In my travels around Italy, one of our day trips from our guide’s apartment in Vicenza was to the Dolomites in north-eastern Italy. We traveled by car since it wasn’t too far from us and were able to park at one of the entrances to the expansive mountain range. We paid a small fee to ride up the slope in what I call “the blue bubble”. Once we arrived at the top we walked to a chair lift that brought us to the top of a cliff where we could start our hike.

The day we chose to hike was a very foggy day and let me tell you, fog is thick when you are that high up. The view was breathtaking. The weather was comfortable for early October and my light jacket was welcomed by the time we got to the top. We hiked along the paths that led us up and down along mountainsides and grassy plains. Cows grazed, quint little wood and stone homes, barns, and sheds were scattered along with the land. As we descended out of the hills the fog lifted a bit so we could see the peaks in the distance and the beautiful green, blues, and grays of the landscape. The view looked as though someone had painted it on a canvas right before our eyes.

An observation I made while there was that the architecture had more of a German influence than that of an Italian influence, with the white homes and dark wood accents. Which we later observed when we went into a town not too far from where we hiked. They were having some sort of festival and the town was pulsing with activity so we took in some of the local culture and festivities. We grabbed a bite to eat on a patio restaurant that had another painting worthy view of the mountain range, where I ordered a beer and Hungarian goulash. I have to admit it was the best goulash I have ever had. If you are used to the Americanized version of goulash…I suggest you try what authentic goulash is, it’s amazing. We watched a parade, a beer contest, and stopped at a local market for a snack. The town was not a touristy town, which I find are the best places to visit and truly experience the culture of the place.

A bit of advice for those people who want to experience the Dolomites, know a little German and Italian (which you should learn a little of the language of any country you travel to), but if you get lost in thick fog as we did…the only way out was to listen to those around us on which way to go and a lot of people speak German AND Italian up there. Another tip is if you don’t speak a little of the language, get a map, it will help a lot. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Also, while driving along the hillsides and down the mountainside, the back roads are barely wide enough to fit one car, one American gas guzzler that is. So drive with caution because one wrong move and you could be off the side.

The Dolomites are an amazing must-see travel destination. Try to experience the surrounding towns and what they have to offer as well. It is definitely a great day trip or even an extended stay if you like to ski or climb.