Day 1 - Car Trip and Neuschwanstein Castle

ROAD TRIP!!
Since we couldn't make Italy happen, we decided to go to Garmisch for four days.
We have been to Garmisch in the winter to ski but everyone raves about Bavaria in the Summer (Bavaria is the region of Germany that Garmisch is in). It was absolutely stunning. We had a great time and it really felt like we got a good fill of Germany before we head out in three weeks. This land is so amazing and we will forever miss it. It really has felt like home!
Please excuse all the landscape pictures (I know most of you only check out this blog for the Kaia pics) but everything was so pretty I couldn't stop snapping the camera.

Neuschwanstein Castle
This is one of the most famous castles in Germany. Right on the Germany and Austria border, this is the castle Walt Disney modeled his after. Ludwig never completed this castle in his lifetime but it was still quite impressive. Even though we couldn't take pics inside, the views from the windows were amazing (and we could take pics of that). The hike up to the castle was really fun (and a lot of work for K who backpacked with Kaia) and there were many shops along the way. Kaia's favorite was the horse drawn carriages. As the horses would pass, she would let out a "Naaahhhhhh" for everyone to hear!

For more history and info and pics visit:
http://www.neuschwanstein.com/english/index.htm

The Hotel
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort is so nice! Our room was great, the food was delicious and it is the perfect place if you have kids...especially crazy ones that like to run! The view from our patio was simply breathtaking and K and I spent a lot of time outside enjoying the view and waiting for Kaia to fall asleep :)

Kaia in the Hotel
Kaia loved the Edelweiss resort! She made fast friends with everyone there. She smiled and laughed at everyone who she came across. She loved running up and down the LONG hallways and she signed "water" everytime we passed the waterfall at the front desk.