Munich Lodging - Daytrips TO Munich or FROM Munich?

Jude, unless you have specific sights you want to see in Munich, I'd stay in the mountains, and skip it. Or visit on your way elsewhere. It's an interesting enough big city, but it's not as interesting as the mountains and countryside. I dislike day trips, because the time taken going back and forth is wasted, and staying somewhere overnight is a better experience than just a drive by.

Are you planning to drive ?

You have to give us more information about what you and the kids want to do/see. Genders of the kids ?

I’ve only spent one day really touring Munich, that was enough for me.

If you are driving, then there are a lot more places to stay. If relying on trains, stay in a smaller town with good train traffic.

Consider the Salzburg area.

A farm stay might be a good choice.

Try if possible to stay in vacation apartments ( ferienwohnung ). Much. much more room and kids are usually half price or less. Here is one I stayed ar just outside Salzburg www.neuwirtgut.at

For your later Romantic Road trip, here is a great place in Rothenburg www.froehlich-rothenburg.de

Could you do both? As much as I like staying in one place for several days, I'm not a fan of day trips requiring long hours in transit. And that's what your proposed day trips would require. I think Munich is worth at least a couple of days, if you are interested in it's historical sites and museums. But the smaller Bavarian mountain towns like Garmisch, Mittenwald, Oberammergau, Ettal, and Fussen are worth a few days, too. A rental car would save you a lot of time getting around there. Garmisch might make a good base, and you could train there from Munich and pick up a car there.

A lot of travelers look at Munich as a good base for day trips because it's a big hub with lots of road/rail spokes. But I think that's a mistake. Day trips to most places visitors wish to see... Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, and Füssen for example - require too much transport time, and often too much traffic if you're driving. These are interesting destinations that also have good places to visit nearby, and they get shortchanged when you aren't staying at least one night.

I share the impression that Munich itself isn't what most visitors are really after. I just got a note back from a fellow forum member who sought my assistance via pm... her exact words are much like other feedback I've received: "In Germany, Munich was my least favorite city."

What you might do: book 4 nights in the mountains - either near Garmisch or near B'gaden. Then one night with partial days on each end in Munich. Then on to other places.

Trains are an ideal way to get around all of Bavaria. Your family prices out at €34/day for nearly unlimited use of trains throughout Germany's largest state:

http://www.munich-touristinfo.de/Bavaria-Ticket.htm

It is depending on what one wants. City vibes or mountains.

For mountains and the mentioned locations like Garmisch etc. I would definitely not use Munich as a hub.

City vibe than choose Munich. And when you are leaving the beaten path Munich will be fun. Seems many American running around only downtown which is a big mistake. The real life and the fun part for sure is not downtown.

Doing a day trip from Munich, I would suggest Ulm or in another direction, Ingolstadt, if your decision is on cities.