Dolomites Archive - GREEN TRAVEL BLOG

Tag: Dolomites

The 10 most beautiful saunas for a cuddly winter season

The 10 most beautiful saunas for a cuddly winter season

We love long walks through the snowy landscape when it gets colder outside – and there’s nothing better than warming up in the sauna afterwards. Since we love to travel, we already tested a lot of saunas – and today we show you, which we…

Architectural wonder in the heart of the Dolomites

Architectural wonder in the heart of the Dolomites

On our blog we have already talked about sustainable renovations and architecture and presented many exciting hotel projects. Today we would like to show you a very special building: The “Mi Chalet” in the Dolomites, designed and built by the visionary design architect Dr. Karl…

Actively and relaxing: a vacation in the Leitlhof in South Tirol

Actively and relaxing: a vacation in the Leitlhof in South Tirol

The Italian Dolomites are for sure well known to every mountain lover. Who has not seen the impressive pictures of the Drei Zinnen or the gorgeous view from the Seiser Alm to the Langkofel-Gruppe? In addition clear mountain lakes reflecting mountains and pines wait to be discovered. South Tirol stands for nature, culture and pleasure, offers a perfect mixture of tradition and modern age, adventure and rest. Whether it is relaxed walks, challenging hiking tours, climbing or Mountain biking – it is nor exaggeration that we talk about a paradise for natural lovers, active vacationers and outdoors sports lovers.

mountain lake
Cooling down in a turquoise mountain lake – is there something better? © Leitlhof

A must for natural lovers

In the Leitlhof located in the Pustertal you find perfect conditions and starting point for an „active relaxation vacation“, and tours in the surrounding mountains. The nearby nature reserve Fanes Alpine Senn Prags offers a variety of wonderful, turquoise-blue mountain lakes; probably best known is the Pragser wild lake. Particularly splendid  (and important; not as cold as the others) is the Dürrensee, Europe’s highest lake. From here the Drei Zinnen view is only a short walk.

Swimming pool Leitlhof
Swimming with a view – at the pool of the Leitlhof © Harald Wisthaler

Wellness with hay and herbs

Coming back exhausted from hiking in the mountains the wellness area of the Leitlhof waits to charge your batteries for the next day: Whether in the sauna or in the sole bath, with massages or relaxation baths – a wide range of wellness offers await you.  The absolute highlight is the application with fresh mountain pasture hay: the original South Tyrolean hay bath or the hay Kraxen steam bath. The mountain pasture hay contains a variety of remedial herbs and wild herbs, ethereal oils and trace elements. A bath helps for tension, tiredness, stress and rheumatic pain, increases the vitality as well as the well-being. Totally relaxed the homemade delicacies from the Leitlhof kitchen taste even better.

Room Leitlhof
Natural materials dominate the modern design of the rooms © Leitlhof

Enjoy with a lasting effect close to nature

It is easy to feel at home in the Leitlhof and to relax and feast with a good conscience. The hotel is climate-neutral and, besides, is energy-self-sufficient due to the combination of an own cogeneration unit and solar energy. The natural materials, as for example the natural mucky plaster on the walls and the pieces of furniture made of local wood provide for quite a special, warm and healthy atmosphere. In the restaurant predominantly regional and biological products are used  – some of the ingredients are sourced from their own farm Mühlenhof  (e.g., the biology-lamb meat) or from the own garden (e.g., herbs and vegetables). And also as a guest you can contribute, while you leave the car in the garage and use the shuttle service of the hotel as well as the Mobilecard South Tyrol.

Cover picture: © Leitlhof

 

So, what exactly is cream soda?

Cream soda mixed with vanilla ice cream by a soda jerk—historical photo
A soda jerk in Texas in 1920. IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons

Th drink originated in the United States. In the 1920s, soda bars were all the rage, and soda jerks would mix drinks fresh with soda water, milk, ice cream, or egg, depending on the customer’s preference.

Today, cream soda is usually a sweet, carbonated lemonade with vanilla flavoring (though it doesn’t contain milk or cream). In the U.S., it’s often golden brown, but in Japan, there are also pink and green varieties flavored with cotton candy or melon.

In German-speaking countries, cream soda is not a standard supermarket beverage. Instead, it is often only available as an imported product in U.S./U.K. or Asian sections. (Note: Mass-produced brands like A&W (U.S.) and Barr (U.K.) typically contain artificial flavors, colors, and corn syrup.

You’ll have the smallest ecological footprint if you use cream soda syrups that you carbonate or mix with sparkling water yourself.)

 

A glass of pink lemonade, garnished with a slice of lemon; in the background, other glasses containing similar drinks

Summer Smash Lemonade with Cream Soda and Berries

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb shared its recipe for this refreshing summer drink. A sophisticated flavor with berries, cream soda, and a pinch of salt and chili to finish it off!!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g mixed berries e.g., raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
  • 100 ml lime juice freshly squeezed (about 2–3 limes)
  • 100 ml elderflower syrup  or agave syrup for natural sweetness
  • 150 ml mineral water fresh and bubbly
  • ice cubes
  • 2 tbsp mint leaves
  • lime slices for garnish
  • splash chili or ginger syrup for a little kick (optional)
  • sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Place the berries in a small bowl and mash them into a purée. Set a few whole berries aside for garnish.
  • Pour freshly squeezed lime juice into a glass or shaker and mix it well with either elderflower or agave syrup.
  • Hand-pluck the mint leaves and add them to the lime juice along with ice cubes. Then, shake or stir the mixture vigorously.
  • Fill the three serving glasses with the berry purée first, and then top them off with the lime-mint mixture.
  • Now, carefully stir in the sparkling mineral water and cream soda.
  • Here's an optional tip from the hotel bartender: "If you like it spicy, add a splash of chili or ginger syrup. It gives the lemonade a cool kick that perfectly balances the fruity sweetness."
  • Garnish & Serve: Garnish with fresh berries, lime slices, and mint leaves. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top for an added kick that perfectly rounds out the flavor and enhances the fruitiness.
Keyword Mocktail