Double Header Family Trips

One of the biggest changes since moving to Switzerland is that "weekend getaway" has taken on an entirely different meaning.

Back in Minnesota, we'd spend weeks/months planning trips. We'd read reviews until our eyes crossed, compare Airbnb ratings, and somehow convince ourselves that a 4.8-star rating meant the place was great based on a review from Bill and Susan who gave 5 stars wrote a long similar review. We would spend all the time, try and find the best HELOC rate (airline ticket) to fly, and maybe go…

Now?

We have AI.

It has made trip planning dramatically easier...while simultaneously becoming one of the most confidently wrong travel agents I've ever met.

“Yeah, they have taxis and transport won’t be a problem.”

When AI gives you an answer, ask, "Are you sure?" About half the time it'll respond with something like, "Actually. You bring up a good point. Taxis are far and few between and transport will actually be a significant issue."

Despite that, it removes enough uncertainty that I feel pretty comfortable figuring out the rest when we get there.

No need for flights, dog boarding, or an over packed weekend, we found ourselves with two free weekends in a row and I planned a double header!

Weekend One: The Alps

Lucy had one birthday request.

She wanted to spend it in the Alps.

Not a particular town.

Not a specific activity.

Just..."the Alps."

Fortunately, that's a much easier request when you live in Switzerland.

About an hour and a half after leaving home, we arrived in Engelberg—a postcard of a mountain town tucked beneath Mt. Titlis. Massive rock walls. Glaciers.

It's one of those places that almost looks fake.

To fully embrace Switzerland, we decided to do something…Paragliding.

There are very few places in the world where I'd willingly run off the side of a mountain attached to another human by a few straps and what appears to be an oversized kite.

Switzerland is one of them.

If any country is going to have rules, inspections, backup rules, inspections of the inspections, and probably a committee dedicated to parachute folding...

...it's Switzerland.

So we all went.

Yep, all five of us. Turns out the only criteria is you have to be over 6 yrs old and if you weigh over 200lbs, you need to let them know ahead of time.

The moment your feet leave the mountain is unlike anything I've ever experienced or even expected.

Everything becomes quiet.

You're not falling.

You're not really flying.

You're just...gliding.

The only sound is the wind moving through the wing while enormous mountains slowly drift beneath you.

It honestly felt like being a bird.

I couldn't recommend it more.

One piece of advice, though.

If your pilot asks halfway through the flight,

"So...do you like roller coasters?"

Answer:

"Sometimes."

Not "Absolutely!"

Not "I LOVE THEM!"

Just...

"Sometimes."

Because if you answer yes, they apparently hear,

"Please spin me toward the Earth's core. I want to feel all those Gs"

Landing can either be smooth and graceful...

...or it can include the circle of dizziness. 

I needed a minute after landing.

Then Charlie came in.

He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

About two seconds after touching the ground, he officially joined what we'll politely call the "vom squad" while still wearing his helmet and pilot.

He recovered quickly.

And immediately declared it one of the coolest things he'd ever done.

The next morning we experienced one of the most Swiss traditions imaginable.

Every fall, farmers bring their cows down from the high mountain pastures to spend the winter lower in the valleys. The cows wear elaborate flower arrangements and giant decorative bells as they're walked straight through town.

We had planned to drive to a festival celebrating the tradition.

We were surprised to get a different morning alarm of cows walking right down the road that was beneath or place, bells and all.

Front row seats.

We watched farmers gently steer cows away from garages, parked cars, and keep them on track.

It was perfect. But we wanted more, so still drove 30 minutes to the one we had planned to attend. 

I love chatting with people from all over the world, but somehow we ended up standing next to a wonderful family from Green Bay. After chatting, we wandered through vendors, grabbed bratwursts, and looked at all the amazing things!

It made me smile knowing Packers hats apparently travel internationally.

We wrapped up the weekend by taking three gondolas to the top of Mt. Titlis.

But the glacier cave was really fascinating.

Walking through 5,000-year-old ice is difficult to describe.

You can literally reach out and touch history. Something that has existed since long before recorded history.

It was incredible.

It was also sobering.

