Today was such a beautiful day! We spent the day on the lake with family and enjoyed every minute of it. Boat problems kept us from tubing but we still took the pontoon out and swam in the clean, clear water of Bass Lake.
It was a great night of fishing with Grandpa!
Fishing has been a little slow but most of our guests are finding enough fish to put in the fryer. We even had one generous group share their fresh catch at potluck last night! With temps hovering around 90 today I’m sure the bite will be a little better as the sun starts to go down.
One more thing before I close a very SHORT blog this week….we had a cancellation for the week of August 3rd to August 10th in White Pine Lodge. Looking for Summer Fun? Please call or email if you think you might be interested in booking our opening!
Kim & Jay
What would a blog post be without a potluck photo?!?!Not bad, I guess, for an Indiana boy. 😉
We love sitting down to a meal with everyone on potluck night!
We love summer! It’s so much fun to see our guests enjoy themselves on their summer vacation. We’ve all been enjoying beautiful days by the lake and gorgeous sunsets over the campfire. Potlucks on Monday nights bring everyone together and our children’s activities program entertain the kids twice weekly. It’s hard to believe that we are already at the half-way mark of our summer! But don’t worry…we’ve got lots of sunsets and sunny days to go before it’s back-to-school time.
3lb 3oz & 3lb 12oz largemouth bass RELEASED on 7-6-13
This was the amazing sunset after the July 2nd storm last year. Hope amid chaos!
This summer is our 15th year as owners of Wildwood Resort. It’s hard to believe that much time has passed since our first nerve-racking, name-memorizing summer of 1999! We knew that we would love our life here but had no idea that our amazing guests would be the greatest blessing of resort ownership. A year ago this week was the “Great Storm of 2012.” (You know it was a doozy if it gets it’s own name!) We are fortunate to be hosting all the same families that rode out that week with us last year. In the days that followed the storm we received a huge outpouring of support from our guests as well as our friends and family. The experience only proved that we are the luckiest two people on the planet to live out our days at Wildwood!
In this photo 25-year-Wildwood-veteran, Dale, demonstrates the appropriate pre-potluck behavior: claim a seat because introductions take some time and rest before inhalation of A LOT of excellent potluck food!
As I was pondering the amazing people we’ve come to know at the resort it occurred to me that we have learned many important life lessons from the veteran guests at Wildwood. Some lessons are simple and some are thought-provoking but probably the easiest lesson is about the vacation itself. These people are so good at vacationing in Minnesota that I think they qualify as professionals! They could do seminars on How to Enjoy a Minnesota Vacation! So in honor of the countless practitioners of quality Minnesota vacations I thought I’d share their secrets with you. Most who read this blog are already pros at the Wildwood vacation experience but you never know when you might pick up a thing or two from other savvy recreationists.
Immediately upon arrival allow the children to exit the vehicle and run like crazy people to the playground. After a few (or many!) travel hours anticipating “going to the cabin” it’s best to let them run free. Don’t even try to make them help you unload the car. The moments of peace you experience while unpacking in your cabin are often the first of the day. So while the kids rush to experience every single thing there is to do at the resort in the first 30 minutes just take a breath because you made it. You’re on vacation!
A lack of plug awareness led to this Bass Lake neighbor using his boat upside-down a few years ago!
If you bring your own boat you’ll want to check a couple of things prior to backing down our boat launch. Firstly, it’s best to use your boat with the plug in the in position. Lack of “plugness” has resulted in many unpleasantly frantic moments for guests as they hurry to get the boat back on the trailer before it fills with water. Also remember to remove the strap on the back of the trailer that holds the boat during transport. Removal of the strap facilitates removal of the boat from the boat trailer. Secondly, don’t be afraid to let Jay back your boat down the launch. For many boat owners backing up with the boat trailer behind the vehicle is tricky. It’s just not something most do often! To avoid the unfortunate and ill-advised “jack-knife” trailer position – just ask Jay to help. If you aren’t a regular boat-backer-upper then just swallow your pride and take his advice and you’ll be out on the water with the wind in your hair (or hat) before you know it!
The fruits of early morning fishing can be great as evidenced by this 4lb walleye!
