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Immerse Yourself in Northwoods Supper Club Traditions

For those who delight in regional culture, the Northwoods offers a bounty. Our hiking trails and paddling routes—with their mix of boreal forest, loon and eagle battles and dramatic weather are magnificent, but maybe not singular. The Northwoods supper club dining experience, however, is iconic.

Step Inside, and Back in Time

“What’s a supper club?” our guests often ask, intrigued by nostalgia that hovers around them. Each supper club exudes particular charms and personality, like a carefully curated antique mall booth. Taxidermy? Maybe. Mounted canoe? Perhaps. Stocked bar? Likely.  Expect to eat heartily. Expect to be patient—with the staff, and with the kitchen. With all that’s unpredictable, plan to settle into conversation and laugher with your loved ones.

Here’s a fun video to let you peek inside!

Supper Clubs Near Minocqua 

Each of these spots—between ten to fifty minutes drive from our property—offers good food and a distinctive ambiance.

Boathouse (Minocqua)
Norwood Pines (Minocqua)
Little Bohemia (Manitowish Waters)

Reservations are recommended during the summer, and often in the spring and fall too. How to dress, you ask? There’s never been a dress code that I could suss out. If you like to spiff up, this is your moment!

One hot tip: If you enjoy a cocktail, try one. My husband and I prefer a more alcohol-forward version of an old fashioned. If that’s you, may we suggest you ask for a Manhattan or a martini.

Craft Your Own Pickle Tray!

When we’re up north, we like to recreate the supper club experience and stay at home. With a little prep, we can whip up fresh lake fish or a Tomahawk cut of meat from nearby markets. We make our preferred version of an old fashioned. Then, there’s just the relish tray to conjure up. Some favorite recipes:

Traditional Lacto Fermented Dill Pickles, from Fermenting for Foodies
Garlicky Fermented Green Beans, from Fermenting for Foodies
Marinated Red Peppers, from Eugenia Bone’s book

Bonus: the kids have freedom to roam and play by the water.

Share Your Supper Club Tips!

Love to hear your favorite spots. And, if you’d like our thoughts on how to avoid a three-drink wait time, email stay@campkulisha.com!

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4 Ideas to Unwind and Recharge in Your Vacation Rental

If you’ve got your VRBO or your rental cabin secured, now you can daydream about filling your days. If you’re frazzled by parenting, your career, or the doomscroll on your phone, a retreat mindset might be just the thing to help you plan.

Eat Al Fresco

Complicated food is hard to transport outdoors. Just by deciding to eat outside, I find that I simplify meal prep. I’m a foodie, for better or worse, so I have a few go-to ideas to feel nourished and pampered. For proteins: seafood or fish packed in oil, hard boiled eggs, cheese, or summer sausage. For fresh veggies: carrots, peppers, cucumbers, jicima, and cherry tomatoes. For starch: crackers, and a loaf of bread.

Nap in the Afternoon

There’s satisfaction in accomplishing your to-do list, no doubt. I have hundreds of lists, and I won’t embarrass myself by sharing their titles. I stop noticing or celebrating the wins, though, if I don’t add rest to my agenda. At home, I’m getting better about a sleep routine that works for this stage of life. On vacation, I’m experimenting with naps. Here, there’s often a breeze off Lake Tomahawk—the perfect companion for a nap. I often take a book out to the hammock, to signal to the family to steer clear, and can snooze for 10 or 20 minutes. Once I shake off the half-dream, I’m a more playful family member. Those are the real gems of vacation, right? Being your happy, joyful self with the ones you love?

Try Gentle Movement 

I can’t empty my mind without movement. My thoughts leap and swing around on the mental jungle gym of tasks, responsibilities and worries. If I can move—whatever that means for me that day, I naturally vary my breathing patterns and, wham! I’m clear. In the Northwoods of Wisconsin,  that often means a paddle across the lake, a walk in the woods or a swim around our peninsula.

