Minnesota Ice Fishing at Wildwood Resort

February 19th, 2012
Minnesota snowmobiling

Our only day out on our snowmobiles this season was a beautiful one!

Hello everyone!  I feel like I’ve been away a long time.  I certainly haven’t blogged in the last few months as I intended mostly because this winter has not turned out as expected.  I really thought I would be posting weekly MN snowmobiling reports but that’s what I get for thinking!  Our snowfall has been skimpy and, as a result, snow conditions around us have been poor.  In fact the Bushwacker Snowmobile Trail that runs just south of the resort was never groomed this year.  Not enough snow!  (Boo Hiss!!)  However, we did manage to get in one good ride.  At the end of January we trailered up to our friends house on North Star Lake and snowmobiled from there.  They had about 8 more inches of snow than we did!  It was a long day – we rode as long as we possibly could – and we saw trail conditions from good to terrible.  But still – we can say we rode and that means a lot during a winter like this one.

minnesota ice fishing

What a beautiful fish! Photo courtesy of some of our wonderful ice fishing guests.

While snowmobiling options have been limited this year the ice fishing opportunities abound!  Low snow means that the lake is very accessible by vehicle so we’ve seen everything from mini-vans to Gators out there!  (For some reason mini-vans out on the ice crack me up.)   Early accounts reported the sunfish in the shallows since the lack of snow means the vegetation didn’t die off as it normally does.  However, fishermen in this weekend caught their sunnies in 18 feet of water.  Overall fishing has been good and our ice fishermen this season have generally caught their limits.  Jay has dumped a steady amount of fish guts every weekend that we’ve had guests.  It keeps him out of trouble!

We are really looking forward to the summer season already!  This time of year it’s really fun to answer the phone and talk about Minnesota family vacations.  Makes me think of summer days on our sandy beach even though I’m looking out the window on a winter scene.  I’m ready for s’mores by the fire, potlucks on Monday nights, fun works-of-art created during our kids’ activities and checking in and catching up with our guests.  Our summer has booked up nicely but there are still some prime summer weeks open.  If you haven’t planned your summer vacation at this point we would love for you to consider a visit to Wildwood!

I say “Bring on Summer!”  Until next time…

Kim (& Jay, of course)

Wildwood Resort ice fishing

What a cool photo of a bluegill in the "tube." Again - photo courtesy of guests.

Winter in the Northwoods

December 24th, 2011
winter vacations at wildwood resort

A white Christmas after all!

Merry Christmas everyone!

We woke yesterday to some snow so our it’s finally looking like Chrismtas around here.  We are still hopeful for more snow but now that the holiday is here the snow might as well hold off until everyoone finishes their traveling!

Life at Wildwood is full of blessings for us.  However, the greatest blessings of all are those of you who have come into our lives because of the resort!  We wish each of you a magical Christmas and a blessed New Year!  We hope to see you in 2012!

winter vacation at wildwood resort

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Kim, Jay, Karlee & Katie

Minnesota Snowmobiling, Cross-Country Skiing & Winter Vacations at Wildwood Resort

November 12th, 2011
Minnesota winter resort

Looking north from the beach - looks strange without the docks in the lake!

Life at Wildwood has been pretty quiet these last few weeks.  Jay got the docks out of the lake the first week of November and the shoreline looks very lonely now!  We were tempting the snow fates again this year by waiting until November to get the docks out but, fortunately, he got a nice day for the last chore of the year.  So now the cabins are buttoned up, the boats are put to bed and the docks are stowed for the winter.  It feels good to be ready for winter and we have been taking it pretty easy for the last week or so.  It’s the first real break we’ve gotten since April and we (hardly) feel guilty about not accomplishing much last week.

