A Minnesota Family Vacation in Pictures

It’s our busy summer season so this week’s blog post is kind of a cheater. I’m just going to show you life at Wildwood for the past few weeks instead of telling you about it. Let’s just say there has been an abundance of family time, laughter, sun (and rain!) as well as fish frys, sand castles, water-skiing and campfires.

July in our part of nothern Minnesota includes an amazing number of ways to spend your vacation. We have concerts, arts, museums, festivals, swap meets, antiques, farmer’s markets, fresh strawberries to name just a few! Take a look at the local Calendar of Events and you will see for yourself why spending your Minnesota family vacation at Wildwood is so special.

This 4th of July holiday weekend we honor to the men and women who serve in our armed forces!
Kim & Jay

Ideas for Fun Things to do on a Rainy Day on Northern MN Vacations!

Since it is raining on this fine Father’s Day I’m going to give you a run down on fun things to do on a rainy day while on vacation at Wildwood!

Go Fish! – Unless it’s lightening I say go hit the lake. Fishing isn’t usually at its best on a hot, sunny day so an overcast day with a little chop to the water is a great day to go catch the lunker of a lifetime and the lifetime of bragging rights that comes with it. Go Fish Bass Lake!

Get all Nature-y! – The Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center offers a WONDERFUL naturalist program in the summer. Three days each week visitors can learn about bees, birds, bears and bugs as well as how to forage for food and facts about forest fire. Afterwards grab your rain gear and bug spray and hike one of the beautiful trails in Chippewa National Forest.

Learn About Logging! – The Forest History Center offers a very fun and interesting perspective of Minnesota’s rich logging history. Besides an Interpretive Center the FHC has a reenactment of a late 1800s logging camp complete with all the characters you would have found in camp 100+ years ago.

Catch A Movie! – Doesn’t a matinee sound like the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon? The Mann Cinema 8 has the latest releases so you can catch up on your summer blockbusters. The Reif Center in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Public Library also offers an Independent Film Series on Tuesday evenings through August 19th. All are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Reif Center.

Check Out the Headwaters of the Mississippi! – The headwaters of the Mississippi located in Itasca State Park is just a quick 1 hour trip from Wildwood. Even in a light rain you’ll have fun “walking” across the Mississippi!

Shop ‘Til You Drop! – Old Central School is a wonderful, historic collection of shops and dining located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Local favorite, The Purple Pinecone, now inhabits part of the 2nd floor! Besides Old Central School there are shops for every taste and price range. Check out the Shopping page on VisitGrandRapids.com.

Eat ‘Til You Pop! – Food is one of the most important aspects of a Jamtgaard vacation. We can have a ton of fun but if we don’t eat well then…we’re hungry! From steak to hometown diner to Mexican cuisine we’ve got something for everyone. In fact, you can learn a little more about the dining gems in our area by watching Episode 3 of the Gems of Itasca. Who wants dessert!?

Here’s the very best thing about each of the ideas I’ve mentioned in this blog…they are fun on beautiful, sunny days, too! So rain or shine we’ve got you covered on your northern MN vacation. We’ve still got some great summer weeks available so check out our availability and give us a call!
Kim & Jay

 

Plan Your Minnesota Family Summer Vacation!

Running a Minnesota resort is a weird kind of existence…fun but weird. To get open for the summer season we usually have about 5 minutes to get 5 weeks of work done. Kind of like sprinting the first 10 miles of a marathon! This year we added a significant degree of difficulty to our “sprint” with the added work of getting our four new cabins ready for our guests. I would love to say that we achieve our opening every year with grace and style but in reality it usually happens in a cloud of chaos with a touch of panic and some hysteria sprinkled on top. Sounds fun, right?! Well, honestly, it kind of is fun…at least it seems fun once the guests start arriving. Their joy at returning to this place they love and their appreciation for our efforts is like a shot in the arm. It boosts our spirits to remember that the blessing of our life here is the people that Wildwood brings into our world and we derive an incredible amount of pleasure in seeing them enjoy our family resort!

This year we have much to share as we welcome guests into our newest cabins! It’s hard to believe that the cabins are done and we feel so grateful for the opportunity to have completed a project that we’ve dreamed about for all of our 16 years here. I love each one for the unique and wonderful qualities it possesses so bear with me if I’m a little too effusive with my descriptions here. I’m sure I’ll calm down about them in a decade or so….

Aspen Lodge turned out to be everything we hoped it would be. It is cozy and welcoming and still sits on the best piece of our property! The lake view is the same as it always was, however, now guests can enjoy the amazing view of Bass Lake from inside the cabin. Like all of our cabins Aspen Lodge has cable TV and free Wi-Fi as well as conveniences like a dishwasher and gas grill.  The front wall is loaded with windows which brings in tons of natural light and the patio outside is perfectly sized for enjoying our beautiful Minnesota summer! This year round cabin is perfectly sized for 4 and perfectly situated to make your Minnesota family summer vacation the best ever!

