WIESBADEN, Germany - Whether it is
sledding in Bavaria, skiing in Austria or shopping at Christmas markets throughout
Germany, there are plenty of reasons to get outside this winter.
The Rhein Main Area USOs and U.S.
Army Garrison Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation have it covered.
Anyone who
likes to ski or snowboard (or thinks it might be fun to learn) can join any of
16 trips Outdoor Recreation has planned through March 30, according to the
organization’s website.
The ski
trips are to various resorts in Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland,
according to the website. Trips to Feldberg, Germany, in the Black Forest, are
one-day trips, while trips to the other countries are usually three or four
days long.
Outdoor
recreation targets four-day and other holiday weekends when as many people as
possible can attend, said Shelly Hake, the rganization’s
director.
Christmas
markets
When it
comes to Christmas markets, the USO has trips planned to Frankfurt, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Ludwigsburg, Triberg and Nuernberg, as well as Colmar and Strasbourg, France, said
Ann Powers, tours and advertising manager, USO Rhein
Main Area.
Another
interesting trip the USO has planned is to Wallberg
Mountain, home to the longest natural sled run in Germany, Powers said. It is
four miles long and located in Rottach-Egern,
Germany, roughly an hour’s drive south of Munich.
During the
trip people can take a gondola ride up to the top of the mountain, and then
sled down, Powers said. The Panorama Restaurant is at the top of the mountain,
for anyone who wants to warm up before heading back down the mountain.
The cost,
which includes transportation and five-star accommodations, is $239 per adult,
$139 for children ages 12-18, $109 for children ages 6-11 and $69 for 5 and
under, Powers said.
It is
important for people to sign up early for trips because if too many people wait
until the last minute, sometimes USO officials think not enough people are
going to attend and cancel the trip, Powers said.
There is
also a 10 percent discount if people sign up 15 days or more in advance, Powers
said.
Outdoor
Recreation also encourages people to sign up for trips as early as possible,
Hake said, and trips can be canceled if not enough people sign up.
Low prices,
however, are an incentive for people to sign up for the trips, Hake said. For
example, the organization has a ski trip to Bellamonte,
Italy, planned from Jan. 12-16 that costs $429 for adults and $329 for
children, according to the organization’s trip listing.
The trip
includes round-trip transportation, hotel, breakfast, dinner and equipment,
according to the organization’s trip listing. All the skiing and snowboarding
trips include equipment.
Anyone
considering taking an Outdoor Recreation trip should know that the organization
does not rely on contractors, Hake said. The organization’s employees take care
of everything, right down to driving the bus, Hake said.
Also, all
the trips start in Wiesbaden, so people do not have to spend extra hours on the
bus picking up people from other installations, Hake said.
In
addition, it is important people know trips are not limited to the ones the
organization advertises, said Ivan Grant, recreation specialist and trip and
tour program manager for Outdoor Recreation.
The
organization has buses for rent, and Army units, for example, can work with
Outdoor Recreation to plan their own trips, Grant said.
“We put it
together and make it happen for them,” Grant said. “Our trips are guaranteed to
be a good time.”
For more
information about Outdoor Recreation trips visit www.armygermany.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=906&Itemid=81.
For more
information about USO trips pick up the organization’s magazine, Eine Brücke or visit www.uso.org/Rheinmain/files/einebrucke611web.pdf.
The listings start on page 26.
Baumholder winter trips
Baumholder Outdoor Recreation also offers a host
of winter opportunities including a ski trip to Interlaken, Switzerland, Dec.
16-18; Black Forest ski trips Jan. 7, 21 and 28; Austria ski weekend Jan.
12-16; and an Erbeskopf ski trip Jan.
22. Call mil 485-7182 or civ (06783) 7-7182 for
details.
Edelweiss
Lodge and Resort in Bavaria
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is another
option for winter fun. Classes, accommodations and easy access to the slopes
are available. Visit www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com or call civ (08821) 9440 for information.