We have missed out on the snow that southern Minnesota and Iowa has gotten lately.  We hope this is not indicative of how our winter will go!  Doesn’t it just figure that we sit up north wanting feet of snow and you southerners can’t get out from under it.  Oh well, we have appreciated the very decent weather through October and November since it makes shutting down the resort so much easier.  We did get some snow one night last week and it made us really happy!  We are dreaming of hitting the snomobile trails and we’re hoping for early snow like last year.  We were on our sleds on the trails before Christmas last year and would LOVE to get the same chance this year.

Minnesota winter resort

Docks everywhere on the road to Cabin 4!

However, we do need some ice on the lake this year before it snows since last year’s ice conditions were poor all winter due to heavy snow before we had good ice on area lakes.  Oh, the things I’ve learned in our decade here!  My high school guidance counselor never talked to me about dumping fish guts, non-stop cabin cleaning and monitoring ice conditions as possible career choices!!  ;)

We are busy putting together our winter newsletter and just finished compiling the fishing contest results.  We saw a lot of big bluegill last year!  Lots of folks had fish big enough to win the contest in years past but this year one big, old fish won that category.  We saw fewer northern and walleye entered in the contest than in past years which is odd since the walleye fishing this year was better than it has been in any recent year in memory.  Overall it was another great Minnesota fishing year at Wildwood.  Watch the mail for our newsletter to find out who our contest winners are for 2011!

MN x-skiing at Wildwood Resort

Minnesota x-ski trails, beautiful scenery and warm accommodations at Wildwood Resort

Do you enjoy cross-country skiing in the winter?  We have a number of excellent x-skiing trails located very near Wildwood.  All are well-groomed and some are lighted as well.  Visit us at for more information on a cross-country skiing weekend at Wildwood!  Ski rentals are available at Itasca Trail Sports and you can check x-ski trail reports on the Visit Grand Rapids website.  Don’t forget to purchase your Minnesota Ski Pass before hitting the trails this winter.

Maybe a Minnesota snowmobiling weekend is more your speed?  Fortunately we can accommodate that as well!  We enjoy direct access to the county-wide snowmobile trail system which offers riders hundreds of miles of scenic & well-groomed trails to explore.  Snowmobile rentals are available at Rapids Rental in Grand Rapids, MN and at The Shop in Bigfork, MN.  For more information on a snowmobile weekend at Wildwood please visit our website at:  http://wildwoodresort.net/winter_snowmobiling.html.

This Veteran’s Weekend we would like to add our thanks to the multitude of those grateful for the men and women who have served bravely in the past or who serve with honor today in our country’s military.  We owe our freedom and eternal gratitude to you and your families!

Let it Snow!

Kim & Jay

MN snowmobile weekend at Wildwood Resort

Minnesota snowmobiling weekends at Wildwood Resort

Minnesota Winter Resort

Looking south at our shoreline the docks are noticebly absent!

Minnesota family resorts

We store the docks around Cabin 4 in the winter

The Snowmobiles Are Out of Storage!

October 21st, 2011

This past week we (well, ok it was mostly Jay) got to work on the never-ending job of buttoning up the resort for the winter. He cleaned out the shed to make room for the pontoons and fishing boats. And because of the change of season the snowmobiles got moved out of the storage shed and into the garage. I bet Jay sat on them in the garage for awhile making “Zoom! Zoom!” noises.  In recent weeks we have found ourselves really anticipating the Minnesota snowmobile season. For the past few winters we have had the pleasure of snowmobiling every Thursday with our friends. It makes the winter go so quickly when we have something to look forward to. Our weekly outings mean that we usually have first-hand accounts of trail conditions.  This winter we plan to use our Blog to provide updates on snowmobile trail conditions in Itasca County.  Bring on the white stuff! (after we get docks out…)

minnesota resort

Jay manages to pack the shed pretty tight!

