The Hendrich Family
IN THE ALPS 2025
Welcome to our family adventure . . .
Welcome! I hope that you find this scrapbook to be a helpful peek into what it's like to go on a Rick Steves' MyWay trip to the Alps. (Hint: it's pretty spectacular!)
In the following pages of this scrapbook are not only memories and photos from our adventure as a family, but also some travel tips, essential trip must-dos, and examples of how we embraced our time together across five different Alpine countries.
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And here's something you may not have known: this was our second MyWay Alps trip with Rick Steves! (It was so good, we came back for more . . . so that's a good sign). Life changes quickly, and we wanted to spend one more summer together in a newly-discovered favorite place before life pulled us in different directions. I hope you enjoy learning about the Alps as much as we enjoyed experiencing it!
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Allons-y / Auf geht's / Andiamo!
Savannah
Meet the Family
we each have different interests and personalities . . . the Alps had a little something for all of us!
Chris (dad).
Enthusiastic hiker,
team analysist, and lover of dippy eggs with toast. Known to take detailed notes and always come prepared with a backpack of endless essentials.
Mitzi (mom).
Expert travel planner and seize-the-day-er. Known to explore grocery stores and always be up for one more walk. Most likely to take a road-less-traveled.
Benjamin (brother).
An adrenaline junkie who's happiest hiking, on a bike, or learning about WW2 history. Likely to politely ask for ketchup with everything.
Isabelle (sister).
A die-hard runner who can get a 5k in before breakfast in the middle of the rural Italian Alps. Most likely to encourage all of us to do something crazy (and well worth it).
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Savannah (me).
A travel lover happiest when taking pictures, drawing sketches, or soaking in a fun moment with family. Self-proclaimed Google Maps navigator. ​​
The plan
It's a packed itinerary with hiking over craggy mountains, exploring historic cities, and trying cheesy Alpine food.
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1. The trip begins in Salzburg, a city known for being the childhood home of Mozart, as well as the filming location for The Sound of Music. Here we'll try Austrian coffees, chocolates, and sausages while visiting famous gardens and the real-life abbey where a young Maria Von Trapp lived.
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2. Next is two nights in the Dolomites (Northern Italy), where the main adventure is hiking the high-altitude meadow, the Alpi di Suissi. There's also gelato, tiramisu, and fresh pizza to try, as well as a museum and markets in the central city of Bolzano.
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3. Next is two nights in Füssen, where King Ludwig's famous castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, are located in magical Bavarian forests. Traditional German food pairs well with exploring the small and friendly town of Füssen.
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4. In Switzerland, we get three nights in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, a lush green pastureland surrounded by steep cliffs where more mountain villages boast hiking paths, restaurants, and gondolas to breathtaking summits. Here it's all about hiking/exploring, eating cheesy Alpine dishes, and exploring some more.
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5. We end the trip with two nights in Chamonix, the French winter-sport town famous for the breathtaking peaks of Mt. Blanc, warm bowls of tartiflette, and lots of athletic visitors . It's also the home of the first Winter Olympics!
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A note: we went on the MyWay Alpine Europe in 12 Days tour with Rick Steves. You can find the link here: tour https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/my-way-alpine
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image from Rick Steves' website. See link (left).
a tasty breakfast from one of our hotels