A Mountain Full of Adventure for All Ages
When we ask our girls what’s on their “list” for summer, Golm is always the first place they mention. And even after several visits, we still haven’t experienced everything it has to offer. From Golmi’s Forschungspfad to the Waldrutschenpark and the Alpine Coaster, Golm is packed with activities for the young — and the young at heart.
Getting an Early Start
Our kids are early risers, so we make the most of it and aim to arrive as soon as the cable car opens. It’s the best way to beat the crowds, especially when you have younger children who don’t love waiting in long queues.
Once we had our cable car and coaster tickets, we headed straight for the Alpine Coaster. Early in the morning there’s usually no queue at all, which is ideal. The girls adore this ride, and it’s not over in ten seconds — it’s a proper experience. Exciting for the kids, and genuinely enjoyable for adults too, with beautiful views and a fun ride through the forest.
Golmi’s Forschungspfad: Learning Without Realising
After the coaster, we took the next two cable cars up to Grüneck, the starting point of Golmi’s Forschungspfad. We love a good experience trail, and Vorarlberg does these brilliantly — getting kids excited about hiking without them even realising they’re learning something along the way.
The path is 2.4 km long, perfectly manageable even for smaller legs, and with 22 stations there’s always something new to discover. Water stations, nature exploration, mountain facts, animal learning — it’s all there. Our highlights were the water seesaw, the water playground, and the musical cow bells at the end.
The Big Highlight: The Slides
After a quick ice cream stop, it was time for the Waldrutschenpark — the famous mountain slides. You get a glimpse of them from the cable car, but you don’t realise how long they are until you’re actually sliding down one.
The concept is genius. Many people enjoy the challenge of hiking up mountains, but hiking down can feel like a chore. For kids, teens, and fun‑loving adults, these slides turn the descent into an adventure.
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous before the first slide. But after hearing how much fun my daughter had, I swallowed my pride and went for it. I didn’t anticipate how fast you slide — leggings make you quicker, shorts slow you down a bit, so choose your clothing depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
One daughter loved the slides immediately; the other hated them at first and refused to go again. So I walked down with her, meeting Papa and our other daughter at the end of each slide. The second year we visited, she tried again — and loved them.
At the end of the last slide there’s a steep staircase down. It’s narrow and can be challenging for younger children.
More Adventure: Flying Fox & Mountain Views
We watched people on the Flying Fox soaring over the water, and our girls have already announced that as soon as they’re old enough, they’re doing it.
The newly built Restaurant Grüneck is modern, bright, and offers panoramic mountain views. There’s a large kids’ play and adventure corner, so parents can enjoy a peaceful moment while the children explore.
There are also plenty of other hiking options in this area for all ability levels.
Whether you’re visiting for a summer adventure or skiing in winter, Golm is always worth the trip. For a family this day out will cost money and all of the attractions are extra — but the cable car ticket is valid all day, and we certainly made the most of it, going up and down the mountain at least five times without paying extra. We took a packed lunch and left it in a cool pack in the car, and once we’d done the slides in the morning, we simply picked it up and found a spot to eat. This saved us carrying it around all day and saved our money for ice cream and a drink. I personally think that if it is in the summer budget, this is such a good day out to invest in.
Website: https://www.golm.at/en
