Germany's highest point. This is a really cool place to…read morevisit about an hour drive from Munich! We did the round trip up and down to experience the cable car to the top of Germany. It was a nice day and the visibility was great! Was able to see mountain peaks in different countries. "Stunning views, well-maintained facilities, and friendly staff. the experience is worth every penny, especially on a clear day when the breathtaking vistas are at their best. The panoramic views of Eisbee Lake and the surrounding landscape are truly awe-inspiring, making the journey to the top a memorable one." Easily one of the best experiences I've had in other countries. I recommend visiting if you're within 2 hours drive. Definitely worth it!

There are some German words that are more fun to yell than others, and ZUGSPITZE is the perfect…read moreword to yell when you're talking about the tallest mountain in Germany/Austria. Appropriate responses to completing the 15-minute cable car ride to the top of this mountain with a group of 20 other people include: exclaiming, "Zugspitze," taking a deep breath of fresh air, shielding yourself from the 5G towers, vomiting, and/or drinking a beer. Luckily, they offer beer at the top! Why? Because of course they do! They also offer food in a few different settings (Austrian side vs German side, you'll see). If you're feeling super fit and looking for a challenge, you can climb to the top or to the bottom of the mountain using hiking gear. There's a way for visitors who took the easy way up to climb the last bit of the mountain to the apex for a sweet photo op, or you could, like, actually do all the work and grab a beer before you take a relaxing ride back down. During winter months this is obviously a hotspot (or cold spot) for skiing and winter sports. It is still very beautiful and awe-inducing to see this over the summer/fall, and still very cold. If you buy the all-inclusive pass from the ticket booth like my aunt and uncle did, you are given one round-trip ticket to the top of Zugspitze and back, then freedom to ride all of the other cable cars in the area and participate in some of the offered activities (like tobogganing). This is one of those things you have to see at least once. genießen!

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 :-))