Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a German city in Bavaria, close to the Austrian border. Garmisch-Partenkirchen was founded by uniting the two towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen by a decree of Adolf Hitler to bring the 1936 Winter Olympics to Germany. The International Olympic Committee was going to pass over Germany as the host, because there were not enough hotel rooms in the host town, so Hitler forced the unification of Garmisch and Partenkirchen to create a larger town, which would be more appealing to the IOC. Garmish-Partenkirchen is one of Germany's premier tourist ski towns and has offers tremendous hiking, skiing and biking opportunities. The Partnach River flows through the Partnachklamm gorge. After 700m the path chiseled in the rock end and you can continue your walk to one of the surrounding huts. Take time to walk down any street and you will be amazed at the paintings on the outside of the houses. If you go at the right time of year, you can enjoy the beautiful flowers trellising down the quaint balconies. During the winter, the slopes surrounding the city are amazing for skiers and tourists. During the summer months you can spend hours walking along the trails and enjoy the panoramic views. Außerfernbahn is a romantic train ride between Garmisch and Kempten through picturesque Alpine valleys and pretty villages. Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen, also saw through this route.