Austria in Photos: The Pilgrimage Church of Sankt Pankraz

This is the gothic church of Sankt Pankraz located in the Zillertal (Ziller Valley) in the Austrian state of Tyrol. The church was first mentioned in 1338, and the current structure was built in the mid-to late 1490s. The interior of the church is quite spectacular with decorative tendril paintings and intricate rib vaulting. Iron production was the principal industry in the Zillertal during the 16th and 17th centuries and some of the artwork within the church pays homage to this very prosperous period. 

Today, outstanding scenery, a deep connection to nature and a rich cultural heritage are the hallmarks of the Zillertal. Would you like to experience Sankt Pankraz and the Zillertal for yourself? Check out our Zillertal Austria Hiking Getaway. 

An Artsy Water Stop in the Swiss Engadine

Here's Catherine stopping for water in the tiny Swiss village of Ardez. Do you see the intricate designs on the houses in the background? The artwork is called sgraffito which literally means "to scratch". The sgraffito technique involves scratching away a superficial layer to reveal an underlying layer/color. Some of the designs are quite exquisite. You'll find this artwork on homes throughout the Engadine region of eastern Switzerland. The water fountain is also worth mentioning. You'll find more than 2,000 of these fountains spread out across Switzerland. Nearly every village has one, and they're extremely handy for keeping hikers, cyclists and alpine wanderers topped up with hydration.

Are You Getting Anxious to Travel? Here are the Best Travel Credit Cards of 2020

View from the Kreuzjoch in the Stubaital, Austria.

The COVID-19 pandemic sidelined international travel for many of us this year, but the door to far flung adventures won’t stay shut forever. The pandemic will pass, and when it does, you’ll want to hit the concourse running with your camera, travel bag and credit card in hand and ready to go.

Choosing a credit card with the best travel rewards can be a dizzying and time consuming process. Fortunately, the team at Money did an incredible job of sifting through the fine print so that we (and you) don’t have to. After all, wouldn’t you rather spend your pandemic down-time dreaming about the Swiss chocolates you’re going to buy on your next trip to the Alps? Seriously, Money did such an outstanding job selecting the Best Travel Credit Cards of 2020 that there’s no need for us to rewrite the story here. Just head over to money.com to find the travel credit card that works best for you. And after you’ve picked your card, come back over here and let us design a completely custom adventure for you in Europe. Whether you’re hiking in Switzerland, skiing and snowboarding in France, wine tasting in Italy, mountain biking in Austria, or castle-hopping in Scotland—we’ll set you up in style! 

-See you in the Alps.

Happy Fall Wanderings from Scotland!

Enjoying the view from one of our favorite hikes above Loch Katrine.

Welcome to fall!

As we stroll into these soft autumn days, my thoughts turn to one of the prettiest little bodies of water in Scotland, Loch Katrine.

Loch Katrine is a fresh water loch that stretches for eight miles through the heart of the Trossachs National Park. There are some really lovely walks around the loch, and some of the walks can be combined with a steam ship journey which makes for a very memorable adventure. 

The loch has a varied and fascinating history—a history that includes artists, writers, tourists, water engineers, cattle thieves, and even British Royalty. One of my favorite historical tales involves Queen Victoria on the day she visited the loch to help inaugurate the Loch Katrine Water Project. The welcoming ceremony for Queen Victoria included a 21-gun salute, and the guns were so loud that they blew the windows out the queen’s lakeside cottage! 

While Queen Victoria certainly brought much acclaim to Loch Katrine, it was without question the writings of Sir Walter Scott whose published works The Lady of the Lake and Rob Roy put Loch Katrine on the map. Some people say that Sir Walter Scott “invented modern tourism”  because his works generated an unprecedented explosion of tourist traffic to the loch. Loch Katrine can be busy during the summer, but these days it’s the tranquility of Loch Katrine’s shoreline and rolling hills that I enjoy the most.

Autumn is one of my favorite times to explore the lake. I find the lakeside trails and dappled sunlight reflecting off the water incredibly soothing. Overcast days are cozy too. The Steam Ship Cafe located at the pier on the east end of the loch offers a cheery spot to come in out of the cold and warm up on a misty day. 

I love misty days. As I wrap my hands around a warm cup of tea and gaze at the historic photos that adorn the walls of the cafe, I’m reminded of the words of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan writer, philosopher and composer who tramped around Europe during the mid eighteenth century. 

“The wandering life is what I like. To journey on foot, unhurried, in fine weather and in fine country, and to have something pleasant to look forward to at my goal, that is of all ways of life the one that suits me best.” 

Enjoy these autumn days!

Have you ever hiked the Swiss Engadine? Put it on your bucket list right now!

Fourcla Pass in the Engiadina Ota (Upper Engadine), Switzerland.

Ok. This year hasn't been the greatest for traveling to the Alps. (Major understatement.) But that doesn’t mean that we can’t dream! Have you seen our village-to-village hiking tour in the Swiss Engadine? Check out the link below, and be sure to put the Engadine on your bucket list for future travel. The Engadine is incredible! https://www.thecatandthepeacock.com/engadin-inn-to-inn-hike

#DreamNowTravelLater