Seefeld Austria

[PyjamaDayToday]

We're going between Christmas and New Year. My three teenage DCs ski. I don't and have no desire to.

AIBU to think there will be loads of other stuff for me to do in the area during the day whilst they ski?

I'm fine about going off on my own, jumping on buses, whatever.

Innsbruck is about half an hour by train/bus also to Garmisch et al in Germany. The resort isn't a hardened skiers resort with indoor/outdoor pools, cross country skiing and walking.

Thanks LIZS Anyone else know the place?

very long time ago and went in the summer, but it is a lovely spot and not far from anywhere.

hope they know that it is a useless downhill ski resort, it is for cross-country!

There's a small amount of shopping in Seefeld, there are coffee shops, restaurants, gift shops etc. for big shopping you need to go to Innsbruck on the train for a wander around.

There's a skating rink, a swimming pool with indoor and outdoor pools and slides, I think it has a spa etc.

Crosscountry skiing which is totally different than downhill, you might take to it, there are usually 1 day experience packages available including ski hire and tuition. Winter walking (map from tourist info place for a couple of euros). Little villages/lodges where you can catch a bus to for a bit of a nosy around like Leutasch or Wildmoos (there's a crazy restaurant there with a schnapps fountain). I've seen people having winter experience days doing dogsledding, but I've never looked into it.

You can get a one day walkers explorer pass for the ski lifts, it's not cheap, it includes a ride up the railway and then the 2 cable cars, and a coffee and cake in the restaurant.

We are going as a family just after Christmas. I chose it specifically because we are not skiing. We are going for a snow holiday and it seems to have lots to do. We plan to take the funicular and gondolas one day on a pedestrian pass to see the views. Another day we plan to spend in the sports centre which has swimming, spa, water slides including ones that are outdoors open to the elements but heated! We plan to go sledding another day. Definitely the train to Innsbruck one day. It is supposed to. Have amazing views! We have three kids aged 5-12 so a bit different for us than you on your own, but I am anticipating also spending some time sitting in lovely warm cafés in front of fires drinking coffees and hot chocolates :).

Please come back on here and give me some tips when you get back!

There are lots of places to go in the Tyrol if you aren't skiing - check for the local trips. DH and I went to Castle Neuschwenstein in the winter - this was an amazing experience. I also didn't join DH skiing but went for lovely walks and enjoyed the coffees and cakes! We also visited Innsbruck by train in winter and found lots of places open. The Swarowski factory is a lovely visit. Also went to the Mountain Zoo. Also, there is sledging, ice skating and cross country skiing to try. It is such a beautiful area to visit, I'm sure you will have a great time.

Also check to see if there are any Tyrolean events going on at the time as some of them are pretty fun. I went there over Ash Wednesday and there were parades on the Sunday before, a crazy men dressing up as witches, getting drunk and jumping over bonfires for fertility thing in Scharnitz on Pancake Tuesday.

Seefeld is an all year resort so lots to do apart from skiing. There is a large indoor heated pool and some lovely villages nearby. I went years ago but loved it.

Does anyone know if it has snowed there yet? I googled and couldn't find any information. I just assumed it would be snowy in December! We are going 4th January and it didn't occur to me there might not be snow!

Garmisch is lovely - go up the Zugspitze (I used to live on the top of it!) and drink Glühwein in the winter sun and enjoy the view - if you like shopping for bit and bobs and watching the world go by over coffee and cake it's a wonderful part of the world

Enjoy and if you do nip to Garmisch give it my love x

www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Seefeld/6day/mid

There is a whole talk travel section consisting of about half a dozen boards, one exclusively for skiing.
Why do people not look any further than AIBU?

oh behave

We went earlier this year. I am in the non-skiing camp, and took our 1yr old on the train to Mittenwald, over the border in Germany. Also went to Innsbruck.
We stayed in the Hotel Bergland, which was fabulous and really close to the station. Have a lovely time - it is a very nice place. Expensive shops though. Mittenwald prettier and cheaper.

Cross country skiing, not downhill, you say.

My teenage DCs don't realise this - what is the consequence of this ? They are expecting downhill, which i presume is normal skiing - will they still be able to ski?

Thanks for all the suggestions for things for me to do

There is downhill too but not a huge range or with great difficulty. I think the lift pass covers neighbouring resorts too like Lermoos to add a bit of variety.

now

There is some downhill skiing, but there aren't a huge amount of slopes or variety. I think there is only 1 black run in the town of Seefeld for downhill. There's a map of the slopes here www.seefeld.com/en/aktivitaeten/winter/skifahren

There has been some snow, I tend to keep looking at the webcams and get excited for my holiday there in 2 months! www.seefeld.com/en/service/webcams
I don't know which of the trails/slopes are open yet as the tourist info website isn't being very helpful.