THE DOLOMITES

After a bus ride with our newly-met friends from the Rick Steves' tour, we arrived in the town of Kastelruth in the Dolomites, Italy. The region is called the South Tirol and is filled with high-altitude meadows, Italian gelato, and ancient myths about heroes and fairies.

There are a few things we prioritized in the Dolomites: the food and museum(s) and the Alpe di Siusi. Often, most people spend the majority of their time in the Alpe di Siusi, as it's a stunning hiking paradise that seems to stretch endlessly from one breathtaking Dolomite peak to another.

If you're interested in history, however, both Kastelruth and the nearby big city of Bolzano has lots to offer! We've stayed in both cities with Rick Steve's. In Kastelruth, you can explore the historic town square, pop into their small folk museum, or take the short hike up to the castle ruins overlooking the town. In Bolzano, you can visit the famous "Ice Man" museum, featuring Otzi, one of the oldest and best-studied mummified humans ever discovered.

In the Dolomites, we've found there's lots to do and lots of local beauty to explore!

Kastelruth
highlights

It always feels like a spot is my #1 favorite, but we really did LOVE the Dolomites! Here are some of the highlights from our trip

Taking the popular "Witch's Trail" in the Alpe di Suisi. It's moderately difficult (there are a few steep descents on the trail) but breathtaking. We stopped for lunch at a cabin-restaurant along the way.
Hiking up to the castle ruins (where Kastelruth derives its name). Along the way are stations depicting Jesus's Crucifixion. It's a beautiful and meaningful path (with awesome views!) that lead up to a tree-lined courtyard and historic structures.
Seeing the local sights. We got tiramisu from a local restaurant, stopped by a pharmacy to buy some inexpensive perfume, and visited a gift shop to purchase small souvenirs.