Mornings on vacation are magic. Vacation mornings are not like work-day mornings in one very important way: you don’t have to go to work! Instead you should sleep until you wake (no pesky alarms), drink vast amounts of coffee on the deck in your pajamas and fry bacon with the windows open so the resort owners can enjoy your breakfast too. Consider applying sunscreen prior to putting on the most comfortable clothes you own. This is a must for the small ones who will spend the entire day fishing from the dock, swimming, catching minnows, riding bikes and digging holes on the beach. The only variation we see in this morning pattern relates to fishing. Early morning fishing is the only acceptable reason to set an alarm. In fact, early morning fishing is a GREAT reason to set an alarm. That way you can drink vast amounts of coffee on the boat (in your pajamas if you choose) while watching the sun peek up over the trees. The bacon thing still fits in just fine after a morning of fishing.
Northern Minnesota version of a hot tub!
During the warmest part of the day there are a few options open depending on your state of mind and idea of fun. My personal favorite is the option where you spend the entire day on the lake tubing or skiing behind your boat or just bobbing on a pontoon while you eat junk food. That version usually involves anchoring in a good swimming spot and jumping in for a refreshing swim.
Tubing on Bass Lake is so fun!
The non-boat version of that is just a fun, though. All you need to do is perfectly position your beach chair (in or out of the sun), slather on the sunscreen and then prepare to do absolutely nothing until something better comes along. Most people read or play with the kids until it’s time to take a little swim in the lake. Inflatable rafts are highly recommended for the perfect combination of hot-sun-cool-water relaxation. Notice that sun, fun, water and junk food are the universal elements here.
Napping isn’t the only way to relax in a beach chair. Reading is perfectly acceptable!
Behaviors of the most experienced MN vacation -ers would indicate that a mid-day nap is often advised. There is something about a good night’s sleep that requires a nap during the day. It’s an inexplicable element of vacations. Rest and relaxation are exhausting – let’s face it. So to keep up your stamina while on your family vacation we suggest a little shut-eye during the day. You can grab some Z’s on the boat, on the beach or in the shade of a well-placed tree. It can be done in a hammock if you have one or on the couch in your comfortable cabin. Naps for children are often a must but during vacation the adults can lay down with their kids or grandkids and snooze guilt-free. No lawns to mow or emails to return so go ahead…just close your eyes and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The campfire is a staple of the perfect Minnesota vacation
Meals should be kept simple. Paper plate meals are perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. Make use of the grill provided and share the meal prep among vacationers so no one gets crabby. Clean-up should never be done by the cook and all meals should be followed by something sweet. As dusk approaches consider lighting a campfire and eating copious amounts of chocolate on graham crackers accompanied by tiny amounts of marshmallow. (That’s how I do it!) Allow the kids to stuff as many marshmallows in their mouths as they want. Come on, it’s vacation! If you can find the coconut covered marshmallows they make an unbelievable s’more. As do fudge-striped cookies instead of graham crackers. It’s fine to skip bath time for the kids or a shower before bed. Marshmallow will wash out of the hair tomorrow while swimming in the lake and it’s wonderful to go to bed smelling of campfire….at least I think so.
Fishing at sunset
If you are of a mind to take a break in between supper and the campfire then a seasoned Wildwood guests would advise a little fishing as the sun sets. Jay and I often tell people that our lake is a dawn-and-dusk lake during the summer. So pack the bug spray and the tackle box and head out to look for some panfish or walleye. Keep your eye on the sun so you don’t miss the absolutely breathtaking sunsets we experience here on Bass Lake. There is nothing like casting into still, sunset-colored water at the end of a beautiful day to set your world right. It restores the soul – I’m serious!
Finally, we all know that no matter how wonderful vacation can be sometimes you might need a break from all the relatives. Or maybe a break from the summer sun. Or maybe you just need a little retail therapy. No matter the reason – our long-time guests recognize the value of taking some time away from the resort. Many bring golf clubs and spend a day at a local golf course. Rainy days are a great time to take in a matinee in town or to visit the Children’s Discovery Museum. And if laying around on vacation isn’t your idea of a fun time then you can find something to do every day you are here by taking in both natural and man-made area attractions. There are many historical and natural points of interest in and around Itasca County so feel free to spend your days exploring!