Find Nature’s Wisdom

I’m too squeamish to put frogs or bugs in a jar, but I love to gather beautiful seeds, rocks, and pinecones wherever I go. With age, I’ve learned to take only what I can use. More and more that means harvesting the simple metaphors on offer in the landscape or the weather. For instance, how fast a summer storm thunders in—it’s a great reminder that life circumstances will sometimes surprise me, bring on a deep chill, and then the sun will appear. Sometimes there will be a rainbow.

Share Your Ideas!

How do you reset? Vacation isn’t always right around the corner, so we need to slip in 5-minute tricks to keep ourselves regulated. Or, if you are wondering if we have something at our rental house to help you retreat, please email stay@campkulisha.com!

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3 Steps to Hunting Wild Mushrooms

In my teens, someone suggested I gather up hobbies that I could do when I was 80. It sounded odd, but it was delivered with such conviction, I tucked it away. Getting close to 50 with the usual signs of aging, I see how my mushroom passion will be one of these all-ages activities for me. So far, it has offered a creative cooking outlet, a ready excuse to be in the woods, and a way to meet people passionate about conservation and slow living. If you think hunting wild mushrooms might tap into a core part of how you envision a happy life, here are my suggestions on how to start:

 

    • Try it out with enthusiasts. My first attempt to find wild mushrooms was off putting. The local mycological gathering I joined felt competitive and anti-social. I didn’t go back. Then, someone I knew shared his weekend adventures in the woods with me. Most convincingly, he shared a portion of his mushroom bounty with me. His abundance became my week-long cooking project. That’s how my story unfolded, but I wouldn’t wait around for a chance meeting. I have been meaning to connect with the Wisconsin Mycological Society who organize events and host educational sessions.
    • Buy a field guide. Or, maybe three. I’ve found illustrated field guides super helpful.  Photography makes everything seem important. If you’re hoping to eat your foraged finds, then you need to be sure that you’re able to confidently distinguish the edible from the poisonous. Illustrations focus the eye on the features of the mushroom that make it safe to eat. Here’s one I use frequently, written by Larry Weber and Cora Mullen.

       

    • Find ways to deepen your experience. I’ve found chefs and foragers who post online. They lend me fresh energy with their finds and their enthusiasm. I follow Eugenia Bone because her cookbooks are consistently outstanding. She has one coming out about mushrooms. The Forager Chef is a favorite online resource; he just won a James Beard award, so there’s that.
Already an expert? Would you share your favorite mushroom resources?

 

P.S. If you thought this would be a blog post on the best Wisconsin Northwoods spots to find rare mushrooms, sorry! How can I give up all my harvest grounds? Even if I did, I’m not sure it would help you pick up the habit. The woods and the seasonal rhythms are half the joy. Maybe more important and satisfying than the bounty. Well, maybe not…
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Why Not Choose a Vacation Rental for Your Next Sabbatical?

Are you working on a book? Are you trying to synthesize your research? Are you working out your MVP? If you’re planning a creative, academic or business sabbatical, why not sit yourself down with a panoramic lakefront view? Incubating any idea is easier. Whether you join us in the Wisconsin Northwoods or head to another remote corner of the woods, you’ll get more done away from home. Why?

Shrug Off Chores

There are countless “shoulds” everywhere you look at home. Whether those things are relationships, gardens, or finances that need to be tended, most can wait till you get back. At the very least, only the most pressing chores will persist once you’re away.

Simplify Your Routine

Remote spots reduce the number of tantalizing activities you can consider any given day. It’s easier to feel satisfied when the choices are 1) take a lake dip, 2) watch the eagles dive for fish, or 3) stare at the stars. Most days, you can do all three! That leaves several reliable 2-hour blocks for deep work.

Spark Your Creativity

New environments surprise you. They force you to be present. When you’re out of your habitual daily habits, your mental habits have a way of loosening up too. Let novelty spark your creative mojo.

Free Up Heart Space

Home is full of memories. Fantastic ones can distract you. So can hard ones. Open up some space in your heart by shaking up your surroundings. Physical distance can give you new perspective. Enough said?