Cedar Lodge also turned out beautifully. The size is absolutely perfect for a two bedroom cabin and its location right on the beach is fabulous for keeping an eye on the  kiddos as they play on the beach. Again we planned a wall of windows so the natural light is wonderful and the lake view is outstanding. The cabin is sized for up to 6 people with two king beds and a pull-out sofa in the living area. The patio on the front of the cabin is going to be a wonderful place to watch the sun set each night and is perfect for outdoor living while on vacation! We still have a rare July opening (July 12th week) for Cedar Lodge as well as a few August openings so if you haven’t planned your MN family summer vacation yet we hope you will consider Wildwood Resort!

Oak Lodge is probably the most intriguing to me of the new cabins. We’ve never had anything like it at Wildwood so each time I walk into it I’m stuck by the possibilities we now have with such a unique lodging opportunity. If we had been able to build two separate cabins we certainly would have done so. But with our land constraints building the unit as a duplex was the only option. And now that it is up I have to say that I LOVE the way Jay’s design turned out! He managed to make the outdoor living areas completely separate allowing for privacy between the units even when everyone is outside. He also was able to recreate the covered patio concept which has been so popular with Basswood, Tamarack and Riverbirch. We are looking forward to having a 6 bedroom option to offer guests and think our snowmobile groups, ice fishing guests and family renunion groups will appreciate the size! Oak Lodge is still available to rent the week of August 16th.

White Oak Lodge is the southern side of the Oak Lodge duplex. With 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms and a second (spacious!) living area upstairs it will accommodate up to 8 people. The covered patio offers a beautiful lake view and a good view of the beach and, best of all, it allows our guests to chance to enjoy the outdoors even on a rainy day. I’m completely in love with the lake view offered from the second floor living area. It is simply amazing! White Oak Lodge is still available to rent the week of August 16th.

Red Oak Lodge is the northern side of the Oak Lodge duplex. It is the mirror image of White Oak with 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms and the same HUGE living area upstairs. The second living area is going to be the perfect place to send the kids to watch their TV and movies so the adults can enjoy some adult TV (Weather Channel, anyone?!) or just some peace and quiet. The outdoor living area has an amazing view of Bass Lake with a little more quiet and private outdoor area than White Oak. And, again, the covered patio adds comfort and outdoor living even when the weather is less than perfect. Red Oak is open the week of June 14th (we are offering a Hot Deal on that week!) and the week of August 16th so you can still plan for that family summer vacation you’ve been thinking about!

I think the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area is a perfect place for planning your Minnesota family summer vacation! And while I’m pretty biased about our great community I think the local Calendar of Events backs up my opinion. June is packed with great local events like the 75th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz celebrated at the Judy Garland Festival and the High Lifter Quadna Mud Nationals as well as cultural events like the Reif Dance Spring Show (don’t forget that we offer great ticket prices through our relationship with The Reif Center) and the First Friday Art Walk.  There is simply something for everyone in our lovely part of Minnesota from arts to activities to amazing natural wonders! Give us a call or drop an email today to start planning a Minnesota family summer vacation at Wildwood Resort!

WOOHOO! Summer has finally arrived!!
Kim & Jay

Family Vacations Make Family Memories

While growing up we didn’t take many family vacations. Our vacations were always trips to see the relatives. I only remember two family vacations when I was young that weren’t trips to Grandma’s house.  Interestingly enough the one I remember best was a family vacation to a Minnesota resort. We went with my aunt, uncle and cousins and to this day we talk about all the memorable moments. There was the “ugly bug” that lived in some kind of cistern in front of the cabin. It was repulsive yet strangely hypnotic! There was the day that my cousin, Timmy, caught a HUGE northern pike while fishing from shore. All we knew about these lake monsters from the dads (who were out fishing at the time) was that they had teeth that would saw your arm off. He reeled that fish in and we screamed ourselves hoarse until the feisty thing flipped itself off the hook and right back into the lake. Looking back now that monster was probably about 12 inches long. 🙂 That was the family vacation when I learned to love Lucky Charms and rode on my first paddleboat. Ah…good times!

The main thing I remember about that week is also the simplest thing: we were together as a family and we were having FUN! Isn’t it ironic that this Iowa girl who only took one Minnesota vacation in her life became a Minnesota resort owner?! Now it’s my job to watch people on vacation having fun. I’ve watched little kids catch a 12 inch northern off the dock and treat it like it’s an alligator.  I’ve even witnessed the hysterical scene as one or two of those little northerns flipped themselves off the hook and back into the water. It always makes me smile! What a gift to live this life and watch families and friends reconnect over the campfire, fishing or a game of washers. Time spent together is priceless because it’s so rare in our busy lives. I hope this summer you find the time to make some precious memories with your family!

