Garmisch- what to do?

I assume you are not skiers. If it were summer, I'd say go up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain. They claim you can see four countries from there. But in the winter it would be awfully cold on top, and you'd have to fight for space on the cable cars with skiers. Other than that, there is shopping.

Hi Amy, In Mittenwald, we like both Der kleine Kartoffelsack (pedestrian zone) and the Da Mamma Lucia. www.derkartoffelsack.de www.mammalucia.de For dessert, try the "Mohr im Hemd" at the Kartoffelsack. By the way, we love Mittenwald! Paul

We spent 3 days there in October. I think I liked it more then I thought I would. It has a cute downtown area and some great restaurants. We went up to the Zugspitze and went to Partnach Gorge. Both were beautiful. We stayed right in town and didnt have to move our car once, walked everywhere. If weather wasnt good Im not sure what there would be to do there though.

You can also wander around (Garmisch) town. A lot of interesting buildings and murals. I would think even in Winter (especially in Winter?)you will probably enjoy the cable car up the Zugspitze

I used to recommend the Fraundorfer more for the show than the food, but the meals have improved greatly in the past few years. Their potato soup is a little bit of artery-clogging heaven.

Teh Zugspitze is worth visiting even if you are not skiing.

Amy, we were through there several times in the summer of 2010. If you have a car, and can venture out maybe 50 km/30mi you might wish to visit the unique town where the Passion Play is performed every 10 years - Oberammergau is to the NW. The paintings on the buildings are worth the tour IMO. There is a nice cheese factory tour closeby - ask at TI - where you can see and sample. A little to the SE are the quaint barns of Krun and Wallgau. Some great hiking trails if weather and spirit permit.
Enjoy your trip.

I must take time to echo the Gasthoff Fraundorfer. http://www.gasthof-fraundorfer.de/ We stayed and ate there a few years ago and absolutely loved the food, the people, and the atmosphere. You may wish to book a room on line or just take your chances when you get there. Wonderful staff. My wife left a nice scarf in our room and didn't realize she had lost it until it showed up in our mail box back in the States. That kind of friendly service can not be praised enough.

Regional Verkehr Oberbayern (RVO) runs buses in that area. There is a bus from the Bahnhof in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Oberammergau in about 40 min. From the Post/Bahnhof in Oberammergau, another bus will take you to Lugwig's palace at Linderhof. There is also a bus from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Wallgau and Krün.

For eats, try the Mukkefukke Cafe/Bistro downtown in Garmisch. I went in there just for the name but found during my meal that the language spoken in the dining room when I was there was all English: Americans, English, and Scottish, mostly ex-pats. Food is OK. For a good hearty German dinner, I recommend the restaurant zum Wildschutz downtown which serves big portions and good beer(the Farmer's Pan is good but make sure you get the apfel strudel). For a great dessert, get a Windbeutel (plate sized home-made cream puff with strawberries) at Almhutte near the Kramerplateauweg. There is a neat little white church about halfway up the Zugspitz on the Kramerplateauweg with a nice path going up from Zoepritzstrasse (off from Maximillianstrasse) in Garmisch. I'm not Catholic but I believe there are Stations of the Cross as you go up to the church from the city. At the church and in its immediate area are park benches and great vistas for taking photos. Not more than a 20 minute walk up a gentle grade. You'll enjoy Garmisch. My wife and I like it so much we are trying to find a job there so we can live there (no luck so far).