads take you to some stunning beauty location. Hike opportunities in Going and surrounding area are immense. No matter what age or fitness level you have there is definitely a hike suitable for you. Trails are well organized and there are plenty of huts offering refreshments and delicious Austrian food.
Appreciate the beauty of the region in unusual circumstances
Lets admit it, some people were born luckier than another. Most of us buy our groceries in supermarket, which design was inspired by carton box or metal container. Some nicer shops even have few windows that allow natural light in. Privileged people of this world buy their daily bread with views like this one...
Even less romantic matter can be brought to another level if you were born in a right place:
Learn about local customs by participating in some local event
No matter during which season you are visiting Wilder Kaiser, or how small surrounding towns look like, there is always something interesting going on. Local people together with numerous tourists know how to throw a good party. During our last visit we accidentally witnessed a local band concert in a tiny local plaza of town Going. Pretty girls dressed in traditional costumes with purses made in shape of barrels were selling local homemade liquor, serving it in reusable silver shot glasses. I must admit I have never seen anything like that. Sharing a shot of Schnaps with a neighbor gave the whole event a cosy and homey feel.
Another curious events I would recommend to visit: Mid Summer Festival, when fires are burned on almost every mountain peak to celebrate shortest night of the year and Alpine Cattle Drive Week that takes place in the end of September. Cows, beautifully adorned with paper flowers are driven from Alps into the valley. Naturally procession is acomponied with traditional music and cheerful celebration in the town.
In my eyes Wilder Kaiser region is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world and I cannot wait to return there next year.