I love winter. The cool, crisp air, the snow, and the stunning scenery always bring back fond memories of good times. I try to embrace the cold and enjoy bundling up in a warm coat and gloves, tucking my chin into a fluffy scarf. The only thing that could make it even better is a glass of cinnamon-spiced mulled wine. That’s something that truly makes winter special.
Skiing is another highlight of winter, bringing fun and excitement that can be as exhilarating as having some mulled wine. It’s during these months that Europe’s ski season really takes off, with hundreds of resorts to explore across the continent, including some in Scotland when winter is at its peak.
My first skiing adventure was in the charming town of Zell am See in Austria, nestled in the Zell Valley corridor within the Kitzbühel Alps. The town and its surrounding slopes offer one of the most beautiful settings to learn skiing.
Since it was my first time, I decided to book a few lessons, which was definitely a wise choice. Initially, I was like a crab on an ice rink—not graceful at all. I ended up a sweaty mess, and I’m pretty sure the kids on the beginner slope were judging me. Thankfully, after a few hours with a very patient instructor, I managed to stand, start, stop, and even turn! It was similar to learning to ride a bike—once I got the basics, everything else fell into place.
When I finally mustered up the courage, I headed to the top of the mountains. The view from up there was breathtaking—I had never seen anything like it. I loved the peace, the dramatic skyline, and, of course, the snow. Each slope is color-coded to show its difficulty level. I easily conquered the green slopes and even ventured onto several blue slopes during the rest of my time in Zell am See, stopping now and then for a delicious hot cocoa.
I can’t wait to hit the slopes again and hopefully tackle a red slope with my current level of skill. Fingers crossed!