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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: Country Chic Boutique The Revival Boutique Northern Home Wanderlust Scents Lucky Tree 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.

Wisconsin knows cheese — and 2026 is packed with festivals that prove it . From iconic small-town celebrations and summer curd fests to world-class cheese competitions and industry expos, this list rounds up every major cheese festival happening in Wisconsin in 2026. Whether you’re planning a road trip or just looking for your next excuse to eat more cheese, consider this your ultimate guide to a very cheesy year. Beer and Cheese Fest | Madison | January 17, 2026 The first cheese-filled Wisconsin festival is Beer and Cheese Fest  in Madison. This festival has been around for 15 YEARS! General admission tickets cost $74 (unless you snag the early bird price!) and get you unlimited beer and cheese samples. There is a V.I.P. option for a more elusive experience. Make sure you have sober driver to take you home! Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival | Kenosha | April 18, 2026 The Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival is a fundraiser that was created for the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. There will be live music, beer, and lots of cheese. Tickets are $55 online ahead of time or $60 at the door! Between the Bluffs | La Crosse | April 25, 2026 The Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine and Cheese festival in La Crosse is one you should not miss. I attended this festival a few years ago and it was so much fun! Ample amount of vendors serving up craft beer along with cheese samples to fill your stomach. General admission is $60 -- be one of the first 500 to purchase and save $5! Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival | Little Chute | June 5-7, 2026 Little Chute holds a yearly festival called CheeseFest - Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival . Activities include amusement rides, food booths, live music, a cheese curd eating contest, a cheese curd catching contest, and more. There's an entire weekend of fun to be had! Beer, Bacon, and Cheese | New Glarus | June 13, 2026 This festival is one of the most well known in Wisconsin. Check out Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival  in New Glarus for all of your cheesey desires. The festival has several beer and seltzer vendors along with cheese vendors. There is a parade, live music, and tons of fun. Tickets for this one sell quick! Cheese Curd Festival | Ellsworth | June 26-27, 2026 Some may refer to Ellsworth as the Cheese Curd Capital of the state. Ellsworth Creamery puts on an annual Cheese Curd Festival  where vendors create cheese-curd centered dishes like cheese curd tacos, cheese curd ice cream sundaes, and more. There is live music, a car show, shopping, and games for the kids! Cheese Capital Festival | Plymouth | June 26-27, 2026 The Cheese Capital Festival  in Plymouth, Wisconsin is always a hit! The festival consists of a parade, live music, cheese eating contest, foam cheese race, and more. There are dozens of activities for children and TONS of cheese to eat! Colby Cheese Days | Colby | July 17-19, 2026 In a town that shares a name with cheese, would you expect anything less? Colby Cheese Days features a lively carnival, parade, 5k/10k race, car show, peddle tractor pulls, street dances, and free Colby cheese! Sign me up. Blair Cheese Festival | Blair | September 24-27, 2026 Located in Trempealeau County, Blair Cheese Festival boasts a weekend of fun! Catch  a truck and tractor pull, run in the 5k, meander through the car show, and stay for the variety show performed by the local schools. Green County Cheese Days | Monroe | September 18-20, 2026 Green County Cheese Days is a long-running festival celebrating cheese, Swiss traditions, yodeling, copper kettle cheesemaking, cheese foods, and parades. This festival happens every other year, so make sure not to miss it! Drink Wisconsinbly Curd Fest | Milwaukee | October 2026 (exact date not announced yet) The date for Curd Fest has not yet been announced, but this event is put on at Drink Wisconsinbly Pub in Milwaukee, right outside of the Fiserv Forum. Expect to see several cheese vendors, live music, signature cocktails, and more.