After making room in the shed for the pontoons we started the arduous task of stowing the boats. You would think that after 13 years we would have it down to a science but, apparently, we forget “how we did it last year” and have to re-learn where everything goes each fall. The day was really windy and raining so it was a *PERFECT* day to pull the boats out of the lake. We had the first boat on the trailer and were getting ready to pull it from the lake when Jay made a speedy exit from behind the boat.  Apparently a muskrat had made a nest in the bottom of the boat and when Jay went around the backside of the pontoon to hold it in place on the trailer the muskrat was sitting on the battery looking at him. You’ll be relieved to know that he didn’t scream like a girl or anything. ;) We cleaned out the muskrat nest and maneuvered the pontoon into place in the shed before remembering that the reason we don’t use a 24 foot pontoon trailer is because it’s too long to get it out from under the pontoon once the boat is in place. Hmmmmm….not good. Remind me again: How many years have we been doing this? Anyway, we finally got the trailer out of the shed and back into the lake to pull out the second pontoon.

resorting in Minnesota

Muskrats make a big mess!

We got the pontoon out of the lake just fine but halfway up the driveway that muskrat jumped up out of the back of the boat and ran off! (I’m left with the impression that muskrats aren’t too smart.) Apparently when his first home was removed from the lake he decided that our other pontoon was a good place for the next one.  Once the varmints were out of the way we were able to get all the boats put away. I have to say that Jay does an pretty incredible job of packing our shed as full as he can get it. I don’t know if you can tell from the pictures (below) or not but there are mere inches between all those boats. Pretty amazing! The docks will stay in the lake for a couple more weeks yet. We like to wait until it is good and cold out before we start that job. Where is the challenge in pulling docks in 70 degrees and sunshine??!

walleye stocking in bass lake, grand rapids mn

The DNR stocks walleye fingerlings every other year. This year the Bass Lake Association supplemented the DNR stocking program with extra fingerlings.

Earlier in the month we got some footage of the DNR stocking Bass Lake with walleye fingerlings.  They do that every other year and this year the Bass Lake Association raised funds to supplement the DNR’s stocking with additional fingerlings.  We plan to supplement even more walleye the next time (2013) the DNR stocks our lake.  There are some great videos of the whole process on the Bass Lake Association’s Facebook page.

There are lots of great things going on in our area in the coming weeks. The Reif Center has its usual variety of incredible performances including the Cab Caloway Ochestra, The Phantom of the Opera and Paula Poundstone performing for Bambi on the Hood XI. Visit their website at http://reifcenter.org for a list of performances. November marks the start of Bazaar season in our area. Every weekend there are craft sales and church bazaars. However, the largest weekend is the weekend of Firearm Deer Season Opener (Nov. 5th) when 100s of vendors display wares in area-wide craft sales.

As we slowly get Wildwood ready for winter we are getting more and more excited for the next change of season.  We live in an incredibly beautiful place and appreciate getting to make our life at Wildwood – muskrats and all.  Enjoy these last days of autumn…winter (and snowmobiling) is on the way!

Kim & Jay

minnesota resorts

It was a "little" windy the day we decided to take boats out!

minnesota resort

Jay manages to pack the shed pretty tight!

minnesota family resorts

NOW we remember why we don't use a 24' pontoon trailer!!

Minnesota boat rentals

Jay is pretty good at that! (Don't tell him I said so...compliments go straight to his head!)

Minnesota family resort

Doesn't seem like enough room, does it?

minnesota resort

Yep! There's room.

Minnesota family resorts

Ok - last pontoon going on the trailer.

Minnesota resort

The shed is 'almost' full. Only about 100 more things to stick in there.

minnesota resorting

With the addition of another pontoon I'm afraid one of them has to stay outside for the winter. Looks like an old covered wagon!

Minnesota Fall Colors at Their Best!

October 8th, 2011
MN fall color tours at wildwood resort

Fall colors on Bass Lake

When we started this blog I was concerned that I would lose track of time and forget to post.  It only took me 2 months to do it!  I’m afraid that September knocked me flat.    The change from our summer rhythm to our fall groove is never very graceful.  Off season means that our guests come and go every day so we’re cleaning cabins and mowing almost every day while the cabin is empty.   Add to that a new school routine that includes a bedtime (what is that?!), homework and back-to-work for me (at my part-time job) and I can safely say that I’m glad September is behind us.

