Edelweiss Lodge

Our home away from home for the past few days was Edelweiss Lodge, an Armed Forces Recreation Center, in Garmisch. It is a popular destination for many families living in Naples and after hearing my students talk about all the fun they had at Edelweiss, I was very excited to see it for myself.  While it wasn't the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, it was great to have a little bit of America (especially the yummy brunch on Sunday morning).

Emma and Camden had been talking about swimming at the hotel since we left home, so when we arrived Friday afternoon, this was our first stop!

 Saturday morning while Chris was running, we went for a walk around the grounds.

 Every morning when we walked out of the front door we could see paragliders.

 Sunday morning the kids went for a run with Chris.

Lake Riessersee

Emma and Camden had their hearts set on swimming in a lake after our hike to the gorge.  Lake Riessersee was just the place! 

Camden liked the mud tickling his toes :)

 Emma getting used to the mountain lake water.

 Camden and Emma swimming with the Zugspitze in the background.

 Chris and Emma swimming to the dock in the middle of the lake.

 Camden's turn on the dock.

 He got to hitch a ride on Daddy's back. :)

I had a tough job as photographer, enjoying a cold hefeweizen and my book.

Partnachklamm Gorge

At the top of Chris' "Must Do" list while we are on vacation is alpine sliding.  On our way to the Partnachklamm Gorge we found one!  We didn't get too many pictures since you need both hands to control the speed on the sled. The kids absolutely loved it and we are on the lookout for more slides when we head to Austria.

 We walked through the 1936 Winter Olympics ski jump arena.

 Moving out of the way for a passing horse drawn wagon.

 Our farmer hikers :)

 We made it to the gorge!  

 On the other side of the gorge we stopped for a break by the river.  

Emma's expression lets you know her thoughts of the water temperature. :)

The Top Of Germany

The adventure continued Saturday afternoon...

The cable car station to the top of the Zugspite, Germany's tallest peak, was right beside Lake Ebisee.  Not completely sure what this cable car ride was all about (the top of the mountain was covered by clouds and we couldn't see where the car stopped), we put our faith into German engineering. 

Here is our transportation to 10,000 feet: 

 Up, up, and away!

 Lake Ebisee

Chris and I both tried to look out and not down too much!

 Disappearing into the clouds. This was pretty erie! One second you see nothing but clouds and then...

 the side of the mountain!

Here is a picture of one the cable cars heading back down the mountain.

We made it to the summit!  

The true adventurers scaled the rock cliff behind us, but we'll stay on this side of the guard rail! ;)

 We wandered around the visitor's center at the summit for a while, eating a pretzel and taking in the views. Here's Lake Ebisee again.

 We took a small cable car out onto the glacier. There were sleds (just like our Zipfys!) to take for a ride.  

I think these facial expressions say enough...

 Man vs. Glacier

 The highest church in Germany.

 :)

 I think we might fall of this bench and roll down the mountain, mom!

 Someone had too much excitement today.

We opted to take a leisurely ride on the cog wheel train down the mountain.

 We stopped in the little town of Grainau for dinner at this wonderful gasthaus (the schnitzel smothered with grilled onions was so good I almost licked my plate clean).

It is vacation, so the night isn't complete without ice cream! ;)