Day 8 Traunsee Lake & Gmunden

Today was all about ferry hopping on Traunsee Lake. We almost got off the ferry at Gasthof Housin, the first stop. It was a tiny stop—one hotel, a couple houses, nothing else. When we realized how small it was we decided to bail and returned to our table on the upper deck of the ferry, and thank goodness we did—we’d left our backpack! Dodging the stress and tedium of hunting down our bathing suits, towels, and cribbage board, we celebrated this small victory with a glass of prosecco!

After a quick lunch in Altmünster (2nd stop) we made our way to Traunkirchen—and instantly fell in love! This is a postcard-worthy village with a square set in the shadow of a church looking across to the dramatic peak of Traunstein (5,548 ft) and…it was blissfully uncrowded.

We found a secluded little spot by the water and went for a swim—freezing cold, crystal clear, and totally worth it.

There’s not much to do in this town, and that’s exactly the point. We could park here for a month—don’t tell anyone!!Read more