Las Vegas is known as a party city - bright lights, gambling, live shows, music, and lots of alcohol. I have spent my fair share of time on the Las Vegas Strip and my favorite: Fremont Street. I love Vegas BUT as a solo female RV-er, hanging out at bars and casinos by myself did not seem like the safest option. I also don't think my dog would have enjoyed spending all of that time alone. So instead, I opted to find a handful of things for us to do within 3-hours from the city of Las Vegas. Buckle up for these places to visit within 3 hours of Las Vegas! Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is the closest Vegas activity - approximately 25 minutes west of the city. We actually spent an entire week boondocking on one of the canyon roads - absolutely beautiful! There are several hiking trails to take advantage of as well as rock climbing, OHV trails, mountain biking, and a scenic drive if you're more of a "look don't explore" type of person. This is a great day-trip option if you want to get away from The Strip for a bit! Valley of the Fire State Park Valley of the Fire State Park has been one of my favorite places so far on our trip. It is located approximately 45 minutes north east of Las Vegas. National parks frustrate me because of their dog regulations, so I tend to explore state parks whenever possible. The hiking here is outrageous - so much to see! The red sandstone formations are so picturesque. I could have spent multiple days just exploring. There is a $10 entrance fee ($15 if you are not from NV) but I promise it is worth it. Lake Mead National Recreation Area Lake Mead is approximately 30 minutes east of Las Vegas. We actually disperse camped right on the water after our trip to Valley of Fire. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the largest in the United States! And man is it pretty. Our night was absolutely wonderful - we even heard some wild donkeys in the distance (yes, that's a real thing). The following morning, we hiked a whole bunch before heading out. Gorgeous, gorgeous area with so much to offer. Zion National Park A little further of a drive (2 hours but absolutely worth it) is Zion National Park . This National Park quickly made it's way to being one of my favorites. I only did two short hikes but the views were breathtaking from every angle. I did not hike the infamous "Narrows" because that would have meant leaving Kona in the RV for far too long. Depending on when you visit the park, you may have to use their shuttle service. Because we came during off-season, we were able to drive through ourselves and I think that made for a better experience. I would love to come back here some day and explore even more. Red Cliffs National Recreation Area Before you hit Zion National Park, make a stop at Red Cliffs National Recreation Area in southwest Utah. The recreation area is home to over 130 miles of designated hiking and biking trails. Kona and I went bright and early for a hike but ended up staying there all day. We went on a second hike in the afternoon before leaving - it is just that good! They also have several mountain biking trails and equestrian trails available for public use.

If you're looking for the best food adventure in southern Wisconsin this winter, the Green County Cheese Passport  is the perfect place to start. Green County —often called Swiss-consin —is known for world-class cheese, historic creameries, charming small towns, and some of the most iconic cheese curds in Wisconsin. The Cheese Passport is free, fully digital, and rewards visitors for exploring local cheese shops, wineries, breweries, distilleries, pubs, and restaurants across Monroe, New Glarus, Brodhead, and surrounding communities. You earn points every time you check in, which can be redeemed for cheese-themed prizes or saved for the grand prize drawing. The passport is valid December 21, 2025 until February 15, 2026. If you’re planning a trip to Green County or searching for unique winter things to do in Wisconsin, this passport is a fun and delicious way to explore the region. Below is a detailed guide to the passport itself plus all the cheese-forward dishes I tried along the way. What Is the Green County Cheese Passport? The Green County Cheese Passport is a digital pass that highlights dozens of local businesses and cheese experiences. Visitors earn points by checking in at participating locations. Those points can be turned into rewards like cheese merch, fondue kits, cheese knives, or even actual cheese. It’s also one of the best ways to support local businesses while discovering new places to eat and drink throughout Green County. Green County Wisconsin: What I Ate With the Cheese Passport Below are the exact stops I visited, organized in numerical order, with highlights from each experience. If you're building your own Green County food itinerary, this list is a great place to start. 1. Wood-Fired Flatbread— Bailey’s Run Vineyard (New Glarus, WI) A must-stop for winery lovers, Bailey’s Run Vineyard serves wood-fired pizza with bubbling cheese, blistered crust, and the perfect Wisconsin-meets-wine-country atmosphere. Easily one of the top food experiences in New Glarus. 2. Deep-Fried Cheese Curds — Whiskey Run Distillery (New Glarus, WI) Searching for some tasty cheese curds in Wisconsin? Whiskey Run Distillery serves golden, crunchy curds that are perfectly squeaky on the inside. Pair them with a craft cocktail for the full experience. 3. Grilled Cheese — Spilled Grapes Wine Bar (Monroe, WI) Spilled Grapes Wine Bar offers a gourmet grilled cheese that melts perfectly into a glass of red or white. It’s a warm, relaxing stop for anyone exploring Monroe’s downtown square. 4. Deep-Fried Cheese Curds — Bennett’s Junction House (Monroe, WI) At Bennett's Junction House , you will find a classic Wisconsin bar-style curd: crunchy, generous, and deeply satisfying. This is an essential Monroe curd stop for any cheese passport adventure. 5. Pizza — Petrosino’s (New Glarus, WI) Petrosino’s is a local favorite for hearty, cheesy pizzas that hit the spot after a day of exploring New Glarus. Expect big slices, big flavor, and plenty of gooey melty goodness. 6. Grilled Cheese — Decatur Dairy (Brodhead, WI) Decatur Dairy is a legendary Wisconsin dairy producing award-winning cheese. Their grilled cheese is simple, perfectly toasted, and packed with local flavor. A must-stop for cheese lovers and dairy enthusiasts. 7. Cheeseburger — Suisse Haus (Monroe, WI) The Suisse Haus , a Monroe staple, serves one of the region’s best cheeseburgers — juicy, flavorful, and topped with fresh Wisconsin cheese. Great for families, groups, or anyone craving classic comfort food. 8. Fondue Supplies & Equipment — Alp and Dell Cheese Store (Monroe, WI) Instead of eating fondue, this stop is all about stocking up on Swiss-style essentials. Alp and Dell is one of Green County’s most iconic cheese shops and the perfect place to buy fondue pots, tools, Raclette equipment, and specialty cheeses. 9. Fondue — Chalet Landhaus (New Glarus, WI) For a traditional Swiss fondue experience, Chalet Landhaus is unmatched. Warm, melty cheese served in a cozy chalet setting makes this one of the best winter dining experiences in New Glarus. 10. Chili with Cheese — Baumgartner’s Cheese Store (Monroe, WI) Baumgartner’s is a Green County icon, famous for its Limburger sandwiches — but their chili topped with local cheese is underrated and absolutely worth the stop. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect on a cold Wisconsin day. Why You Should Try the Green County Cheese Passport If you love discovering local restaurants, tasting new cheese, and exploring charming small towns, the Green County Cheese Passport is the perfect winter adventure. It’s family-friendly, road-trip-friendly, and gives you dozens of reasons to visit Monroe, New Glarus, Brodhead, and surrounding communities. Top reasons to try the Cheese Passport: It’s free and easy to use You support locally owned Wisconsin businesses You earn rewards for eating cheese - the grand prize is an overnight stay + fondue dinner for two and a custom cheese board with cheese! It makes planning a weekend or day trip simple The food is incredible everywhere you go Whether you’re a foodie, a Wisconsin traveler, or just here for the cheese curds, this passport turns Green County into a must-visit winter destination.

