Mini Oktoberfest

Last Saturday Grady and I left Caitlin with Oma and Opa and took off for some together time. We drove two and a half hours westward to a little town called New Ulm, Minnesota, a sister city to Ulm in Germany. They were celebrating Oktoberfest, and we had to check it out!

Quaint and festive, we came upon the blockaded street where everything was taking place. A traditional old-style German band set the mood as we enjoyed the festivites (although we could have lived without the bees swarming around our food and drinks!). A beer for Grady, a root beer for Allison (would never have found that in Germany!), two bratwursts with kraut, and a short interaction with some German-speaking exchange students later, we hopped in the car to check out the town's most well-known attractions.

"Herman the German" is said to have single-handedly organized a kind of ambush on Roman soldiers in the north of Germany which ultimately started the shrinking of the Roman Empire's reign. Not bad! A huge statue of him stands upon a hilltop in New Ulm and we stopped by to see him for ourselves.

We then headed through a forest to Schell's Brewery, hoping to get in on one of the tours of the historical site. Who knew it would be so busy-! We didn't get in but had a nice walk around the grounds, surprised to see free-roaming peacocks to boot! Such a beautiful setting.

Our last stop before heading home was at a little restaurant where we met a couple locals and got to visit about their German roots and learn a bit more about the town. It was a great excursion, especially with all the beautiful fall colors as a backdrop!