One of the many wonderful families who have enjoyed a Minnesota vacation at Wildwood. Family photos by the lake are a must!
I think the main element of a successful Minnesota vacation is to just take one! Life is busy and goes by quickly so probably the most important thing we have learned from our amazing guests is to just plan it. Make it a priority to start a tradition with your family or your friends (or both!) that involves unplugging from real life for awhile and recharging your batteries. Connect with the people in your life who make you happy and take time to absorb the beauty of God’s creation.
The beach: all dressed up and ready for guests to arrive!
We are so thankful that our summer season has finally arrived! The cabins are open, the sun is shining and the temperatures are warming so it really seems like we are ready for the Minnesota vacation season to begin. We have guests in and they are catching fish and relaxing on our beach. It’s nice to hear kids laughing on the playground and smell breakfast cooking outside in the morning. We have two potlucks under our belt and our kids’ activities program starts up again this week. Minnesota Summer Vacation has returned to Wildwood and life is good!
This 6lb smallmouth bass was caught and released on May 31, 2014!
Fishing on Bass Lake has been tricky with the late ice out. Lake temperatures and feeding patterns have followed along at the same rate as the ice out. Lake temperature now is hovering in the mid to upper 60s and the bite has finally turned on. We haven’t seen a lot of bluegill yet but we’ve seen nice walleye, big crappie, largemouth bass and lots of northern. We even saw a 6lb smallmouth caught and released!
A quick check of the Visit Grand Rapids area calendar shows lots of upcoming events to enjoy during your resort vacation in our area. Grand Rapids and the Itasca County area offer amazing opportunities for the arts, shopping, dining and relaxing! We are particularly happy about the great educational programs offered this summer at the Forest History Center and the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center. Feel free to check with us during your stay to find out more about things to do in our area.
McKayla is back again this year providing the kids with fun crafts and games during our twice weekly kid’s activities!
We still have a couple of July openings so if you haven’t planned your Minnesota family vacation yet please check out our availability calendar.
Have a great week!
Kim & Jay
Fish for supper!
Introductions during our weekly potluck14 oz sunfishGuess who caught the first walleye in the family!? This 4lb 4oz walleye was caught on 6/15/131lb 3oz black crappie
Life at a Minnesota resort: Earlier this week I thought I heard the sound of a lawnmower. I looked outside and saw Jay using the snow blower to move piles of snow out of his way. Half the yard needed a rake and the other half needed the snow blower. What a crazy spring!
During most of our years at Wildwood Jay has already gotten one or two sunburns by May 1st. He’s usually been outside 15 hours per day trying to get everything done at once. This year the poor man is trying not to lose his mind as he waits for the chance to start doing everything at once. He’s been accomplishing important business-y stuff that usually gets forgotten this time of year but that is of little consolation. As I write this post we still have snow piles around the resort and reports of 20+ inches of ice on the lake. The ice is pulling away from the shoreline but according to neighbors who’ve been out ice fishing (in May!!) there’s still lots of ice. Temps are forecasted to be in the 70s after the weekend so we’ll see if that’s enough spring to get the ice off the lake. If not, this will be the first Opener in our time at Wildwood that we didn’t have ice-out before Opening Day.
Here is my annual spring cleaning photo. I’m always amazed at the mess we have to make in order to clean up!
With the ground frozen and snow piled up around the cabins we haven’t been able to do much of our spring preparations. I’ve been spring cleaning the year round cabins but our seasonal cabins are sitting waiting for the ground to thaw enough to turn the water on. Our docks aren’t going anywhere either. I suggested to Jay that he push the docks out on the ice and then just leave them wherever they sank this year. He wasn’t too keen on that idea. 😉 Spring is always a tricky time for us with a small window of opportunity to get LOTS of work done. This year we’ll have even less time to get ready than normal. I’m sure the cabins will be ready and the docks will (mostly) be in but I have a feeling we’ll still be raking up the yard in June!
Instead of “Where’s Waldo?” let’s play “Where’s the fox family?” Can you see mama fox and one of her babies peeking out of their den?