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I wrote a blog about Milwaukee area breakfast sandwiches! I've got a round up of your next 5 - hopefully a part 5 coming soon! Batter & Mac - Menomonee Falls (CLOSED) I think we all know by now that I LOVE a bacon, egg, and cheese combo. This sandwich from Batter & Mac is served on the flakiest, most delectable croissant, giving it a little extra flare. You'll be coming back for a second before you finish the first. Hen's Deli - Bay View I ordered this bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich at Hen's Deli on an everything bagel to switch things up. This is the first time I've gotten a breakfast sandwich that used hardboiled eggs. Honestly, I didn't love it, even though I love hard boiled eggs. Ally's Powerhouse Cafe - Wauwatosa This one surprised me - there was an ample amount of scrambled eggs on the sandwich and the bacon was cooked perfectly. Ally's Powerhouse Cafe knows what they're doing. You get options for the vessel so I went with the English muffin this time. Overall? Delish. Coffeeville Co. - Brookfield & Jackson I had been eyeing up this sandwich at Coffeeville Co. for awhile and it did not disappoint. Their "Farmers" sandwich is served on a brioche bun with eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, and roasted tomatoes. It came with a side of ranch. I loved the uniqueness; it was so tasty! The Bread Pedalers - West Allis The sandwich from The Bread Pedalers is simply egg and cheese with an option to add their bacon jam. Of course I added the bacon jam - it was so good! I chose their asiago bagel for this sandwich and I will stand by that decision also; perfection.

