Among the mountains, vegetation and blue lakes is the land of Styria, which offers attractions for the whole family • From the great Omega in Europe to nature trails - it's picturesque towns for everything, and sorry for the cliché

• Fully equipped guest rooms

  Photo:

  Guy Yehieli

A picturesque town is a worn expression, but it is very difficult not to use it in the face of the colorful landscapes of Styria, a beautiful piece of land in Austria. Thousands of miles of green, blue lakes and streams flowing down the street. The eyes catch houses painted in yellow, pink and purple - with every window hanging a planter with colorful flowers. Apart from the scenery, this area has a lot to offer, and can provide a full week's vacation and employment during the Israeli family's vacation season.

Many in the Styria region make a living from tourism, and want to attract the Israeli audience, including an alternative to Germany's Black Forest, which has become a very popular destination in recent years. Today, most tourists in the region are Austrians, Germans and residents of neighboring countries, many of whom come "during the hot season" (December-March) for skiing holidays and competitions. This schedule plays into the Israeli hands: It is precisely when the great freedom and holidays of Tishrei are in Israel, the prices go down and the weather becomes sunny.
Between mountains and rocks

A cable car that brings you to fascinating heights // Photo: Guy Yahieli

The area's attractions are varied, and spending time in them is a function of time, distance and money. In some places, there is a regional discount card that comes with a reservation, which gives a free ride to the cable car, free entry to the site or use of specific facilities - while for the rest you will have to pay. One of the popular destinations is the Dachstein glacier, 2,700 meters high. The climb to the cable car is an experience in itself, the lucky ones can do it on the open terrace - the cold is freezing but worth every moment. At the summit stands a glass bridge, which allows for a tour between the sky and the land as well as taking spectacular pictures.

Not far away, in Rittisberg, is an amusement and games complex designed primarily for children. It has omegas for a slow decline between trees, obstacle courses and a real rollercoaster, which explains to anyone who has so far only seen Amusement Park, where this facility got its name. Parents of adolescents can be relaxed, even for them there are great attractions. Among them are the karting and the omega, which are also in Schladming.

The karting complex // Photo: Guy Yahieli

At the mountain go kart (hochwurzen), go up to the mountain by cable car. You can walk around the complex full of cute seating areas and hearts made of wood (because Styria is known as the "Green Heart of Austria", due to the trees and vegetation covering more than half its area). The descent down is done by unpowered tricycles, which operate by inertia on the steep slopes. Notice, the drop down is exciting, but can also be a bit risky if you overdo it quickly.

The really packed adrenaline rush is given in the omega facility (Zipline Stoderzinken). This is the largest omega in Europe. After getting a "bag" with equipment, the bus rises to 1,600 feet - after a brief explanation, the bag becomes a harness tied around the body. With the help of the operator, the surfers attach to the facility, four at a time. The heart really starts beating as the body reaches the starting point and from there the road goes down fast - reaching its peak at 115 mph.

The high omega. Not for people with heights // Photo: Guy Yahieli

The next stop was two adjacent areas named Murau-Murtal. Their activities are more solid, and some places are more suitable for small children. There you will find, for example, an endearing tree museum with various games (Holzmuseum Murau). Not far away there is also the Naturlesemuseum Neumarkt Museum with activities that include a real bee hive, works of art and cool costumes (although there are some problems due to the language gaps). Another place your kids - and some of the adults - are more likely to love is the Red Bull Ring, the racing track that annually hosts the Grand Prix Austria, which is part of the Formula 1 championship. Instead of guided tours in advance, you can watch various training and take photos With race cars.

Cabin at the edge of the hill

If there is anything to be learned about Styria, it is that at the top of each hill you will find a small cabin, a cup of coffee and something sweet to comfort. The area provides beautiful parks and nature trails including lakes and various trails. One of them, especially experienced, is in the Aflenz area of ​​the Hochschwab Mountains. The route begins with an increase in the cable car and then the climb begins in the green spaces. Professional cyclists will love him especially because of his unique ramps and trails. The ascent to the summit can be done in a circular orbit.

We chose to go up in "Duch" and paid for it breathlessly. When we arrived at the summit, in a small restaurant (Schönleitenhaus), a lovely old lady welcomed us with coffee and sweet dessert, made of dough balls that we left with butter for a bowl and sprinkled with raisins, sugar and other sweet things. Another nice corner to visit is a small wildlife reserve (some cages) such as bears, leopards, alpacas and more (Mautern - Wilder Berg).

The Wood Museum // Photo: Guy Yahieli

Styria has a lot to offer: sites with warm baths, saunas and nice pools (Therme Aqualux Fohnsdorf), and underground mine tours (Adventure Erzberg), which show how the quarrying of the mountain has evolved over the years. This is a very special experience - especially the ride on a huge tractor and the drop to the depth of the ground, although the cold there can be freezing. When planning a trip, you will be required to have a nearby car that will accompany you throughout the stay, and it is important to adjust the activities to the age of the participants - otherwise it is a waste of time and even money.

During our stay at the Alps Residence network guesthouses. These are charming and well-equipped rooms, so a family staying there can cook and save expenses. The only downside is that the rooms have no soap and shampoo. Please note that some rooms charge an extra charge for cleaning the room, depending on size, around EUR 150-100, as well as a charge for towels.

We found the most beautiful rooms in Alpenrock Schladming, which can accommodate up to four people. The price (about 160 euros a season) is for the room and not for the person. The property also offers larger rooms, suitable for two families, and some also have a private sauna inside the room.

Direct flights from Israel last 3.5 hours and land in Salzburg. Sun Dor offers two weekly flights on Boeing 737s. Airline ticket prices - starting at $ 289.

The reporter was a guest of the Austrian Ministry of Tourism