While we’ve been lamenting the lack of warm weather I have to say that spring has been sneaking up on us. It’s evident in the nest of our next-door neighbors, the eagles, who have a baby to feed and it’s evident in the den of a fox family living just off of our driveway. The young kits like to roll down the hill below their den just like our kids do on the hill in front of Riverbirch Lodge. Some of the hosta around the resort are poking their heads above ground even though the snow hasn’t melted all around them and I heard some Loon calling earlier this week. It’s even raining this morning – not snow but real live, liquid rain that doesn’t pile up and require shoveling. Wow!
That’s my pep talk for the week. Let’s all keep our heads up and looking for signs of spring. In a few short weeks we’ll all be in our summer clothes slathering on sunscreen!
Kim & Jay
P.S. Another sign of spring – there are lots of great things going on in the Grand Rapids, MN area! The calendar of events on the Visit Grand Rapids website is already full of events, performances and festivals. It’s a great place to check out all there is to see and do during your vacation up north.
Can’t quite put those hydrobikes in the lake yet!Most of the snow that remains is where Mother Nature or the plow truck made big piles!Just last week the snow pile was too big to use these steps off the deck. This is progress!The Itasca County Sheriff’s Department puts the channel markers in Bass Lake each spring. The Department literally has 1,000+ hazard buoys and channel markers to put in area lakes. The resort community aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of a late ice out. Once we have open water be careful on area lakes – it will take awhile for the Sheriff’s Department to mark hazards this season.
Fishing in Minnesota is a pillar of the tourism economy in our state and beautiful water is the focal point for most Minnesota family vacations! Good stewardship by all who enjoy Minnesota lakes ensures clean water and good fishing for generations to come. This is a letter that we will be sending out to our guests prior to their arrival this summer. We hope to encourage everyone who fishes or recreates on Minnesota water to think of ways they can prevent the spread of invasive species.
Look at those faces! They are the reason that we act to protect our waters and our fisheries.
Dear Wildwood Guest:
You may or may not be aware of recent news identifying one of our local lakes as the latest casualty in the zebra mussel story. Larvae was found in a popular fishing lake this year and while there is no reason to panic over that news it certainly ratchets up the heat on preventing the spread of invasive species in Itasca County.
Preventing the spread of invasive species comes down to taking personal responsibility for our actions as they relate to boat ownership. Jay and I take the threat of invasive species very seriously and we sincerely hope our guests hold Wildwood Resort and Bass Lake in enough esteem to do the same. Here are some points of information and suggestions that we’d like to share with you. Most come directly from the DNR Fisheries Area Manager, Chris Kavanaugh. Chris is a supporter of resorts and understands the issues that face our industry. He is also (obviously) a big supporter of fishing in Minnesota and allowing public access to our lakes and rivers.
Be Informed! If you intend to fish area lakes while on a visit to Wildwood Resort or if you just like to lake-hop around your home area make sure you have identified the lakes that are already infested. The 2013 Fishing Regulations includes a list of infested lakes and the DNR keeps an updated list on their website at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html. Chris advises that if you are going to fish more than one lake on any given day and one of those lakes has an identified invasive species then perhaps visit the infested lake last. That way your boat has time to dry out overnight before you would put it in another water body.
Be Conscientious! Practicing good “boat hygiene” is similar to practicing good personal hygiene. We are careful about washing our hands after coming in contact with infectious substances or handling dirty items. We should strictly follow a similar regimen when leaving a water body to make sure we aren’t spreading invasive species to any other lakes. We all know the obvious requirements such as emptying live wells and bilge water when leaving a lake. However, Chris has some practical suggestions that may take a few more minutes when loading your boat but could save our lakes from future infestation:
1) Exchange water on your bait. If you are leaving a water body and you empty your minnow bucket of lake water then with what do you replace it? Chris suggests carrying a cooler of water from home in your vehicle. Empty the bait bucket of lake water and then submerge the bait in the cooler of water you brought along. Repeat the process at each lake you visit. You could also carry jugs of water from home to pour into the bait buckets if you don’t want to keep a cooler of water on your vehicle for that purpose. Note that any water brought from home should be stored in your vehicle – not in your boat!
2) Once your boat is on the trailer, position your motor to best drain the water. Experiment to see what position allows the most water to drain. Then turn your motor on and off a couple of times to kick out any lake water left in the motor’s water pump.
3) If possible, move your boat to an incline that will allow both boat and trailer to drain while you finish strapping down the boat for transport.
