Garmisch - Partenkirchen was our home base for our last two trips to Germany. Centrally located in the alpine region of Bavaria and Austria, it's a great place to stay if your trip includes sites such as the castles of King Ludwig II (Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, Linderhof, Falkenstein), Oberammergau (and the Passion Play), Innsbruck, Mittenwald, Starnberg, Wattens, and Munich. If you prefer hiking, climbing, or winter sports, then Garmisch is world-class.

We enjoyed lodging at the Gaestehaus Hohenzollern which is just one block left at this traffic light. Excellent mountain views make each room attractive. But if you want to see the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain (look just to the right of the traffic light), then request a room in the back. For good Bavarian fare, walk around the block to the Goldener Engel, or try some of the other smaller restaurants along the back streets. You'll find better food and better prices there than on the main street. You might also get lucky and see the cow parade as they march past your window seat back to their barn for the evening! You'll have a great laugh watching the "cowboys" herd the cows down the narrow street, trying to keep them from going into open doors, plodding into pedestrians, or taking a wrong turn. Of course, their loud bells will let the boys know if any strays have wandered off.

After dinner, enjoy a peaceful stroll around the main town where you'll see impeccable gardens overflowing with flowers, rivers flowing gently beneath huge weeping willows and iron bridges, and spectacular vistas of the mountains. Once you've walked off your dinner, stop at the local ice cream cafe to top off your evening. There's two good ones just one block away on the other side of the street from where I'm standing. Let a smooth lemon gelati satisfy your pallate and window shopping tempt your pocketbook. But don't worry, everything but the ice cream cafes and restaurants are closed by now.

Travel on with us now and visit some of our other favorite alpine sites.