You can't look at a typical day -- OSH must be viewed in the context of a full week. There is no way to see OSH in a day, or even two.
Therefore, we always go for the full week, and over the last three decades have developed a very logical, systematic way of seeing the convention.
First, this is usually our main vacation each year, so we are not in a hurry. Mornings consist of coffee at the site, followed by showers, followed by an easy bike ride to Le Seur's or the Hilton for a hearty breakfast. (These are restaurants just off the edge of the North 40 camping area.)
We aim to be on the grounds by 11 or noon. We may have ice cream on the grounds, but otherwise we mostly eat off-site.
Day One is always an overview of the grounds, consisting of a walkthrough to note any changes, and to see the "absolutes" -- the brown arch, the big bomb (pix of the kids going back 20 years), and to buy the yearly patch and the pin.
We do these things first, in case we get called back home for an emergency. The patch, pin, and photos are a must!
An overview takes until 5 PMish, during which we pay some casual attention to the daily airshow. It's then back to the site for beers with our usual gang, whilst watching the REAL airshow -- arrivals and departures. We often pull our chairs up to the rope along Rwy 27, and greatly enjoy the excitement of watching dozens of airplanes landing/departing.
When the airspace is closed, we toddle off for dinner, and more beers. The first night is ALWAYS at Friar Tuck's. We are usually in bed by 11 PM.
Expect to walk 3 to 6 miles per DAY. Take shuttles as often as possible. Alternate two different pairs of comfy shoes, every other day.
Read the daily EAA newspaper to see the forum schedule. There are hundreds, so you have to carefully pick and choose, or you could spend the entire week doing but forums!
Day 2 starts to get serious. We are usually shopping for something specific, so it's into the mammoth display buildings, seeing, touching, and learning things that normally you can only see in pictures. Last year it was an O2 system and glass cockpits.
Everything starts to blur by Day 3. Grant's party in Camp Scholler is Tuesday night, while our HOPS Party is Wednesday night. Friday night is (usually) the big fish fry at the Seaplane Base, although they effed up and didn't have that last year, for the first time EVER, so don't quote me on that one.
In between, another "must" is to eat lake perch at the Charcoal Pit. It is amazing. We try to avoid their karaoke.
If it sounds like OSH revolves around food and drink, well, it does. We have been meeting the same folks there for decades, now, and we all look forward to the rituals!
Day Three is Warbirds.
Day Four is Vintage.
Day Five is Ultralights and rotorcraft. And the Fly Market.
Every day is homebuilts, with an emphasis (for us) on RVs. We must walk through this area to get back to the North 40, so we see a little of it daily.
Any day, we might check out the museum, if it's hot or rainy.
Day 6 we go back and see stuff we hit too quickly.
Day 7 will be a last walkthrough of the big buildings. Sometimes the vendors start to get a little desperate, and start discounting a bit!
By then, we are usually wiped, and spend more of the day at the site with friends, realizing that it's all coming to an end for another year. This becomes more difficult with each passing year.
Oshkosh is the best place in the world. God, I can't wait!
