Oktoberfest without the crowds

Will hike for bier! [View in browser]( [TikTok]( [instagram]( [facebook]( [Friday Around the Planet - Your source for all things travel news](www.lonelyplanet.com) Friday Around the Planet September 15, 2023 [SPONSORED BY](   This week: Prost! Break free of the crowds and hike for your bier. [Dancers in traditional German dress perform on a stage at Oktoberfest]( Raise a glass! As Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich this weekend (fun fact: it begins in September and ends the first weekend of October), I feel nostalgic for the time I was living in Germany and my brother flew over to visit. Donning a dirndl and drinking biers with my brother in the tents was one of those surreal once-in-a-lifetime moments that I’ll cherish forever. But one of my other treasured memories of Germany was a much more chill bier celebration. A friend and I hiked the locally beloved Fünf Seidla Stieg – a bier hike between five different biergartens in Fränkische Schweiz. There were far fewer intoxicated crowds but we drank bier at all five stops, got joyfully lost navigating the country trail and made it to the end to buy our Seidla beer mug and eat some amazing food. If you’re heading to Germany, by all means, go to the touristy places like Neuschwanstein that you’ve dreamed of seeing. But when you’re ready to break free of the crowds, check out these recommendations from our three writers in Germany who show you where locals go to enjoy the wonderful things the country has to offer. – Melissa Yeager, Senior Editor [See where locals go in Germany]( Travel info and inspiration   I went on vacation and found my spouse on Tinder This is a love story for those with a wish in their heart, who’ve opened their dating apps while traveling abroad. Rosemary McCabe writes how using Tinder on a vacation to visit family in the USA changed her life. [Read Rosemary's story]( [Rosemary McCabe sitting by pool](   Greece's Acropolis limits daily visitors The Acropolis in Greece has made a bold step to protect the ancient site. It now will limit the number of visitors to 20,000 a day. [Planning a visit? Here's what you need to know]( [People crowding together to take a photo of the Acropolis](   The best indy shops in Texas's most stylish city Beyoncé-approved jewelry, rainbow souvenirs and vintage vinyl: here are five independent shops you need to check out the next time you visit Austin, Texas. [See the stores you must visit]( [Baker with tray of bagels](   More news to plan your next trip - [Planning a trip to Germany or anywhere else? Here's how to find cheap flights]( - [Total Trip: A quick, affordable Catskills getaway for two]( - [What to eat in Porto, Portugal’s best place for dining on a budget]( - [6 of the most beautiful road trips in South Africa]( Trending destination [Two flamingos stand at the edge of the sea as a woman walks by]( Aruba When you dream of Aruba, you likely imagine blissful beaches with crystal clear, tranquil waters. Certainly, that's an excellent reason to visit this island. But leave the beach and you'll find some incredible adventures awaiting you. Lonely Planet contributor [Joe Sills]( shows you some of the top things to do in Aruba. [Read the best things to do in Aruba](     ADVERTISEMENT     Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking [here.](   This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2023 Lonely Planet [Unsubscribe]( Policy](