Reset Your Energy, Naturally

You already know this, but sometimes we forget: nature is a reset button. Go ahead and imagine the sounds of loons and the lapping water. Feel the crisp lake breeze as you paddle along the lake shore. Watch a summer storm tumble across your view. The places most of us live are far away from this kind of sensory immersion. Too far, some say. When you step into a stand of white pines, you can’t help but reset yourself.

When would you like to set down your urban or suburban pleasures and stay@campkulisha.com?

 

 

 

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Top 5 Things to Bring to Minocqua

What are the essentials in the Northwoods? I think each person who loves it “Up North” takes pleasure in having an opinion. Wherever your travels take you, I hope you’ll engage in some fruitful exchanges to expand on my list below.

A Boat

I hope you have a boat or can rent one while you’re here. I prefer to paddle for the quiet it offers. My childhood camp community sings many homespun songs. One titled “The Trail of the Little Canoe” includes the phrase “Dear are the lakes to me…” That might sound a tad trite if you haven’t yet spent a morning hugging the shoreline, but I don’t think it will be long before you’re a convert.

Sturdy Clothes & Shoes

The weather, like the lakes, is a thing up here. It must be minded and honored. If you like your vacation days spent outside, plan for layers that allow you to enjoy the sun and protected from a sudden cold rain. The sun part is intuitive, yes? As for cold rain, let me get a bit specific. A raincoat is better than an umbrella, and if you can, aim for synthetic or wool clothing to manage any cold or wet adventures. Finally, shoes. Do you have the kind of shoes that handle uneven and unpaved ground? I appreciate sandals I can wear into the water.

Biodegradable Personal Items

You’re closer to the earth here. Likely you’ll be in and out of lakes or rivers for many activities. Consider swapping anything you use in your hair, on your face, and on your body—lotion, sunscreen, bug spray—with a biodegradable option. Our lakes, fish and birds thank you!

Low Tech Games

Sometimes you want a way to stay connected to your loved ones without expending much energy or brain power. Colored pencils? A puzzle? We love the game Set and Mancala—both games that span the generations. We’ve aged into Scrabble, thanks to the online Wordle. Have you tried a Pokémon battle? I still need a lot of coaching, but I’m game for anything that isn’t on a screen!

An Intention to Reset 

Honestly, the stress dials down once you pass Wausau. Once you turn off the highway, the quiet and stillness rush in to fill up any empty space. Recalibration happens automatically. Why not take advantage of good conditions to deepen? The ritual of speaking your intentions aloud always motivates me & sometimes I get surprise support from those around me.

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Minocqua Area Summer Goals (for Kids)

As a former camp counselor, I appreciate the need to pace kids through focused activities and wild free time. Coming up with a bag of tricks that satisfies kids isn’t easy, especially if your vacation rental is in a new-to-you Northwoods location. Hopefully, our summer goal list will get your mind thrumming with fresh ideas. (And for adults, read the food activities list!)

Marvel at Water Skiing Tricks

Established in the 1950s, the Min-Aqua Bats ski show continues to be a central attraction in town several nights a week all summer long. You might want popcorn. You might eye the merch. You might get wet.  We always find the joy and mastery of the skiers to be contagious.

Meet Our Ojibwe Neighbors

A few years ago, we became enchanted by the Ojibwe exhibition in Madeline Island Museum. I loved the pictographs. Closer, in Lac du Flambeau, we’re aiming to spend a weekday at the Ojibwe museum. Based on our family flow right now, a Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl Pow Wow might be possible this summer.

Laugh at Snowshoe Baseball

What else is there to say but that? The absurdity of this sport is so fun and the pie is worth arriving early for.

Get On/In/Near the Water

Whether you like to swim, paddle, fish, sail or ski, there’s a pleasure for everyone on a Northwoods lake. We’re partial to the clean, deep water of Lake Tomahawk. Further away, we’re curious to try a paddle down the Flambeau River, and we’ll need someone who can rent us canoes and/or shuttle us with ours.

