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Home / Type of trip / Active / Family trip to Austria

Family trip to Austria

June 3, 2013 by Gretta Schifano 14 Comments

Austrian Tirol. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I love walking, but my youngest most definitely does not. We live in a beautiful, rural area with National Trust woods and farmland just behind our house but he’s not keen on going for a walk, even with our lovely dog. So when the two of us were invited to spend a few days in the Austrian Tirol I was deliberately vague when he asked what we’d be doing.

I knew that we’d be going up into the Wilder Kaiser mountains and that there would definitely be walking involved. I was hoping that he’d be having so much fun that he wouldn’t notice that we were going for walks, even as I did up the laces on his walking boots. It turns out that I was right.

The Wilder Kaiser region is peppered with fabulous, free, mountainside play areas which we reached from our hotel in Scheffau by an efficient, integrated network of buses, cable cars and a funicular railway. For a 10 year-old boy these modes of transport are exciting enough in themselves, but once we reached the mountain play areas there was even more fun to be had and he sped off to bounce, splash, swing, climb and jump with the other children in our group.

Tirol trampoline. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The play equipment at the three parks we visited (Hexenwasser, Ellmi’s Zauberwelt and KaiserWelt) is mostly made from wood, water and stone and is spread around the mountainside. It ranges from familiar favourites such as swings, slides and zip wires to unusual experiences such as a barefoot walking trail and rope-propelled rafts, and is taken down and replaced every winter. When we were there in the last week of May it was unseasonably cold at times (the temperature varied between 2°c and 23°c) but the children barely noticed as they were so busy exploring.

The youngest loved the food we had on our trip too, especially the generous portions. On our first night he was cautious and stuck to the familiar: spaghetti bolognese. However, he enjoyed the Austrian dishes he tried when he became more adventurous, especially bratwurst (a type of sausage) and schnitzel (a breaded fillet of meat). I don’t eat meat and there wasn’t much choice for me in restaurants, but I did have some very good freshwater fish a couple of times and have finally conquered my aversion, nurtured since Primary school, to dumplings.

Tirol playground. Copyright Gretta Schifano

We stayed at the Hotel Alpin and enjoyed using the large indoor pool and spa when we got back from our mountain excursions every day. The spa has a sauna and steam room and children are allowed in with an adult, but be aware that Austrians prefer not to wear clothes in such places. It was my first visit to Austria and I didn’t know this. However, the youngest and the two other young boys in our group soon brought me up to speed after they spotted a couple of naked women  in the sauna and rushed in to the steam room, giggling, to tell me all about it. I kept my swimming costume on, much to the youngest’s relief.

On our last night, after three days of mountain strolls, I asked him if he thought this was a good place for a family holiday. He said it was, because there was just fun stuff and no walks. And lots of food.

Family travel lowdown: We were guests of the Tirol tourist board and Crystal Summer. Crystal Summer offers 7 nights half board, packed lunch, afternoon tea and cakes, unlimited drinks and children’s ice cream buffet at the 4* Hotel Alpin in Scheffau from £2113 for a family of four. Price includes flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers.
Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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Related

Categories: Active, Attractions, Austria
Tags: Austria, Elmi's Magic World, family travel, Hexenwasser, KaiserWelt, Scheffau, Tirol, travel, Wilder Kaiser

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. sarah says

    July 14, 2013 at 10:41 pm

    oh i love those mountains. could sit and stare all day.
    sarah recently posted…A baby for christmas #motivationalmonday #themondayclubMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      July 15, 2013 at 8:05 am

      I know, they’re just stunning.

      Reply
  2. Coombemill - Fiona says

    July 13, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    What a stunning place to visit, there is obviously so many things to see and do to keep children and adults alike occupied. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos of your travels with Country Kids.
    Coombemill – Fiona recently posted…Country Kids from Coombe MillMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      July 13, 2013 at 8:24 pm

      It’s really lovely there, it would be a great place for a summer family holiday.

      Reply
  3. Mary @over40andamumtoone says

    July 13, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Stunning scenery, would love to visit Austria at some point, glad your son enjoyed the experience #CountryKids
    Mary @over40andamumtoone recently posted…#CountryKids Fun in the SunMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      July 13, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      Yes, he really did enjoy it. I hope you have the chance to go there one day.

      Reply
  4. Fiona Martin says

    July 13, 2013 at 12:39 pm

    The scednery looks stunning – what an amazing place!

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      July 13, 2013 at 1:37 pm

      It’s absolutely beautiful there.

      Reply
  5. Jude says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    Although I love walking now I can remember family holidays where I had to put on walking boots – usually new and giving good blisters which were never to be touched! This holiday sounds marvellous for skipping about as well as sauntering all of which sound better than hiking which conjures up too many thoughts of ‘It’s good for you.’ rather than ‘It’s fun!’

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      June 3, 2013 at 4:45 pm

      Skipping, sauntering, hiking – they’re all great in those mountains!

      Reply
  6. FamilyAffairs says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Wow that looks great – and not expensive for four people?? Missing you!! x
    FamilyAffairs recently posted…LOW KEY WEDDINGS ARE COOLMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      June 3, 2013 at 4:43 pm

      It is a beautiful place – missing all of you guys too!

      Reply
  7. Anthony Dawson, Ayrshire Photographer says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Ah Austria, I have many fond memories of my childhood there and I have always intended to move or at least retire there.

    The mountains of Austria, there is seldom nothing to do and I always found the surroundings encouraging just to make you want to go out and explore be it on bike, foot, bus, gondola or by car to any of the attractions (or which I might add, if you ever get to Krimmel there is a water park there thats fun) , I can certainly find empathy with your son there.

    There is also plenty for Adults too, could eat my own weight in cake at all the Cafe’s 🙂

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      June 3, 2013 at 1:59 pm

      We’ll have to go back to try the water parks, and you’re right about the cake!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Top 5 Destinations UK Families Choose for Family Travel – Mini Travelers | marmarisexcursions.world says:
    November 3, 2022 at 5:11 am

    […] I said Austria has never really been on my radar, but I can totally see the attraction. This lovely post by Gretta at Mums do Travel really highlights the attraction to families. Another one for the list […]

    Reply
  2. Win a ski holiday to Austria - Mums do travel says:
    March 10, 2014 at 10:29 am

    […] went to Austria for the first time last May and really enjoyed the trip. My son and I went to the Wilder Kaiser […]

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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