If you're new here, I set out on a mission last year to find the best breakfast sandwich in the Milwaukee area. I love a bacon, egg, and cheese sammy and made it my goal to find the most delicious one I could. After several months of "testing" and writing blog posts with 5 sandwiches each, I have combined them all into one list WITH a Google Map . Shout out to my friend Julia of That Wisconsin Couple for the idea and help with creating this. They have a few free digital downloads on their website that you should definitely check out - including a dog friendly map ! If you want to download the Breakfast Sandwiches map to save for later, visit my shop ! *there are a few sandwiches on the map that are not linked to a blog because they are not in the Milwaukee area. Allie Boy's Ally's Powerhouse Café Avenue Coffeehouse Backroads Coffee Batter & Mac (closed) Beauty and the Bean Beerline Café Better Together Café Blue Collar Coffee Blum Coffee Bistro on the Glen Bruegger's Bagels Burnett Dairy Charleston Cafe Coffeeville Co. Corner Bakery Café Fiddleheads Gather Bakehouse Gotham Bagels Grace Coffee Company Hawthorne Coffee Roasters Hen's Deli La Finca Latitude Café Merriment Social Miss Molly's Café Mud Creek Coffee Ney's Premium Meats North Ave Grill Nosh Nook O&H Danish Bakery Roast Coffee Company Rocket Baby Bakery Ruby's Bagels Stone Creek Coffee The Bread Pedalers The City Market Café Urban Fuel Coffee Station West Allis Cheese & Sausage

The time has come! I have created a Google Map with ALLLL of the Wisconsin Cheese Curds I have eaten over the last few years. There are 240+ listings! Each listing on the map includes restaurant name, website, price, sauce type, and photo (if I could find one). The listing also includes ratings for breading, cheese, sauce, and an overall score. The map will continue to be updated as I devour more curds across the state. Make sure to download it so you have it in your pocket the next time you're looking for some melty cheese! Click here to visit the shop - it is only $3! Go ahead and download the breakfast sandwich one while you're at it. Happy eating!

Earlier this month, Mike and I headed to Wisconsin Dells for the Fall Tap Takeover hosted by Dells On Tap — a two-day fall craft beer festival that was the perfect way to spend a weekend. Day 1: Craft Beer Walk Friday night brought the Craft Beer Walk downtown. From 5 to 9 pm, we wandered through a handful of bars, tasting 4-ounce pours at each spot. The Craft Beer Walk ticket gave us a tasting mug and a map, which made hopping between places easy. There were also food specials and tap deals to go along — a really fun way to visit multiple downtown bars in Wisconsin Dells. The shuttle was a great perk - it made it simple to travel in between destinations. Day 2: Fall Tap Takeover Saturday was the beer festival — the Fall Tap Takeover , held at the Wisconsin Dells festival grounds just off La Crosse Street. There were more than 65 breweries represented, pouring a huge variety of beers. We took advantage of the VIP tickets so we got early access starting around 11:30am, a special tasting mug, a pretzel necklace, and a food voucher. Once inside the tent, the atmosphere was energetic: rows of brewery booths, many with their brew-masters present, ready to chat about process, ingredients, and Wisconsin beer culture. There were food trucks, live music, and even a beard and mustache competition (which was very entertaining). Pro Tips: Get tickets early , especially if you want the combo (walk + takeover). Bring ID  — you’ll need it for sampling. Dress in layers  — fall evenings in the Dells can be cool. Designate a ride  — lots of beer, and you’ll want to enjoy without stressing. Talk to brewers  — they have great stories and insight! Explore downtown  — Friday’s walk gives a good excuse to hit local bars you may not have visited before. If you like craft beer and don’t mind walking, this weekend in the Dells is such a fun getaway. Perfect mix of brewery discovery, local flavor, and laid-back fall fest energy. Tickets are on sale for 2026 -- if you buy the combo to attend both events, you get a discount! Where we stayed The Vue The Vue - a boutique hotel right on the river. It was perfect for walking to both the downtown bars and the festival grounds. The views were gorgeous, and the restaurant inside ( The Boathouse ) was even part of the Craft Beer Walk! Other activities Wisconsin Deer Park If you’re exploring Wisconsin Dells and looking for something a little different, the Wisconsin Deer Park is a standout stop. I used to visit frequently when I was a kid, but Mike had never been. He loved it even as an adult. Once in the park, you’re free to wander along scenic paths through its wooded grounds where over 100 tame deer roam freely—does, bucks, fawns—and you’re encouraged to feed and pet them. They are adorable and it is such a fun experience. Just a note: the park runs seasonally (mid-April through late October) and the feed for the deer is an extra purchase. Timbavati Wildlife Park If you’re looking for a hands-on, family-friendly adventure in Wisconsin Dells, Timbavati Wildlife Park is a must. This was my first time here and I will absolutely be back. Walking through the 25-acre park, you can get up close to giraffes, kangaroos, and even rhinos, and the Safari Train ride makes it feel like a real little expedition. There’s something magical about hand-feeding a giraffe or watching flamingos wander nearby—it’s the kind of place where humans of all ages can really connect with the animals. The park has a relaxed, playful vibe that makes it easy to spend a few hours just exploring, taking photos, and soaking in the wildlife all around you.