Travel to Dinner by Boat

Motoring over to a lakeside restaurants on the interconnected Lake Tomahawk-Lake Minocqua-Lake Kawaguesaga chain is a Northwoods pleasure. Our local is Lakeside. We might try for the new Oakfire downtown this summer.

Eat Ice Cream

We have never been sad to bike or drive over to Briqs. With super-sized portions, kids never feel cheated. I can get a “mini” and feel satiated.

Race Each Other!

We never tire of these go-cart tracks at Holiday Acres. We’ve never opted for horseback riding but you can do that too.

What’s On Your Cabin Wish List?

If you’re game, love to hear your Wisconsin Northwoods favorites on Instagram!

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Summer Goals: Food

Seasoned travelers at extended stay vacation rentals know to ask us, “Got any recommendations?” As I started to list out my summer goals to share with our guests, it was quickly clear that multiple posts would help me manage the length. Here’s my first with food-inspired activities.

Paddle, Float and Picnic 

We like to paddle canoes and we also like to stop and take in the sky and the air and the particular way the water moves in that moment. I pack picnics like any good camper—sturdy and hearty. Wisconsin cheese makers consistently win the top competitions, but often skimp on the marketing. Their humility is our gain—affordable and delicious. Depending on my errand routing, I stop at Wild Berry and The Cheese Board.

Hit the Farmer’s Market

Friday mornings just south of town at the Minocqua Welcome Center, you can find farm-to-cabin produce, flowers and meats. We get through the summer and winter with maple syrup from one of the vendors, Northwoods Maple Farm. They added an old fashioned mixer that I want to try this year!

Sun Dry Wild Mushrooms

I’ve learned so much about Wisconsin mushroom hunting!  In the living room library, you’ll find books on where to look and their identifying features. To make summer last a bit longer, I started dehydrating our harvest last summer. When I feel lonesome for the Northwoods, I grind some up into a powder and add to meatballs or hamburgers.

Order a Meal Kit

Sometime I crave urban pleasures in Minocqua. This meal kit company, Meez Meals, is based in our winter hamlet and offers national delivery. They offer generous portions and flexible subscription options.

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Migration

Protected marsh

The sound of sandhill cranes is unlike any bird sound I’d previously known. And ubiquitous enough in our little corner of the Wisconsin Northwoods that I got more than curious. I got focused. I needed help trusting that I was hearing birds in the marsh and not a distant construction site.  A friend suggested this site, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  You can find audio loops of the various sounds a sandhill crane makes, making identification on-the-go possible.

Last fall, I heard their unmistakeable call overhead. Nov 21, to be exact, I was gardening and thought I was having a dissociative moment. I knelt in the dirt, turned off my podcast and waited. I heard them again. The sky is only available in tetris-shaped sizes where I live in the suburbs. With patience,  though, I eventually saw dozens of birds overhead, trailing their honking sounds. Our little rectangle of land is under the migration path! I was flooded with the joys of the near-wilderness.

Spring is here in the organized and orderly way that suburban life offers. I’m thinking of the marsh waking up with all its sounds and smells. When I go outside, I keep one earbud dangling to see if I can bridge the distance between wild and tame.

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Spring brings change

The lake shook off the ice coat last week. Like that, a completely new palette appeared. Two weeks ago, ducks glided purposefully into the small spots of open water. Now, they are liberated. They dive into the water like torpedos. Are they starving this time of year? Mallards have always seemed lazy and slow. Idyllically perched in some small marsh water, moving achingly slow like Sunday strollers. What gives?

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Oysters mushrooms!

Oyster mushrooms gathered nearby

I harvested my first wild mushrooms of 2019. I’m geeked over the whole adventure—the confirmation with my mushroom guide, putting on my waders, opening my pocket knife, treading carefully across the fallen log… and then I cooked them for dinner.

I learned afterwards from an online source that wild mushrooms soaked in salted water will scare out the bugs. Next time!