We hung out in Halstatt for five days in-between a performance of La Traviata in Zurich and a Don Carlo in Vienna (with American baritone Thompson Hampson in both productions). Our neighbors recommedned this quaint village-town on a pretty Austrian lake and research indicating great lakes-alpine hiking in the area. We arrived just as six front weather systems were crossing Europe. There was rain every day and our ambitious hiking plans were curtailed. But Halstatt turned out to be a nice place even with rain.

Two good restaurants are on the main square, next to the church. Our hotel, Seehotel Grüner Baum [$$, *] has one of the better restaurants. The very best, however, is the other hotel based restaurant, Gsthof Zauner [$$,**], which we learned about from a chance conversation at the bar (while watching the Poland vs Austria Euro2008 soccer match) with Bob & Jackie, tourists from Mauritius. Gsthof Zauner specializes in fish from the lakes and other Austrian specialties. Another restaurant offers the best lakeside view and outdoor seating. There is a "waiters crsossing" sign on the road where the waiters cross from kitchen to lakeside tables (see slideshow)

Jogging/walking/biking. A marvelous trail hugging the west shore of Lake Halstatt. It is scenic, quite, flat, with up to 16 km one way. One can return to the starting point by train which runs hourly or so and can be boarded at four location along the 16 km stretch. Our hike/run which we highly recommend started at the trail head in Obertraun near the train station, passed Hst. Hallstatt (2st train stop along the way), stopped for beer and at scenic pub/restaurant near Hst Obersee (next train stop), stopped for bakery goodies at St Agatha, and ended at the Bad Goisern train station where we boarded train returning to the Osertraun.

Jog. A wide and well maintained jogging track adjacent to the main road from Hallstatt to Obertraun offers a scenic and decent 10K, round trip, with modest elevation.