Tahoe didn’t end up happening this weekend (7 inches of snow on Friday alone, and yes it is the end of April) but we got to play tourist just the same. We visited the German Tourist Club on Saturday – a cabin in the woods that you hike to, open to the public one weekend a month for drinking. Yes you heard all of that right, people hike to this cabin in the woods to enjoy beer and play board games.
Nature Friends (Naturfreunde) originated in Austria in 1895 as a place people could visit with their families and enjoy nature. It’s one of the largest non-governmental organizations and has branches all over the world. The German Tourist Club, in Marin was started in 1912 and people have been visiting with their families and enjoying the nature of Northern California ever since. If you are not a member, they open the club to you once a month to visit.
So we decided to visit. The ‘hike’ was more like a leisurely stroll through the hills (cue Sound of Music soundtrack now), with the sun shining and the birds chirping.
When you make it to the cabin, it’s like you stepped into another time and place. It’s nestled on a ledge among the trees, and you can tell it’s German just by the look of it.
We packed a good amount of snacks and some games and they sell pitchers of beer and bottles of wine.
This is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the sunshine and company of your friends – the scenery isn’t bad either.
After the sunshine, beer and games, we sadly hiked back out, got back into our cars and returned to the real world.
Tagged: Beer, Games, German Tourist Club, Hike, nature, Nature Friends, Saturday, Sunshine, Tourist Clubs, Tourists
