Salzburg!

Yes!  I really took this picture.  Isn't it beautiful?

Over Labor Day Weekend we visited Salzburg, Austria!

It was a cold, wet weekend, and everything didn't go according to plan, but we loved it anyway!  

Salzburg is somewhere I could definitely revisit… there is a ton to do both in the city and in the surrounding area.  It's a beautiful Baroque city (not too big so very manageable with children), situated in the breathtaking Austrian Alps.  A nice mix of culture and nature… both of which I love!  

 Our highlights:

• Sound of Music Bike Tour
• Hitler and Nazi Museum at the base of The Eagle's Nest.  Lots of great information, not too big.
• Salt Mine Tour
• Haus der Natur (children's museum for the super rainy day)
• Attending Mass in the Salzburg Cathedral
• Morning run along farm roads with mountain backdrop.  Gorgeous. 

Places we missed or would like a second shot at when we return some day:

• Hitler's Eagle's Nest (The day we went was overcast and VERY disappointing.  Only go on a clear, sunny day!)
• Hallstatt (a beautiful Alpine town situated on a lake an hour's drive away.  We didn't get to it on account of the rain)
• Marionette performance for kids.  The marionette theater has a children's schedule during the summer.  Of course, we didn't know until it was too late!
• Classical music concert, they are performed all over the city!  Mozart was born here!
• Visit the lakes, particularly Mondsee which we heard was beautiful and has a great swimming area for kids.  Of course, weather didn't cooperate. 
• Mozart museum… just didn't get to it… ran out of time. 

Here are some great shots showing off the beauty of this city:

We attended mass here.  As we were running to make it in time the cathedral's bells as well as all the church bells in the surrounding area were ringing simultaneously.  Surreal and beautiful to be part of.

The courtyard at the fortress had some fun activities for the kids

Soon I will post about the Eagle's Nest and the Sound of Music Bike Tour.  It's just too many pictures for one post.  Why do we take so many???