The Stunning Alps

Guten tag!

It’s been a simultaneously high-adventure and restful few weeks for us in the Alps. After spending quite a bit of time in beach areas at the beginning of the summer, it’s been so fun to have a change to mountain scenery (and cooler weather!).

First, we were in Innsbruck & St. Gilgen, Austria and before that, the Dolomites in Italy. The Dolomites are easily one of my favorite destinations of this summer, and I am excited to share why!

If you love a mountain vacation or have wanted to venture beyond the more typical European destinations, this edition of the newsletter is for you!

Spotlight On…

The Dolomites

Having been to the Alps before, I thought I had a fairly good idea of what to expect in the Dolomites, but I was absolutely blown away! The Italian Alps are known for their very jagged peaks, and they span across the northern section of the country, from Bolzano in the west to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the east. Fun fact: Cortina will be hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics along with Milan!?

The Dolomites are best explored with a car during the summer since hiking trails are not usually accessible from town. We opted to split our time between Cortina and Ortisei, a charming ski town, in order to experience the best of both areas.

Our favorite adventures included:

• Hanging off the side of a mountain (quite literally) as we climbed a thrilling Via Ferrata—a route with cables built into the rock.
• Rowing a boat out on Lago di Braies’ bright turquoise waters. This is a great family-friendly spot!
• Unwinding mid-hike at Cinema delle Odle, a group of wooden loungers with the most magical mountain views. You’ve never seen a cinema like this one!
• Enjoying many delicious lunches at charming mountain huts. These family-run spots are scattered throughout hiking trails and make for the perfect meal or snack breaks.
• Teetering on the edge of the cliff at Cadini di Misurina—a view of a lifetime!

Innsbruck & St. Gilgen?

If you prefer your mountains with a side of city break, Innsbruck is a fantastic place to explore! Innsbruck is right in the middle of the Austrian Alps but offers many other attractions in addition to mountain activities. The colorful town itself is picturesque as well with its pretty pastel hues and quaint old town. Innsbruck is very easily accessible by train, so it’s a wonderful destination to combine with other Austrian cities, northern Italy, or southern Germany!

If you prefer a small-town charmer, on the other hand, St. Gilgen is the perfect escape for a few days. It’s at the end of Wolfgansee, a stunning lake nestled into the Alps. I first visited another town on Wolfgangsee, St. Wolfgang, in college and had been yearning to return. What a treat to do so!?

Highlights included:

• Taking the cable car to the “top of Innsbruck,” which is the city’s highest vantage point at over 2,000 meters above Innsbruck.
• Strolling through Innsbruck’s Alpenzoo—a delightful zoo comprised exclusively of native Alpine animals.
• Paddle boarding on the clear waters of Lake Wolfgang from St. Gilgen. The activity for a warm sunny day!
• Walking along the lakeshore in the town of St. Wolfgang, which brought back so much nostalgia from my previous visit.
• Hiking at the top of the Zw?lferhorn cable car for magnificent vistas of the mountains. We also got to watch several paragliders begin their flights!

Tasting Notes

It’s always a delight to try local wines, and sometimes, I am surprised by encountering varietals that are new to me! Here in the Alps, I discovered two great medium- to full-bodied reds that are not well-known: Lagrein and Blaufr?nkisch.

These two wines are remarkably similar with notes of black fruit, spice (like pepper), chocolate, and sometimes a bit of violet. The biggest differences you’ll notice are that Blaufr?nkisch is usually a higher acidity and has a rubier hue than the deep purple of Lagrein. Lagrein is grown in the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy while Blaufr?nkisch is grown in Austria. Given the flavor profile, these are great wines for people who enjoy drinking Syrah/Shiraz or Malbec!

We are now in the heart of Germany—Munich! It is already capturing my attention as an incredibly livable city with its pristine streets, abundance of green space, and great transportation. More to come soon!

If you’d like to keep up with my travels and see more frequent content, you can follow along with me on Instagram @abby_mmarkhamtravel and check out our team @mmarkhamtravel.

Cheers!

Abby McCormick

Travel Designer at MMarkham Travel