The sun is strong these days and is melting the snow. We heard recent reports that indicate that the ice on Bass Lake is about 24″ so that is progress toward open water! We had our first thunderstorm this week and opened the windows just so we could enjoy the clean, fresh smell we associate with a summer storm. We’re loving the onset of spring (and choosing to ignore the cold forecast for next week) and looking forward to welcoming all of our guests back to Wildwood! Check out our cabin pages and our Facebook page for the latest photos and videos. Our neighborhood eagles are very active these days so I’ve been trying to get some video of their antics.

Blessings!
Kim & Jay

 

Hot Deals on Minnesota Golf at Wildwood Resort

We are pleased to be participating with Eagle Ridge Golf Course and Pokegama Golf Course on their Spring Into Golf promotion to get people to stay and play in the Grand Rapids, MN area. Book at least a three-night stay at Wildwood Resort between May 27th and June 6th and get one day of unlimited golf FREE! Additional days of unlimited golf can be purchased for just $35/person. Rate includes cart rental. Call us at 218-328-5858 or email us for more information.

Mother Nature struck a blow today. And like most April Fool’s jokes – it’s not funny. Yesterday we had warm temps and rain that rid us of a lot of snow. Today we awoke to almost a foot of the white stuff. Needless to say while Jay is out plowing snow for the one-millionth time this winter I’m hunkered down in the house with the curtains drawn. I refuse to acknowledge the weather. Ignore it and it will go away, right?!

Let’s talk about summer instead! After all, it will return eventually and we should be ready. Our new cabins are coming along nicely. We are so happy with our amazing team of contractors who have us in great shape considering all the disastrous weather they’ve had to battle this winter. Our general contractor has been putting up half log siding but thanks to today’s lovely weather decided to work on kitchen countertops instead. Our flooring genius is laying tile in the duplex, the plumber is setting fixtures and hooking up fireplaces and our electricians are installing lights and electric heaters. I will post some updated photos on the Wildwood Resort Facebook page later today. Things are coming together! We really are optimistic about finishing these units way ahead of schedule. That is a drastic change from past projects when we’ve still been hanging curtains as our first guests pull up to the new cabins!

Our eagle pair is very active in the nest lately. This is a fun time of year because it’s not unusual to find them sitting on the quiet shoreline with a snack. Yesterday morning this eagle was having breakfast on the lake and we just happened to catch a quick picture. Life on a Minnesota resort is never dull!

Thinking warm summer-y thoughts until next time –
Kim & Jay

 

How to Entertain Kids on a Rainy Day on Vacation!

Minnesota summer vacations are the best! Warm days on the beach, cool nights by the campfire and, of course, eating the perfect s’more. So there’s nothing worse than having a rainy day when you had planned to spend time on the lake. But you don’t have to dread the chaos of being stuck inside with the kids! Save the family vacation with some of these great rainy day activities that will keep everyone entertained for hours.

 

• Make an indoor obstacle course with whatever you have laying around. Use blankets, pillows, or chairs to make a simple a obstacle course. Time each child as he or she goes through the course and see who can complete the challenge the fastest.

• Do a scavenger hunt! Scavenger hunts are great because you can do them a lot of different ways. Have a color scavenger hunt where the children have to find items of a particular color (ex. find things that are green). You could have children look for items that start with a particular letter sound (ex. find objects that start with the letter m). And, of course, you can do a good old classic scavenger hunt where you make a list of specific items and have the children look for them and the first person to find them all wins.

  

• Bake or cook together. Cooking with kids is so fun and they love it! Find a simple recipe to try and have your children help you collect ingredients, measure, pour, and mix. Cooking is a great learning activity for children and a fun hands on project. The best part, of course, is having a delicious treat afterward.

• Make your own play dough. Play dough is the perfect rainy day activity for hours of inside fun. For even more fun you can make your play dough with just a few basic ingredients. The following recipe makes a decent size batch. If you want to add one package of kool aid the play dough will smell good. 🙂
  1 c. flour, 1 c. water,  2 t. cream of tartar, 1/3 cup of salt, 1 T. vegetable oil and food coloring of your choice. Mix all ingredients except food coloring in a sauce pan until thick. Once it begins to thicken, add food coloring. Remove from heat. Stir until its much thicker. Remove from pan and cool.

• Have an indoor picnic. Get out a blanket or a beach towel and set up a picnic on the floor inside. With a little imagination you can make all the rain go away.

• Play the senses game. Blind fold the players and have them guess what different things are by taste, touch, sound, or smell. The player that guesses correctly wins!

  

So this summer don’t let the rain ruin your day, just bring the fun inside!

