Translated by Google Translate.
Zakopane has so much beauty to offer that it is a pity to stay at home. We usually stay away from the crowds. We immerse ourselves in nature, walk outside the main routes, enter the forest. We are the closest to the forests on the Gubałówka slope and that is where we are most often. It is enough to skip the line on Gubałówka, and there are paths, streams, peace and quiet. In summer, when the heat is pouring down from the sky, we spend the most time by the streams. Our kids had been wading barefoot in the water from an early age, playing with the stones by the shore, cooling down in the streams. Somehow, we naturally avoid water parks (although there are several of them in the vicinity), we prefer to spend time in nature.
We also like to go to places marked by the history of our family, where our families once had their lands. For example, in the area of Kasprowy Wierch. Even when you are in Austria, France or Italy, the view from Kasprowy is impossible to imitate. The most beautiful. Then it is worth going down from the top on your own - the crowds seem smaller, and the nature is wonderful.
When autumn comes, we love the whole family to go cycling to the Chochołowska Valley. Or in the evening to the deer rut in the Mała Łąki Valley.
There are so many trails to go around that it's hard to put together in a few soldier words. Therefore, I will leave you a few quick recommendations here, and you can count on more recommendations on the spot.
Routes with children:
- Dolina za Bramką, the route of which ends with a delightful spilled stream, and Dolina ku Dziura, on the trail of which there is a small cave. Short half-hour routes, perfect to keep children entertained with nature, adventure and mountains, and little people!
- The Strążyska Valley - cool, diverse - we go there with our family to have fun. With a beautiful view of the Giewont and a waterfall.
- For bikes for older children - Ścieżka pod Reglami
- Olczyska Valley - we like to go there in the fall.
- Polana Rusinowa - with a typical Tatra view - a beautiful panorama of the Tatra Mountains, sheep and a shepherd's hut with very good oscypek. I can recommend them with a pure heart, because as a teenager I spent 2 months in this shepherd's hut, working as a honielnik, i.e. helping juhas in the hut. The route to Polana is quite short, but varied.
Routes without children:
- The beautiful crossing Morskie Oko - Świstówka - Pięć Stawów
- Ascent to Zawrat, descent to Gąsienicowa Valley and Kuźnice
- Rusinowa Polana - Gęsia Szyja and Hala Gąsienicowa
If you want to avoid the biggest traffic on the trail, I recommend going to the Tatra Mountains in the afternoon, e.g. around 4:00 PM. Of course, I'm not talking about high mountains, but I recommend that you start your afternoon walks on shorter routes later. Usually, all tourists set off on the trails early in the morning and the crowds are inevitable then.
Every year, we spend 3 months of our lives with skis on our feet. We run the HSKI ski school with headquarters in Harenda and it is the slopes where our lives are transferred. Our children do not go to kindergarten then, because they run. Fortunately, they took the bug from us and are riding with us. So if you want to train, infect your kids with winter sports or check if snowboarding is for you - we invite you.
Culturally (but not in a standard way) there is also a lot going on in Zakopane:
- a cool competition for Najśwarniejsom Góralecke, i.e. the Miss Podhale region - the girls have to prove themselves in the tasks of a typical carnation and not only are chosen to be pretty, but also for dancing and rosary.
- Przednówek in Polany - an event taking place in March and intended to show the former pastoral customs of highlanders. I highly recommend this celebration of local folklore and tradition.
- Mountain Region Folklore Festival - an international festival lasting up to 7 days, during which highlanders from all over the world present their cultural heritage.
- Złote Kierpce is a children's festival of music bands.