The truly incredible things about September were the weather and the fall colors!  We are just now past peak colors and I think this is the latest we’ve seen in our 13 seasons at Wildwood.  The beauty of the fall colors set against the green pines is simply breathtaking.  We’ve also had such beautiful weather to go with it that now we are spoiled.  We should have been getting more outside work done these last few weeks.  Pulling docks out while it’s sleeting isn’t very fun!

fall color tours, minnesota cabin

Riverbirch Lodge decked out in beautiful fall colors!

Thursday night marked the first night that we have spent alone at the resort since early May.  Our crazy life is one of such extremes!  We left the house that night for supper and didn’t have to let anyone know or put a sign on the door.  It felt strange but also liberating.  :)   I have been working hard to get all of the resort bedding washed before Jay shuts down the resort laundry room this weekend.  Two extra washers and dryers makes the chore go so much faster!  I think he plans to drain the water lines in the four seasonal cabins this weekend, too.  That is always such a chore!  He has to drain the water heaters and empty the toilets then he hooks up his big air compressor and blows out the water lines to each cabin.  It takes him several days to get it done to his satisfaction but that extra work has always paid off since he hasn’t had a broken water line in all these years!  (better find some wood to knock on…)  The pine needles have fallen as well so while he lets his compressor run he usually is on the mower mulching or raking up the leaves and needles.  I’ll put the seasonal cabins to bed by bagging up the clean laundry, cleaning the kitchens and stowing all of the outside stuff.  It always feels so strange to close them up for the winter but I’m glad when the chore is done.  I think the plan is to pull out the docks on MEA weekend so I’ll post some video of that on Facebook after we do it.  It’s quite a process.

Minnesota quilting retreats, MN scrapbooking weekends, MN girlfriend getaways

Minnesota Quilting Retreats at Widlwood Resort

Did you receive the email we sent out this week?  In the summer we use it to advertise discounted and/or split weeks as well as special offers.  This month we are offering our Winter Rate of $35/night/person to anyone who mentions our blog (or the email) while booking.  October is a great time to plan a girlfriend getaway, scrapbooking weekend or quilting retreat!  We can help arrange appointments in town for massage or spa treatments, massages in your cabin, or discounted tickets to the Reif Center. (http://reifcenter.org/)  Minimum occupancy and/or 2 night minimum are required in conjunction with our Winter Rates.  You can sign up to receive our emails on our website at http://wildwoodresort.net/emailsignup.htm

Enjoy these last days of Autumn!

Kim & Jay

largemouth bass fishing, minnesota fall fishing

Fall Fishing in Minnesota at its Best!

mn fall fishing, largemouth bass fishing

Nice largemouth bass!

Peace and Quiet – Minnesota Fall Get-Aways

September 9th, 2011
Minnesota fall get-aways

A gorgeous day for a sail on Bass Lake!

I will be forever amazed I think by the change in the energy at our resort after Labor Day.  Although there are still kids here the place feels so quiet!  Maybe it’s just that the pace of our resort life changes so Jay and I notice it more than anyone else would but…wow!  It’s is SO peaceful this time of year.  Our guests this week are enjoying some incredible September weather.  Warm and sunny with perfect blue sky and gorgeous sunsets.  Some leaves are already starting to turn – it seems like fall color season is just around the corner.

Minnesota pontoon rentals

The newest addition to the fleet - 2001 Bennington with 40 ph 4stroke Evinrude

Our big excitement recently (beside school starting) was the purchase of a new pontoon.  We bought a gently-used 2001 Bennington pontoon with a 40 hp 4-stroke Evinrude motor.  The set-up is exactly the same as our 2004 pontoon which makes it a perfect fishing pontoon as well as cruising pontoon.  The new pontoon has already been reserved for a few weeks in 2012 but if you have an interest please send us an email (stay@wildwoodresort.net) or call 1-888-328-5858 to check availability for next summer.  We will be getting it added to our Rates page on the website soon!