4) Inspect the rollers and/or the bunks on your trailer to make sure no plant or other material is caught in the rollers. If possible, inspect them before you finish cranking the boat all the way into position on the trailer.
5) Before fishing season begins inspect your trailer to see if you can modify any areas that might trap lake water. Consider drilling holes or removing caps on hollow tubing to allow water to drain completely.
6) Remember that Minnesota state law requires you to drain the live well, bilge and bait buckets before leaving a water body. And you must travel with the plug out of your boat in Minnesota! Claiming ignorance of the rule will not prevent a fine so make sure you pull the plug even if you are only a short distance from a public access to your destination. Visit the DNR site at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/invasives/q_and_a_drain_plug_law_20110609.pdf for details about transporting your boat in Minnesota.
Minnesota walleye
Be Responsible! If you love fishing and value our lakes and rivers practice good “boat hygiene.” Proof of an invasive species is not a reason to avoid fishing infested water. You simply must take personal responsibility for making sure that when you leave the water body you aren’t carrying the invasive with you to another lake. It’s up to each of us as individuals to stop the spread of invasives and to preserve the quality of our lakes.
We look forward to welcoming you to Wildwood this year and wish you great Minnesota fishing this season!
I don’t suppose I’ve ever told you that I hate this time of year?! It’s the only time I hate living here. I don’t mind the mosquitoes in the summer or -40 temps in the winter. However, I can’t stand the end of March when we start our freeze/thaw cycle. This year we’ve gotten a lot of snow. It has made snowmobiling a ton of fun but it has caused the great flood at Wildwood this year. Friday afternoon we had an emergency session of ice chipping around one of the new cabins. All the snow melt was running down teh sidewalk and into the cabin so we chipped ice, shoveled snow, dug trenches and sandbagged until we finally got the water diverted. Unfortunately, we are slow learners because it didn’t occur to us that the very same thing would happen (but much worse) the next day! Late Saturday afternoon Katie and her friend came running up to the house to report that Cabin 2 was flooded. We threw on our boots and headed down to the lake and found Cabin 2 in need of a BIG life ring. The cabin sits off the ground but not by much and the water level was just starting to inch above the bottom of the siding. All I could think about was Jay’s new bathroom and how our life would suck if he had to rip it out and start over this spring!
We recently returned from a wonderful family vacation. We spent some time on the white sand beaches of the Mexican Riviera and it was wonderful! This year we went back to a resort we have visited previously and it was so interesting to have that “returning guest” mind frame that so many of our guests have when they return to Wildwood. We knew stuff about where we were going. For instance, we knew that the coconut ice cream is to die for. And we knew that on the nights when there is a chocolate fountain AND coconut ice cream we would go back to our rooms with the trifecta of sugar high, indigestion and chocolate stains on our clothes! We snorkeled and swam in the ocean but mostly just laid on chair by the beach for 6 days. We rested and spent time with our family and caught up on our reading and had guacamole with every meal. It was heavenly! There have been so many years that we just slugged on through our year with no vacation. It’s hard to recharge your batteries when you are always running on empty! Even though we came back to 12 inches of snow and subzero temperatures I can tell that my reserves are full and I’m ready for another season. I hope you are planning a life “time out” this year. If you are Jay and I would love to have you spend your family vacation with us at Wildwood Resort. Just think about it. 😉
As I mentioned we came home to lots of snow. The snowmobile trail conditions right now were the best they had been all year! We have NEVER had good snow conditions for snowmobiling this late in March. In fact, snow conditions are just now deteriorating this week. We rode for the last time on Tuesday and it was wonderful but also obvious that the snow was melting. While the snowmobilers are happy the ice fishermen are not! Deep snow with slush on the bottom have made ice fishing by truck or 4-wheeler impossible on Bass Lake. We are telling our guests to not even try if they aren’t traveling out by snowmobile! Conditions
Hey all – just a quick note to those of you who live in or around the Twin Cities. I’ll be at the NW Sports Show later today and most of tomorrow in the Visit Grand Rapids booth. If you hit the show be sure to stop by and say hello!
We’re flocked with snow again after yesterday’s snow. It’s so beautiful!