This post went over so well in 2024, I knew I needed to repeat in 2025. Below is the complete list of Cheese Festivals happening throughout Wisconsin in 2025. The list may be updated as new events are added. Beer, Cheese, and Beyond Festival | Madison | January 18, 2025 The first cheese-filled Wisconsin festival is Beer and Cheese Fest  in Madison. This festival has been around for 14 YEARS! General admission tickets cost $60 and get you unlimited beer and cheese samples. There is a V.I.P. option for a more elusive experience. Make sure you have sober driver to take you home! Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival | Kenosha | April 13, 2025 The Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival is a fundraiser that was created for the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. There will be live music, beer, and lots of cheese. Tickets are $55 online ahead of time or $60 at the door! Between the Bluffs | La Crosse | April 26, 2025 The Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine and Cheese festival in La Crosse is one you should not miss. I attended this festival a few years ago and it was so much fun! Ample amount of vendors serving up craft beer along with cheese samples to fill your stomach. Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival | Little Chute | June 6-8, 2025 Little Chute holds a yearly festival called the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival . Activities include amusement rides, food booths, live music, a cheese curd eating contest, a cheese curd catching contest, and more. There's an entire weekend of fun to be had! Beer, Bacon, and Cheese | New Glarus | June 14, 2025 This festival is one of the most well known in Wisconsin. Check out Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival  in New Glarus for all of your cheesey desires. The festival has several beer and seltzer vendors along with cheese vendors. There is a parade, live music, and tons of fun. Tickets for this one sell quick! Cheese Curd Festival | Ellsworth | June 27-28, 2025 Some may refer to Ellsworth as the Cheese Curd Capital of the state. Ellsworth Creamery puts on an annual Cheese Curd Festival  where vendors create cheese-curd centered dishes like cheese curd tacos, cheese curd ice cream sundaes, and more. There is live music, a car show, shopping, and games for the kids! Cheese Capital Festival | Plymouth | June 27-28, 2025 The Cheese Capital Festival  in Plymouth, Wisconsin is always a hit! The festival consists of a parade, live music, cheese eating contest, foam cheese race, and more. There are dozens of activities for children and TONS of cheese to eat! Colby Cheese Days | Colby | July 18-20, 2025 In a town that shares a name with cheese, would you expect anything less? Colby Cheese Days features a lively carnival, parade, 5k/10k race, car show, peddle tractor pulls, street dances, and free Colby cheese! Sign me up. Blair Cheese Festival | Blair | September 18-21, 2025 Located in Trempealeau County, Blair Cheese Festival boasts a weekend of fun! Catch  a truck and tractor pull, run in the 5k, meander through the car show, and stay for the variety show performed by the local schools. Art of Cheese | Madison | September 25-28, 2025 The Art of Cheese festival around Wisconsin's capital in Madison showcases artisan cheeses throughout the state. This festival is said to be one of the best fall festivals in Wisconsin. Some activities include a cheese brunch, cheese and wine pairings, and more! Drink Wisconsinbly Curd Fest | Milwaukee | October 2025 The date for Curd Fest has not yet been announced, but this event is put on at Drink Wisconsinbly Pub in Milwaukee, right outside of the Fiserv Forum. Expect to see several cheese vendors, live music, signature cocktails, and more.