There are some neat things to do in area during the month of September.  First of all, the Children’s Discovery Museum is still open Monday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Wildwood has a resort membership to the CDM and our guests can visit for free.  Coming up this weekend:  the MN Street Rod Association Fall Campout hosted by the Northern Cruisers Car Club; the 5th Annual Bigfork Valley Challenge including a 1/2 marathon, 4.5 mile run and 3 mile walk; the Bigfork Valley Community Foundation Hoedown Fundraiser, 5:30p @ Marcell Family Center including dinner and dancing to music by the Miltich-LaPlant Folk Ensemble, silent and live auctions; and Enduro Stock Car Races @ Grand Rapids Speedway, Itasca County Fairgrounds.  For more information on these and upcoming events in our area please check out this Community Calendar.

Here’s another great potluck recipe that a one of our guests just sent me.  Enjoy!
Cashew Chicken Pasta Salad
• 3 cups bow tie (farfalle) pasta
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle bottled coleslaw dressing (I use Rudolph’s)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
• 4 cups cubed cooked chicken (I usually use a rotisserie chicken)
• 1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes, halved (I slice)
• 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes, halved (I slice)
• 2 cups thinly sliced celery
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 2 cups cashew halves
• 1 cups dried cranberries
Directions:  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente; drain, and set aside.
2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together coleslaw dressing, mayonnaise, and Miracle Whip. In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, green grapes, red grapes, celery, and green onions. Stir in dressing, and mix well. Place the salad in the refrigerator to marinate for 2 hours, or overnight. Mix in cashews and dried cranberries just before serving. Serve cold.

We hope your plans in the coming weeks include the very best of fall:  fall fishing, fall color tours and a relaxing fall get-away with us at Wildwood Resort!

Kim & Jay

Hello, Fall!

September 3rd, 2011

I know this is a terrible photo taken through the screen on our livingroom window but it was so cute I just had to post it. K. helping her Daddy clean the grills.

I guess that summer really is going to come to an end.  It goes too fast!!  (I’d like to register that as an official complaint!)  However, with that being said it really is time to get on with the year.  Our girls go back to school next week and they are ready.  Supplies are purchased, new clothes are washed and teachers have been introduced so bring on a new school year!

My parents went back to Big Red country this week and we miss their company.  Before they left we were discussing the fact that they were leaving soon and Katie said, “But who will take care of us?!”  Although we all laughed she does have a point.  Grandma and Grandpa support us through our busy summer and make sure we all eat regular (and delicious) meals, have clean clothes to wear and Grandpa ALWAYS has time to go fishing or for a bike ride.  We love them, miss them and appreciate them.  THANK YOU, MOM AND DAD!!

minnesota sunset, minnesota resort vacation

Another beautiful night on Bass Lake!

The fishing has been up and down in these last few weeks.  Seems like everyone has fish to fry for supper but we’re not seeing too many entries in the fishing contest.  We continue to hear about big sunnies as well as a few walleye and northern.  The weather this time of year generally doesn’t help.  This week we’ve had everything from 80 degrees and sunny to thunderstorms and 60 degrees.  The sunsets have been fantastic, though!!!

minnesota snowmobile trip, snowmobile resort, minnesota snowmobiling; grand rapids snowmobiling

Soon we will be cruising over the lake on a snowmobile instead of a pontoon. Are you ready???