We just got another beautiful Minnesota snowfall. Looks like close to 8 inches at our house and once again the trees are flocked and roads are snow-covered. Lots of people around town were disgusted by the snow since it had gotten so warm last week. However, I see the snow as a sign of the coming spring! March snow is as much a part of the summer cycle as the first sunburn on pasty white skin. Not as painful, of course, but part of if just the same. Even last year during our no-snow winter we got a March storm big enough to go snowmobiling. So I say “Bring it on, Mother Nature!” Get it on and get it over with so people can come North!
Even our water toys get a rest in the summer. Our hydrobikes are sheltered while they wait for open water!
Jay and I have a spring vacation planned. We are looking forward to getting a rest and spending quality family time! We haven’t always planned a spring vacation. In fact, for most of our 14 years at Wildwood we haven’t taken any vacation at all. But last year we called a halt to that crazy behavior because we all need a timeout. First of all, we need something to look forward to. Nothing is more depressing than facing another year of nose-to-the-grindstone months. We planned our coming vacation in December and we have been talking about it and dreaming of it ever since. I’m not even dreading the coming summer season where we work from May to October without a day off. I KNOW that when we return to real life after our vacation that I’m going to be ready to spring clean those cabins. Taking a Life Timeout does that for a person. I read something in a book once that I’ve quoted many times over: we pour ourselves out into others but if we never refill our own pitchers then we have nothing left to give. I think that’s what a family vacation does for a body. We’re so tied to our devices and our schedules that it almost feels like the sky will fall if we aren’t plugging away in our little corner of life all the time. However, I know for a fact that isn’t true! We CAN shut off our phones and leave the house or leave the country and just enjoy our kids and our spouses.
These could be your kids having fun on vacation!
We can unplug and unwind and the sky won’t fall, Chicken Little! So that’s our plan: unplug, unwind and rest. And when we get back from our Life Timeout we’re going to be ready to work hard to get the resort ready to welcome you! Because this summer is your time to unplug, unwind and rest. Do some fishing, lay on our beach and eat s’mores by a fire while you watch the sun set over Bass Lake. Ah….doesn’t that sound like something to look forward to? Won’t that refill your pitcher?! You don’t have to stay at Wildwood Resort this summer…there are LOTS of Minnesota family resorts that are amazing and fun and relaxing. Just pick one. Do something for your family today. Do something that doesn’t involve running kids around town or planning supper! Plan a stay at a family resort in Minnesota and get ready for fun. The snow can’t last forever but memories last a lifetime.
Can’t you smell it?! Bring on the marshmellows!A nice man from a nearby ice house “loaned” us his fish for a photo op
Fishing on Bass Lake has been pretty darn slow this last week. We had guests in last weekend who really had to work for their fresh fish supper! The girls and I had never gone ice fishing so on Sunday we decided to find out for ourselves whether or not the fish were biting. Guess what!? They weren’t! However, it was a GORGEOUS 30 degrees and partly sunny so I didn’t care that we didn’t catch fish. It was relaxing just sitting there on our 5 gallon buckets talking with friends and watching the Vexlar. It was amazing to me that it was just as relaxing as sitting in a boat fishing on open water. I was wishing we’d driven a truck out to the spot so I could crawl in the back and take a little snooze. (That’s what I usually do when we fish in the summer!) Ice fishing in Minnesota is a cool experience. There was a sense of commradery out there that I didn’t expect.
Jay getting the girls all set up
In the summer you’ll hear fishermen growl when another boat comes too close and drops anchor to fish. It’s a breach of fishing etiquette to encroach on another boat’s personal space while fishing on open water. However, on the ice it seemed that there were no rules about how close you were to other fishermen. People would just drive up to the spot and start punching holes with their ice augers. (Assuming they were able to start their ice augers…our friend, Bob, couldn’t get his running!) One couple pulled up in their pickup and the husband got out, punched a hole right outside the passenger door of the truck and his wife sat in the truck and just fished from her seat. She didn’t even get out of the truck! That cracked me up!! I bet when she got nice and relaxed she just layed back on the seat of their truck an snoozed in the weak winter sun. We had a blast even if we didn’t catch a fish. Now Jay is scouring Craig’s List for an ice auger, a portable ice shack and a Vexlar.
Jay had some trouble sticking on his seat so he spent some time rolling around in the snow!
