these guys know how to operate dem cables, man! from the…read morevintage gondolas to the ultramodern 20-seat on-demand cabins across a 2km valley, this is a top notch lift operator. wifi is provided for free at a few of the lifts (albeit with an annoying login process required every time), their maps are very clear and accurate, the online lift status is swiss-like... with the exception of one single lift, there was no wait at all during my weeklong ski vacation, an incredible feat in the world's #1 ski resort. Their foray into the world of online app geotracking, automated picture taking and crowdsourced competion needs a little more work (compared to say Epic's colorado resorts install) but works decently, just needs more coverage and timed race courses.

We took bus #25 from the center of town to the cable car station. The cars start going up at…read more8:30am every half an hour until about 5pm. The view from atop is breathtaking. The Untersberg massif, which spans approximately 70 km², is located right on the border with Bavaria. The Untersberg cable car starts in St. Leonhard near Grödig and leads to the Geiereck, from where we enjoyed breathtaking panoramic views of the Alps and the Salzburg valley area....we loved the views, the fresh air and the whole cable car/gondola experience. Many people go hiking right off the station at the top. We did not, but we can see how others would enjoy the trails during any of the four seasons of the year. It is included in the Salzburg Card if you have one.

Free with the Salzburg card to take the 8.5 minute cable car to the top of Untersberg. There's a…read morecable car every 30 minutes and free WiFi. There's a huge lot if you drove or take bus 25 to the very last stop. Breath taking views of the alps. It was cold and with fresh powdery snow. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes with tracking if you plan to go further out in the snow. Takes another 30 minutes to hike to the peak which is the highest peak in Austria. Going down was more dangerous than going up.

If only it wasn't so crowded! The Rodelbahn is the thing to do in the summer through the mountains…read morein Baveria. We visited Blombergbahn in Bad Toelz, just outside Munich on a Saturday. We arrived pretty early, but it got crowded pretty quickly. There were so many riders on the Rodelbahn that you had to go slow to avoid crashing into the car in front of you. When you were able to get some speed, it was really enjoyable. The cost per ride was kind of expensive. There is an option at night for unlimited rides for a fixed price. That seems more reasonable.

Jesus Christ! Only idiot crazy suicidal adventure seeking death wanters would consider skiing here…read more I stuck to the bunny slope, while watching my fearless boyfriend head up the mountain and ski down at a demons pace. He absolutely loved it. I however am still pissed beyond belief and wonder who in the fucking HELL he is still alive? The town is beautiful, the scenery is spectacular and the food options (my thighs will attest) exceptional. I love Austria, and thank you for not killing my wonderful (but foolish) boyfriend.

Really enjoyed skiing here. the runs were super long. there were little booze huts and restaurants…read morein key areas on the mountain, which came in handy to take breaks and fully enjoy the day. absolutely gorgeous scenery, cute town, and great night life. different for skiing in the u.s., in that establishments stay open and people stay out passed 8 pm, and the slopes arent as fluffy and powdery as skiing in the west. quality of the snow is more synonymous with east coast. can be scary at times.

I love cable cars and knew I wanted to ride one while on vacation in Austria. When I was…read moreresearching the options, I kept coming across pictures of an adorable little red cable car overlooking spectacular mountains and wondered, "Where is that?" Finally I realized it was the Predigtstuhlbahn in Bad Reichenhall, Germany and excitedly added it our itinerary! At €23 roundtrip for adults, it's fairly expensive, but the views are breathtaking. My friend and I arrived at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday and waited a reasonable 30 minutes to ascend. When we descended a couple hours later, there was no line at all. One tip: if you're staying in Salzburg like we were, please be aware that you can take the 180 Postbus to Bad Reichenhall. As an American, I was a little dumbfounded by the idea of being able to take a public bus to a different country, but it's true and very helpful if you're traveling without a car!