This week’s blog is written by our very creative Kids’ Activities Coordinator, McKayla Bloch. Every week during the summer vacation season our own “Pied Piper” entertains resort kids with games, activities or crafts. Look for future posts from the kid-savvy McKalya on entertaining the kids while on vacation.

Bring on Summer!
Kim & Jay

Life at Wildwood has been busy these last few weeks! It has left little time to post to the blog but we have managed to get in some snowmobiling and some cabin building along with all the normal day-to-day activities. We had had some ice fishermen in but mostly the cabins have been full of folks out enjoying the Minnesota snowmobile trails!

We hit the snowmobile trails on Thursday, January 16th and found area trails to be in great shape. The DNR is reporting about 15″ of snow in our area and I think that is accurate. Northern Itasca County might have a few more inches than that but overall I think that’s accurate. We left from Marcell and rode the Marcell Trail, to the Cameron Lake Trail then onto the Herb Brandstrom and Taconite Trails. All trails were in good condition and we even met a groomer on just outside of Marcell so the first 30 miles we rode were absolutely perfect.  We lunched at The Scenic Pines and then headed back to Marcell. It was a great day out on the trails and it felt so good to finally get some rec time on the snowmobiles!

Area snowmobile trail reports and area x-ski reports are available on the Visit Grand Rapids website. Snow depth state trail reports can be found on the DNR website.

The new cabins are coming along beautifully and we couldn’t be happier! Aspen Lodge had doors hung and trim completed so we are ready to spray the walls. It’s past time to get the kitchen cabinets ordered! Jay has been hard at work in Cedar Lodge. He’s putting up the pine paneling and should have that completed this week. Oak Lodge (the duplex) is finally moving ahead after so many weeks of waiting for the weather to warm up.  The roof is water-tight even though the metal will have to be installed in the spring. With a dry house the electricians worked hard at running wire for outlets, fixtures and switches in order to get the electrical inspection complete. We are ready for the insulators to come back and finish the spray foam upstairs and down. Our hard-working contractors got windows installed and even started putting up the pine paneling in Red Oak Lodge. It’s amazing how much these guys are accomplishing every day.  We are so thankful for the great group of professionals working on our project! You can find more cabin information and project photos on our website and on our Facebook page.

Have a great week!

Kim & Jay

 

 

Yesterday was the first day in many that we have crawled our way to temps above zero. In fact, the 7 degrees farenheit outside felt like a heat wave! In spite of the unseasonably cold weather hearty souls have been hard at work getting Itasca County x-ski trails and snowmobile trails ready for action. This is the first time in our 15 years at Wildwood that we can remember having groomed trails this early in December. From trail reports we’ve heard most of the x-ski trails have been groomed at least once. And the Bushwacker Snowmobile Trail that runs just south of the resort has also been groomed.  We had about 12″ of snow fall right before the cold snap so that should provide a good base on area trails. Area cross-country ski trail reports and snowmobile trail reports can be found on the Trail Reports page of the Visit Grand Rapids website.

Ice conditions are area lakes haven’t faired as well with the heavy snowfall.  While most reported 6″ or so of ice before the snow that wasn’t enough ice to hold the all the snow that fell.  Most lakes are very slushy right now under the crusty layer of snow.  In fact, one of our neighborhood teens found that out the hard way last week when he headed out onto Bass Lake on his sled. Conditions were very slushy resulting in a stalled snowmobile and one (very) angry dad. For the time being our opinion is that Bass Lake is too slushy to navigate on snowmobile or 4-wheeler but hopefully the cold temps will work to firm things up by the first of January.

Between the heavy snow and the frigid temperatures of the last 10 days our project had ground to a painful halt. With only outside work needing to be done and windchill temps around -30 our very frustrated contractor had to wait out the bad weather until he could get back to work this week. The duplex still sits without a roof and I’m sure it’s upper level is full of snow.  I say “I’m sure” because I refuse to walk down there and look things over. Avoidance has been the name of my game! I didn’t realize how much the lack of forward movement had been bothering me until I saw our contractor drive into the resort yesterday. It was a huge relief to anticipate that things will get back on track now. Aspen Lodge had the tin put on the roof yesterday even though the windchill was still -5! Both Aspen and Cedar Lodges are ready for windows to be installed and for the insulating to be completed now that both cabins are watertight. There aren’t many crane operators still at work this time of year but we finally found one out of Bemidji who plans to be here early next week to help our crew set trusses so Oak Lodge can be roofed. Things will start moving quickly again once that happens. I’m trying to remember that things happen as they should on God’s timeline and not my own. (But I’m waaaayyyy more comfortable with MY timeline. :))

We are happily anticipating the upcoming holiday season and look forward to celebrating Christmas with my side of the family at Wildwood this year. And after that?! We look forward to jumping on our sleds and hitting the trails. Winter is going to be hanging around for awhile – we might as well get out and enjoy it!

Kim & Jay