Thank God he found something new to search for! He bought a plow truck in January and without plow trucks to obsess over he’s been a little lost. Search on, dear husband. I need a portable shack conducive to catnaps out on the ice!
In late February we took a weekend off and went to the North Shore for a snowmobile weekend. We had a blast! I was surprised that the trails on the north shore where we were looked very much like the trails around Itasca County. The trails we rode were all be inland and for some reason I had expected to be riding more along Lake Superior so we could enjoy the view. However, that sounds like criticism and I don’t mean it that way. We had a wonderful time and visited very cool places like The Trestle Inn and Gooseberry Falls. We stayed at the very wonderful Cove Point Lodge in Beaver Bay, MN and ate great food at places like The Rustic Inn just north of Two Harbors. (The homemade pie at The Rustic Inn is worth a trip to the North Shore all by itself!!) We rode, laughed, ate too much and generally got to enjoy what our guests enjoy when staying at Wildwood for their Minnesota snowmobile weekends. I’d never seen Gooseberry Falls before. We were literally standing on the falls which was so cool. We even saw some crazy guy climbing the ice flow. Crazy but cool!
Soon it our time for recreation will come to an end so we’re busy planning our spring projects and purchases and that always makes us excited for another season. It will be here before we know it! Enjoy this last little taste of winter and if you haven’t done so already, plan a little family time for the coming summer. Even Chicken Little learned that the sky won’t fall and he was, well….a chicken!
Kim & Jay
P.S. Do you follow us on Facebook? LikeWildwood Resort on Facebook and you’ll have the chance to see lots of photos and sometimes a few videos of life at Wildwood Resort!
The picnic tables are kinda buried right now! But in a few short months they’ll be back in action for our weekly potlucks.The moon rising over Lake Superior
MN family resort vacation season must be just around the corner since the sun is making it’s way north! Soon it will be setting directly in front of the resort again.
I took this photo earlier this week when I drove into the resort one evening. It’s probably just a pretty sunset to you but to us it represents the promise of a coming spring! That fact is hard to believe when the temps outside are into the teens below zero. However, just a few short weeks ago the sun was setting so far to our south that we wouldn’t see it set at all in the afternoon. Now it has moved back in our direction just enough for us to see the sun from the resort as it sinks behind the trees.
The snow sliding off the roof of the play set made a curly cue ice sculpture that held on even through some strong winds early this week!
That was one of the many things that struck me as amazing when we first moved north. The sun travels an amazing distance in the sky during the year! That is probably a “duh” observation for those of you who are stargazers. It certainly wasn’t always so obvious to me but now it has become the way I mark the time in anticipation of the Minnesota family vacation season! In June on the longest day of the year I will stand on our beach facing west and the sun will set behind Elm Point well to our north. In December on the shortest day of the year I might stand on the beach (depending on how cold it is!) and the sun will set so far to the south that I couldn’t see it even if I stood out in the cold to watch the sun set. For some reason that phenomenon just blows my mind. It’s amazing that in June it won’t be dark outside until after 11:00 p.m. and in December it’s already dark by 4:30! Anyway, I told you all that so that you would understand the JOY I felt when I could actually see the sun setting over Riverbirch Lodge. It might be a frosty 9 degrees outside tonight with 2 feet of snow on the ground but I know that the days are getting longer. That means soon enough we’ll cast off this blanket of winter and layer on some sunscreen. Who’s with me?!
We spent much of President’s Weekend on area snowmobile trails!
President’s Weekend was a nice long weekend at home with the girls. We did some snowmobiling with friends but not a lot else! Snow conditions are still really good for snowmobiling but the deep snow on the lake makes driving trucks or ATVs on Bass Lake a challenge. We are recommending that our guests travel out to ice fish by snowmobile from Wildwood or head around to the public access off of Pincherry Road to drive out. Someone plowed a road again this year from the access to the favored fishing hole on the south basin. Jay was out with friends over the weekend and they caught very nice sunfish!
Jay and friends caught nice sunnies on the lake last weekend
I’m sure there’s a name for this Ski-doo two-seater but I just call it “Cool!!” The photo doesn’t show it well but they had an infant car seat strapped into this buggy!We love snowmobiling with friends!
