A Family Oasis in Tyrol: Family Hotel Stern

Dani and Michael are Flowers On My Plate and absolute epicureans when it comes to food. On their food blog they show, how good and seasonal food works and also write about their travel adventures all around food. Not too long ago, we sent them to two of our green pearls on a green food tour – here in this guest blog, they reveal all about their first stop at Family Hotel Stern.

The feeling of “arriving” in Tyrol

The Mieminger Sonnenplateau in Tyrol must have seen countless travelers already. Immediately, one gets the feeling of „arriving“ when once has left the Fern Pass behind and the valley opens in front of oneself.
Flanked with long mountain rows on both sides, the plateau lays harmoniously in the sun and its a picture-perfect scene. Thanks to great weather, we are at least as happy as a passing traveler must have been 100 years ago when arriving here.

The warmly and very attentive welcoming made us forget the ever so long journey immediately. We were introduced to the facilities and to the specials of the hotel and received a short overview of all possible activities.

Family Hotel Stern: love for details

Here, love for details is all over and as sustainability belongs to a life formula, we also receive an informational flyer, which offers suggestions how to save CO2 and thereby keep the own foot print as small as possible: playfully and completely without pointing a finger, for example a hiking tour (where you do not need a car) or small things like „why not take the stairs, instead of the elevator“ are suggested.

Our room with lots of lark wood and a furnishing between rustic and modern has a wonderful view on with an own wooden balcony onto the mountains and the village chapel. Room variations range from small comfort rooms to large family apartments with up to 80m2 with separate living and sleeping areas.

After a small refreshment at early noon, where we get to know the good Tyrollean kitchen, we can hardly await to discover the area and start towards a long walk to a nature and education trail nearby. But we do not get far: many much too comfortable wooden swings with a view over the valley invite us to stay and snooze. And so we enjoy the complete silence and simply leave all our cares behind.

All the fresh air of course makes hungry and so we look forward to the upcoming dinner.

Local and seasonal cuisine

The Tyrollean Wirtshaus at Hotel Stern pays much attention to a high-quality selection of food and drinks, but especially also to local products and seasonal dishes. One can eat in the historic parlor in the inside area and in the warmer months one can eat on the sun terrace and even in the own chestnut garden!

Before we head to the parlor to the other guests, we visit the small but cute roof deck. We enjoy the sunset in the valley with a glass of herb lemonade and bubbly. Up here, one can enjoy the view onto the mountains in the deckchairs with a good book – not only at sunset, but for example after a visit at the small but fine and modern sauna area.

For dinner, we are brought to our table, which stays our table for the rest of our stay. The attentive waitress makes sure that we are happy all around. A sumptuous appetizer buffet leaves nothing to be desired, among it are many handmade and garden-fresh ingredients.

Among the seasonal selection there is also a „eardiges“ menu. It is solely made out of local ingredients, often is vegetarian and orientates itself by the local cuisine. For us, it is an amazing entrecôte!

So, culinarily, there is nothing left to be desired either. A „Tyrollean Farmer’s Buffet“ follows the next night, with a large selection of meat specialties from Tyrol, but also grilled vegetables, antipasti, soup and of course the famous cheese.

During the day, we are also spoiled and enjoy the homemade apple strudel after a Tyrollean original recipe from grandmother Adele. Of course after we diligently peeled apples before together with a few regulars.

A place, where generations come together

One thing that we noticed right at the beginning and is confirmed during dinner: not only sustainability and the tradition play a superior role, but also family and children specifically.

It does not seem bothering at all, to the contrary, we are surprised how everything has joined together. We have a positive impression, how all guests of different ages interact with each other so harmoniously. It seems like that everything belongs together and playing and laughing children are a regular part of the hotel’s daily routine.

But also the older regulars (some of those, who consistently come back for decades) also seem to profit from this and enjoy the conversations and togetherness with younger guests. Here, young and old simply belong together and complement each other.

And still, there are enough possibilities to retreat for all. Among them, the mentioned wellness oasis on the rooftop and a children’s club with play and climbing areas. Outside, a playground with a petting zoo, the in-house herb garden, a bike rental including e-bikes and numerous hiking and excursion possibilities lure the guests.

In the following day, we have to get up really early for a sunrise hike organized by Hotel Stern. So older guests and small children can also participate, we first head up with small busses, before we hike up the rest of the summit.

Minute by minute, it gets lighter in the valley until suddenly the sun shows itself slowly over one of the far away summits and bathes everything in a surreal light. For us it is a very special moment that we will remember for a very long time.

At the Mieminger Sonnenplateau, one can vacation at every season perfectly – we realize this all the way on top and we wonder, why we have not discovered this green pearl earlier.

Text and photos by Flowers On My Plate.