Our tram operator pointed to places where glaciers had stretched just a decade ago.

Now...

Only exposed rock remained.

I'm incredibly grateful our kids got to experience a glacier. They lost 12 glaciers this summer alone and have blankets/actively build snow mounds on top of those that still exist.

I sincerely hope future generations will be able to say the same.

Weekend Two: Oktoberfest...But Make It Family Friendly

The following weekend brought an entirely different adventure.

For years I'd regretted never making it to the Kentucky Derby while living nearby.

I wasn't about to make that mistake with Oktoberfest.

Munich looked incredible.

It also looked like the kind of place three children...probably shouldn't experience.

So after doing some research, I found Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest, often described as Oktoberfest's more family-friendly cousin.

When I first told Lindsey, she agreed. Mostly because she was buried in work and only half listening.

So naturally...

I booked everything.

Later, when she had time to think about what she'd actually agreed to...She informed me I was crazy…but was up for it.

Several other adults around here confirmed that Munich can be…”memorable” in a way that may accomplish leading to our children never drinking.

Encouraging. And figured it could be a really long Sunday drive home if the vibe was similar…

On the drive there we stopped at Burg Hohenzollern Castle. Absolutely stunning location. The castle itself? Honestly...The picture is better.

Sometimes honesty is the best travel advice.

That evening we stayed in adjoining hotel rooms.

The kids sprinted upstairs while Lindsey and I enjoyed one extra drink after dinner (afterall, why should we expect to be able to sit with our children for 12.5 minutes when apparently their tanks all run empty somewhere between the minute their food is placed in front of them and the millisecond we say “no thanks” when the waiter asks if we want desert). 

Charlie came back downstairs.

Not because he needed anything. He simply wanted to show us his one-night luxury get-up.

The following morning began exactly how every parent hopes.

Kids didn’t sleep well, so naturally the best place to go…

A crowded festival.

Perfect.

Thankfully the breakfast buffet turned things around.

The kids absolutely demolished pancakes, croissants, pastries, and anything else that wasn't nailed down.

The parade was one of the best I have seen

Sorry, Edina Fourth of July.

There were incredible marching bands, horse-drawn wagons, bakers marching with baskets of bread, butchers handing out fried fish, and breweries pouring samples, one after another, right from horse-drawn kegs.

This parade didn’t even have a politician! Something completely different from all MN parades I have suffered, I mean, really enjoyed

Inside the beer (and apple juice) tent, the atmosphere was exactly what I'd hoped for.

A huge brass band in the middle playing Traditional German songs. American songs somehow transformed into German drinking songs.

The huge steins with men and women bringing them to the table 3-8 at a time. I could barley lift my one.

People singing together.

It somehow felt like the Minnesota State Fair if all food stands had been replaced by several airplane-hangar-sized beer tents. They had all the rides, games, things that you spend money on and breaks on the way to the car. Yep, all of that stuff too. 

By early afternoon, however, Grace had reached her limit. She was essentially asleep on the table. I was having a fantastic time. She was not.

Since I was driving home anyway, we landed on one more stroll through the festival vs one more stein. Then we headed back.

On the way home I got to check one more thing off my bucket list.

Driving on the Autobahn.

For one glorious stretch I found myself moving with traffic at around 110 mph.

I even briefly touched 115.

Very briefly.

Having my entire life in the car proved to be an excellent reminder that surviving the drive was more important than setting a personal speed record.

We made it home in time for dinner, backpacks, and another week of school.

Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely.

Engelberg was spectacular.

We'll already be back this November.

If you come visit us, paragliding can be on the itinerary (just older than 6 and notify them if you are over 200lbs). I’d also recommend declining the roller coaster landing. Maybe ask for a few quick Gs, but not the corkscrew. 

Stuttgart was a blast too.

I'd absolutely return—especially with a group of adults next time. We would leave out the castle visit.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is still on my list.

And maybe...

Just maybe...

We'll be the ones standing on the tables.

One thing is certain.

Living in Switzerland has made Europe feel a whole lot smaller.

The hardest part now isn't deciding whether to travel. It's deciding where to go next.

Ireland to hang with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews is next!