A Cozy Creator Retreat in Waupaca, Wisconsin
- Samantha Buschman
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
If you were invited to a "creator retreat" with a bunch of women you have never met, would you go? It's so far out of my comfort zone, I almost said no. But I decided I need to start putting myself into more uncomfortable situations so I said yes and had the best time.
There’s something special about getting a group of creative women together in a cozy lake town for a few days; good conversations, great food, and a little space to recharge. That’s exactly what we did during a weekend creator retreat in Waupaca, a charming town known for its Chain O’ Lakes, small-town shops, and relaxed Northwoods feel.
Our home for the retreat was the beautiful Dryden Lodge, and it could not have been a more perfect setting. The lodge blends historic character with cozy, modern touches, making it feel both elevated and welcoming the moment you walk in. With spacious common areas, wood details, and plenty of natural light, it’s the the coziest spot and the perfect getaway.
Night One: Pizza, Wine & Vision Boards
After everyone arrived and settled in, we kicked off the retreat with a relaxed evening at the lodge. Dinner was simple and delicious: pizza and wine as we chit-chatted and got to know eachother better.
We created water bottle vision boards, courtesy of Shellady Udoni with United Country, Udoni & Salan Realty Group. Such a fun and creative activity where we decorated water bottles with stickers representing our goals, inspirations, and intentions for 2026. It was the perfect little activity to start the weekend.
Day Two: Yoga, Local Food & Downtown Waupaca
We started the morning with a peaceful yoga session at the lodge with Kika Schey Yoga. Easing into the day with movement and mindfulness - it was perfect! After yoga, we enjoyed a beautiful charcuterie-style breakfast board from The Gouda Life. The spread was filled with cheeses, fruit, pastries, and other delicious bites that were almost too pretty to eat.
After breakfast, Krysten Potega stopped by to give us a little insight on how to become a successful creator. She shared her experiences, answered the 1 million questions we had, and provided some great information on platforms, brand deals, and so much more. We learned so much!
Once we were ready to head out, we wandered into downtown Waupaca. Lunch was at Sulten Belly, where we filled the table with colorful salads, hearty sandwiches, and amazing mac and cheese.
Shopping & Candle Making
No girls’ weekend is complete without a little shopping, and downtown Waupaca has some truly charming local spots. A lot of businesses graciously gave us coupons to their shops and it was so appreciated!
We popped into:
Each shop had its own personality - from stylish clothing and accessories to beautiful home décor. It was the perfect way to spend a relaxed afternoon strolling through town. Of course, a coffee stop was necessary. We grabbed drinks at Java Jive, which gave us a much needed caffiene boost.
One of the most memorable stops of the weekend was making our own candles at Huck & Finn. During the workshop, we got to blend our own custom fragrances, choosing from a variety of seasonal and classic scents before pouring the wax into beautiful jars to take home. It was such a fun, hands-on activity and the perfect creative break during our weekend. Plus, now every time I light my candle, I get to be reminded of how great our weekend was.
Distillery Tour & Evening Drinks
In the afternoon, we headed over to Empty Barrel Distillery for drinks and a behind-the-scenes tour. It was fun learning more about their process while sipping delicious handcrafted cocktails. Then we popped into Grand National Lounge for another round of drinks before heading back to the lodge to get ready for dinner.
Dinner at Indian Crossing Casino
To wrap up the day, we headed to the historic and beautiful Indian Crossing Casino for dinner. Visit Waupaca hosted the dinner for us and everything was perfect. We sampled several small plates: charcuterie, potato leek soup, bruschetta flatbread, cheeseburger sliders, and a deep fried brownie ball for dessert. Between the incredible food, lake views, and great conversation, it was the perfect ending to a full day of exploring.
Unfortunately due to Wisconsin weather (Blizzard Elsa), we all headed home after dinner. It was so sad that our trip was cut short, but we made the best out of the time we had together. It was so fun getting to know like-minded ladies from all over the state of Wisconsin and I guarantee we will stay in contact for years to come.