I grew up like so many people of a certain age looking forward to the annual showing of “The Sound of Music” on TV. As a theatre loving kid I always imagined myself on stage in a sailor dress singing those iconic songs. I finally got to be a Von Trapp when I played Liesl in college.

During that time I was working for a law firm and Agathe Von Trapp, who Liesl is based on, was a client. I was so excited when I got to meet her.

It’s been a bucket list item for me forever to visit Salzburg and walk in the steps of the Von Trapp family, as well as the actors who brought the story to the big screen.

This June I finally made that dream come true. While sailing the Danube on a Viking River Cruise, I booked a private guide to take my daughter and I on a guided tour and it was well worth the wait!

Our guide, Carolin, met us at our port in Passau and took us on a beautiful scenic drive through Germany and Austria while sharing so much information about the towns we drove through.

Our first stop in Salzburg was the church where the Captain and Maria were married in the film. There was a service taking place, so we took a quick peek and moved on.

Our next stop was definitely a highlight for me! At Schloss Helbrunn, we saw the Gazebo where “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” was filmed, the tree lined street where the kids hung from the trees in their curtain outfits, as well as where Julie Andrews sang a portion of “I Have Confidence.”

One stop that is not on a regular guided “Sound of Music” tour is the actual home of the Von Trapp Family. It operated as a B&B for several years, but closed during COVID and has not reopened. Unfortunately, you can’t go in and the property is gated, but we were able to hop out and get a quick picture and enjoy the view.

No “Sound of Music” Tour is complete without a visit to Mirabell Garden. Several portions of “Do Re Mi” were filmed throughout the garden and it was so fun recreating some iconic moments.

Our very knowledgeable guide also took us to see some lesser known sites including the exterior of the building used for the concert hall, the Cemetary that was the basis for the Nonnberg Abbey hiding scene, the hotel where Julie Andrews stayed during the filming and the fountain you see as Maria is catching the bus to head to the Von Trapp’s.

If you are a “Sound of Music” fan, I highly recommend visiting Salzburg and if you can find a local expert to show you the sights, that’s even better! This is an experience my daughter and I will never forget!

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