We LOVE Oktoberfest and are a mere 2 hour flight away from Munich. So when our German friends from Kiev asked us if we wanted to join them at their friend's table in the Augustiner tent (incidentally our favorite German beer), it was an easy decision....we made a family weekend of it.
Bursting at the seams with festivity
While Munich is always fab, Oktoberfest really brings out the spirit. The place is literally bursting at the seams with it
Trachten is everywhere. You might guess that only the die hard Bavarians don durndles or lederhosen, but honestly you stand out more in "plain clothes" than in "trachten". How can you not love a party where thousands of people dress up?!
We took a crack of dawn flight to allow time to shop & update our outfits.
Total family fun
And while many people associate Oktoberfest with just beer, its so much more!
The festival is a cross between 6 Flags, a food festival and a keg party.
Not surprisingly, the kids like the rides part best.
And since we were celebrating Xavier's 8th birthday, we agreed to go on 8 rides
And since we were celebrating Xavier's 8th birthday, we agreed to go on 8 rides
(I wasn't so convinced about a Log Ride while it was in the 50's)
(Warning, the pricing is certainly NOT frat party - came home with significantly lighter wallets!)
Impressively controlled chaos
You'd think a festival that includes ~7million liters of beer & almost that many people could be ugly. But damn - the city's preparedness is impressive.
Our hotel was a block from the festival grounds. Yet the metro (or "U-bahn"), was totally calm - likely aided by the extra security.....
And while things got a bit messy by the end of the day, each morning the place was scrubbed clean and spotless....
(Each of these 2 pictures was taken at ~7:30 am - one on Saturday morning, the other on Monday. Guess which is which?!)
As if Oktoberfest isn't enough, Munich itself is crazy fab....
Bikes Galore
Give me city with a bike lane, and I'm ready to go visit. Give me a city with a wide, smooth one like this & I'm ready to move
We all loved the biking city tour
They even had rental tag-alongs!
Permanent Beer Gardens Galore
And while Oktoberfest only lasts for 16 days, there are loads of permanent beer gardens. Including a fab one in Munich's version of Central Park - the English Garden.
Food & drink on one side...
Playground on the other...
(Once again, appealing to the interests of the whole family - genius!)
Delish Food Galore
OK, while you wouldn't be able to buy any fitted clothing eating this stuff everyday, there's no denying its YUM!
Here's to Oktoberfest, Munich, turning 8 & Kirsten and Holly for the inspiration
Prost!
Prost!
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