Jay and I have both taken calls in the last week for winter stays.  It is funny how we get so out of practice!  We could hardly remember ANYTHING about winter….too much summer on our minds.  The reverse is true during the winter – I can’t seem to remember my summer “self” when all we’ve talked about is Minnesota snowmobile trips!  Although I hate to see summer end it is fun to think of the coming winter.  We love our snowmobiles and we’re so lucky to have such a great snowmobile trail system in Itasca County.  I’m sure I will be blogging this winter about our snow adventures and I’ll give you our version of a snowmobile trail report.  I’m including a winter picture just to get us all in the mood for the white stuff.  (Did it work??)

That’s it for now.  I hope all of you have a great holiday weekend.

Kim & Jay

Minnesota Family Vacation at its Finest!

August 26th, 2011
kids' activities minnesota resort

The Kid's lineup for Kids vs. Adults baseball game

The weather as I write the blog is so gorgeous!  I love these late summer days when we wear shorts in the afternoon and sweatshirts and jeans by the fire at night.  We’ve had some rain and wind in the last week but, fortunately, nothing damaging.  The worst outcome of the latest storm was that one of our kayaks has gone missing.  We are hoping to get a call from a neighbor letting us know it washed up on their shore.

We finished our last potluck of the year on Monday night.  It is always a bittersweet night for us.  Frankly, we are SICK of goulash, however, the last potluck signals that our summer season really is coming to an end and that makes us a bit sad.  We miss our guests when the season is over!   Don’t worry, though.  We finished on a high note – there was a lot of good food and a couple of recipes that must be shared!  (I promised to get the recipes on the blog!)  Here they are:

 

minnesota family resorts

Ready for the last potluck of the season!

Glee’s Hot Chicken Salad
2 lb chicken, cooked & diced
2 C. celery, diced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can sliced water chestnuts
3/4 C. salad dressing
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
3 T. chicken broth
potato chips
Mix salad dressing with chicken soup and chicken broth then add all other ingredients.  Put in greased 9×13 pan, sprinkle with crushed potato chips and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Peanut Butter Brownie Bars
1 box brownie mix for 9×13 pan
1 can chocolate frosting (or buy brownie mix with frosting packet)
1 C peanut butter
1 C. powdered sugar
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups miniatures
Make brownies according to box instructions.  Mix peanut butter, powdered sugar (add a little water as needed) and spread on brownies.  Frost with chocolate frosting.  Arrange Peanut Butter Cups on top.

minnesota fall fishing trip, fall cabin, Minnesota fall colors

Wildwood Resort is a perfect destination for fall color tours

All these thoughts of the end of summer bring to mind the obvious…fall!  With Autumn just around the corner I wonder if you have given any thought to a fall getaway?  Itasca County is an incredibly beautiful place to plan a fall colors weekend or a fall fishing trip.  Our off-season rates are very reasonable at more than 40% off of summer rates.  Now that’s a deal!  Best of all you can unplug and unwind in one of our beautiful cabins overlooking Bass Lake.  Don’t fish?  That’s ok…there are lots of other fun reasons to visit us in the off-season that have nothing to do with baiting a hook:  team-building weekends, church planning retreats, girls getaway weekends, scrapbooking weekends, and quilting retreats to name a few!  Why don’t you think about it and give us a call.  We would love to see you (again) this year.

Kim & Jay

minnesota family vacation cabins

2nd and 3rd generation Wildwood guests

 

minnesota family vacations

The Dane family

mn family vacations at Wildwood Resort

The referees for the kids vs. adults baseball game

mn quilting retreats, minnesota scrapbooking cabins

Plan your next scrapbooking weekend or quilting retreat with us!

The Last Hurrah

August 18th, 2011
Minnesota cabins have fire rings

We love the smell of a campfire!

Don’t you love the smell of a campfire?  It’s one of my favorite scents and always reminds me of summer vacation at Wildwood.  The days the nights are getting cooler now so campfires this time of year feel as good as they smell!

kids fishing for sunnies

Seriously cute kids with big sunnies!

