La daabacay: 10.10.2019
Everyone knows it, everyone loves it, the Merano region in South Tyrol. My little family and I go to South Tyrol at least once a year and go on a cultural discovery journey there every year. From Schenna, Merano, Rabland, Algund to the small village of Naturno, we have already visited everything - But we are far from enough. This summer, we finally had the long-awaited vacation in Tyrol.
The small municipality stretches from the Zenoberg at about 600 meters, up to the Texel Group Nature Park and the Spronser Lakes at about 2500 meters.
Therefore, one can discover a diverse and very varied world of plants on a very considerable difference in altitude. In the lower part of the village, you will find Mediterranean plants such as cypresses, palm trees, or lemon trees, in the higher elevations you will encounter alpine plants such as conifers and alpine flowers. The perfect conditions for a successful hiking holiday in Tyrol.
First of all: on this vacation, my husband and I decided to leave the children at home with their grandparents and enjoy a romantic break for two. You have to do what you have to do!
Since we had planned a short but adventurous hiking vacation, we also chose our accommodation accordingly. Finally, we decided on the Designhotel Gartner in Tyrol. In addition to its excellent location - right on the Tirolean Küchelberg, surrounded by more than 70 kilometers of well-marked hiking trails and only a stone's throw from the Hochmuth cable car - we were also convinced by the hotel's attractive wellness area. In addition to a hot Finnish sauna with a 180-degree panoramic view, the hotel in Tyrol offers a snow room, a spacious relaxation room with a fireplace and loungers, a top outdoor area, and a cool juice bar where healthy juices, teas, and dried fruits are served.
Simply wonderful.
Day 1: Arrival and Feeling Good
On the day of our arrival, we started the vacation off really cozy. After a refreshing shower and a quick change of clothes, we felt fresh and lively again and made our way to the hotel bar. There we found cool music, fresh cocktails, and a relaxed atmosphere. I liked the cocktails so much that I tried half of the menu right away. My husband, on the other hand, fell in love with the Gartner's wine list and slurped five glasses in no time. You have to keep in mind that we never drink alcohol normally, maybe a glass of Prosecco on New Year's Eve. The result: quite tipsy, we made our way to dinner, where we immediately ordered more drinks. After all, we are on vacation. On our plates, we found fresh, mostly local products that were processed into wonderful dishes. We enjoyed every bite of this wonderful menu and couldn't stop raving about it.
After dinner and a few more drinks, we decided that it was enough for today and went to our cozy and modern room.
Day 2: Close to the Mountain
The next day, we treated ourselves to a wonderful breakfast at the Hotel Gartner and then set off early. Our destination: the Mutspitz! The Mutspitze is a 2291-meter high peak above the village of Tyrol. From Tyrol, we took the cable car up to the Hochmuth restaurant at 1251 meters. From there, we walked mostly on flat terrain to the Mutkopf restaurant at 1684 meters. From here, the hike became quite strenuous. Along the steep eastern ridge, we dragged ourselves up to the summit of the mountain at 2295 meters. Once at the top, we were amazed by the unique panorama. A spectacular view over Tyrol and the spa town of Merano rewarded the rather steep ascent, and all the efforts were forgotten in no time.
On the way back, we made a quick stop at the Hochmuth restaurant and treated ourselves to a delicious dumpling trio and a Merano house sausage with potato salad. Back at the hotel, we ended the afternoon with wellness. While my husband was engrossed in a good book, I took advantage of the opportunity and treated myself to a long-overdue back massage. Later, we enjoyed some time together in the sauna and the whirlpool.
Day 3: Time to Say Goodbye
We knew that the day would come, but for a short vacation of just three days, this day came too quickly. But even though we enjoyed our short vacation very much, we are also looking forward to seeing our kids again. We will certainly not forget the Designhotel Gartner in Tyrol anytime soon and are already considering spending a vacation there with our kids.
Our conclusion: It doesn't take much to escape the stress and hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our vacation lasted only three days in total, but we still managed to relax and enjoy our time together. Of course, a week would be an absolute highlight, but let's be honest, you have to be satisfied sometimes.