The Herzogstandbahn (bahn = gondola) is about a one-hour drive from Munich, making it an easy…read moreday-trip into the Alps. Beside easy access to the high country, if your family outings are like ours, you'll appreciate the many trail options and planning flexibility the Herzogstandbahn affords. You can easily customize your day's hiking to your group. For a one hour hike or less, buy a roundtrip ticket, and from the top of the gondola you can easily reach one of two nearby summits or a small chapel. For a 2 hour hike, ride the gondola one way and hike the rest. It takes about about 4 hours if you park in the Herzogstandbahn lot and hike roundtrip to the summit of the Herzogstand, skipping the gondola altogether. The Berggasthaus Herzogstand hut is about 10 minutes walk from where the gondola lets you off and provides welcome refreshment in the form of local beers and sausage and a few coffee and salad options. Dogs welcome. Once you're back down to your car, you have the option to drive a few minutes to the cove settlement of Einsiedel with its easy swimming and boating access to the Walchensee. The lake and its most famous peak, the Herzogstand, are a perfect summer-time destination for the whole family. We'll be back in the winter to try randonee skiing in the back bowl!

A tough mountain to climb as, you start walking uphill straight away and, don't stop climbing till…read moreyou get to the top at 1570m or so. It's a tough walk uphill and, I was exhausted by the end of the climb however, the views are spectacular from up there. I would happily come here again and, struggle to get to the top (which takes about 90-120 mins uphill) and, of course the same time downhill, which is also tough. The descent is steep and good shoes are a must if you want to walk this mountain up and down. We went here after it had rained the previous night and it was slippery and the paths can be quite narrow in parts and you look down a few hundred meters from some part of the path. So exercise caution. Well worth it me thinks :-))

A gorgeous small lake about an hour from Munich. It's a relatively popular ski area during the…read morewinter and of course a walking and wandering area during the rest of the year. It was my first time here and I loved it. It takes about an hour to walk around the lake "rundweg" and there are loads of trails that come off the lake area going up into the mountains. The lake is located about 1100m about sea level so it's a little cooler up there. Best to go prepared. There are ski lifts you can take from the lakefront to a couple of the peaks and walk around or just walk up the mountain. There are a few places up the hills to stop and get lunch etc. Will definitely be back here again. We have explored much of the area nearby and this is just another addition to our repertoire.

Story book picturesque. Wonderful setting. Was here in the spring so enjoyed hiking and mountain…read morebiking. Would highly recommend.