We seem to be coming out of a slow fishing period.  For the last several weeks we’ve not had too many entries in our fishing contest.  The hot, sunny days of late July and early August seemed to put a damper on fishing (or more appropriately the “catching”).  However, this week we are encouraged to see BIG sunnies in the fish house and to hear stories of the big bass being caught along the lily pads.  We even have cute kid photos to back up the fish tales.

Katie & her first trophy

The Itasca County Fair is going on this weekend.  Karlee, Katie and I took in the sights and sound this afternoon and had a good time.  We ate junk food, played around in the kiddie barn with the puppies and rode some rides.  Katie even got a trophy for her 2nd place finish in the tractor-pull.  (She’s so proud!)  As I talked with the friends we ran into it seemed like all of us are having a hard time believing that we are looking at school starting in a couple of weeks.  Where did the time go?  Regardless of the looming fall Jay & I are determined to enjoy our families during these last few weeks of summer.  So here’s to the last hurrah – we’re going to treasure our s’mores and sunscreen before we have to give in to school supplies and schedules!  We hope you can do the same…

Kim & Jay

MN family fishing vacations

Big sunnies caught by little cuties. (and their dad)

MN panfishing on Bass Lake

Love that proud smile!

largemouth bass

My dad caught this nice bass last night!

MN panfishing with kids

FIVE entries in the fishing contest equals bragging rights!

Hello, August! Late Summer Family Vacations at Wildwood Resort

August 5th, 2011
family vacation at Wildwood Resort

We enjoyed a visit this week with my family!

Normally when I talk about family vacations at our resort I’m talking about other peoples’ families.  This week, however, I’m talking about my family as well!  My sisters joined us this last week for 6 wonderful days tubing on Bass Lake, stuffing our faces with our favorite recipes (mmmm….homemade ice cream!) and lots of talking.  (Jay often feels the need to go to his “quiet place” during visits with my family.)  We had lots of fun tubing on Big Mable – especially when Mom and Dad took a turn.  Our girls have such a good time being spoiled by their aunties!!  Our thanks to my parents and sisters for a wonderful week…it’s never long enough!

minnesota walleye fishing

John enjoyed a break from the Iowa heat and good fishing this week!

The weather has been pretty perfect again.  Our Iowa guests are enjoying a little break from the heat down south!  We had a BIG rain last Monday night but, fortunately, not much wind.  We got over 2 inches of rain in a short period of time so Jay had to fix the boat ramp and drag the road to remove ruts but other than that all was okay.  At one point looking out the windows of the house it looked like we were in a car wash!  Why can’t the rain come in gentle 1/2 inches soakers?!  Oh well, we needed the rain and hopefully some of it soaked in during that pounding.  All of our native gardens look so beautiful right now!  There are so many plants blooming in each bed that I can’t identify all of them.  When they look like this I can definitely say they were worth each back-aching minute it took to plant them.

Minnesota wildflowers against a Bass Lake Sunset

Wildflowers against a backdrop of Bass Lake Sunset

This weekend is Tall Timber Days in Grand Rapids and the White Oak Rendevous in Deer River.  Both are jam-packed community celebrations that are fun for the whole family!

kids playing on our sandy Minnesota beach

Same name, same age, same adorable smile

We still have a few openings toward the end of August.  Just enough time to sneak in a visit to Wildwood before back-to-school.  White Pine Lodge is open August 13th and August 20th.  Book either opening for the week for $1700.  That’s a savings of almost $800!  Cabin 2 is also open for a partial week from August 20th to August 25th.  Book Cabin 2 and receive our off-season rate of $899.  These offers are good on new reservations only.  Please be sure to mention these specials when you call to book your One-Last-Getaway-Before-Summer-Ends Vacation at Wildwood Resort!

Enjoy these beautiful summer days!

Kim & Jay

 

minnesota family vacations

We had to dodge raindrops during potluck this week

minnesota resort vacation

Introductions!

MN family resort vacation

Waiting their turn for potluck!

water-skiing on Bass Lake

Water skiing on Bass Lake