When you think about Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin, you probably think of a summer destination lake town because that's what it is known as. We decided to visit during the first week of November and found it to be a wonderful fall vacation spot. Elkhart Lake has the feeling of "up north" but it's less than two hours away from Milwaukee. Here is how we spent our fall weekend in Elkhart Lake. DINING We like to eat and eating at new places is one of my favorite things to do. There are several restaurants in Elkhart Lake and surrounding towns that I will definitely go back to try. Here are the spots we visited: Harrys Pizza e Vino We didn't want to leave the dog alone a ton this weekend, so we ordered takeout at Harry's Pizza in Elkhart Lake. I wish we could have eaten inside because it is such a cozy and welcoming spot. We ordered their Corn pizza with a side of bread and pesto. The pizza toppings were very unique but it worked. The crust was fantastic and so was the homemade pesto. I would absolutely go back. Millhome Supper Club About 15 minutes outside of Elkhart Lake is Millhome Supper Club in Kiel, WI. I am on a supper club adventure and this one did not disappoint. We started with a soup and salad bar and ordered their featured appetizer: Brussel sprouts with bacon, gouda, croutons, and glaze. Mike ordered the prime rib dinner with mashed potatoes on the side. He said it is the best he has ever had. I ordered the seafood combination platter and thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part? The Old Fashioneds were only $4.75 each! Off the Rail In addition to trying to find the best supper club, I am trying to find the best breakfast sandwich. We were recommended to try breakfast at Off the Rail in Elkhart Lake and I am grateful to whoever suggested it. I ordered their Commuter breakfast sandwich, Mike got the McRail sandwich AND a breakfast burrito lol. We both ordered lattes. Everything was great and the people working were extremely welcoming. ' THINGS TO DO The entire goal of our weekend was to relax and reset; we spent a lot of time in bed. But I am not the type of person who can spend a whole day in bed so we did some exploring as well. Cedar Valley Cheese Store If you are coming from the Milwaukee area, you must make a point to stop at Cedar Valley Cheese Store. Cedar Valley Cheese is located in Belgium, Wisconsin. They carry an extensive variety of cheeses and if you visit on Friday, your curds will be super fresh! They sell gifts and merchandise, sandwiches, ice cream, fudge, frozen meats, and so much more. I always stop there when I'm in the area. Road America Unfortunately, there were no races at Road America while we were in Elkhart Lake. We couldn't even get into the track to look around. I still wanted to mention it because it is something you should definitely check out if you are in the area. Mike has been here in the past and it was one of his favorite experiences. Ice Age Trail Elkhart Lake is near several segments of the Ice Age Trail. We hiked a little over 4 miles of the LaBudde Creek segment . Unfortunately we were a week or two too late to enjoy the fall colors, but the trails were in great condition and had some beautiful views. Johnsonville Marketplace Did you know that the Johnsonville Global Headquarters is located in Sheboygan Falls? About a 12 minute drive from Elkhart Lake, you can visit the Johnsonville Marketplace. This exceeded my expectations. It's a huge store that carries all of the Johnsonville products, merchandise, gifts, and more. There are some fun photo opportunities, too! Although the best part of Elkhart Lake might be the lake life itself, I would say it's worth a visit in the fall, too.

You have probably heard of a bar crawl, but have you ever heard of a coffee crawl? My friend Kailagh and I decided to take a trip to Milwaukee's Third Ward to visit a handful of coffee shops. All of these are within walking distance of one another which made for such a fun day of caffeine. Canary Coffee Bar First up on our crawl is Canary Coffee Bar . This coffee shop is such a vibe! They have a couple of baked goods to choose from but mostly just a tasty drink menu. Grace Coffee Company About .8 miles away from Canary Coffee Bar, you will find Grace Coffee . We had our breakfast here and they had some delicious food! Such a fun spot with vibrant decor and fantastic beverages. Likewise Coffee If you're a patio fan, Likewise is for you! Located right around the corner from Grace Coffee Co. is an adorable little spot called Likewise Coffee. They serve both drinks and baked goods. The coffee cake is fantastic! Discourse Discourse will be your forth stop on our coffee crawl. Discourse is approximately .3 miles from Likewise Coffee. This place is super cool; the walls are decorated with music! There are a ton of vinyl's available for purchase or you can take advantage of all of the comfy spots to sit and just listen while you're there. Full of Beans Cafe Our last stop on the coffee crawl is at an adorable spot called Full of Beans Cafe . It is a small cafe serving drinks and a handful of eats approximately .2 miles from Discourse. We sat in comfy chairs across from a fake fireplace and sipped on a latte and tea.

I have not written a blog in a WHOLE MONTH! A lot has changed in the last month and I have been extremely preoccupied. I went from living in the Colorado mountains to living in my boyfriends house very quickly and unexpectedly. When I left Wisconsin back in April, I was planning to come back in August for a friends bachelorette party. It lined up with State Fair so I thought "heck yeah, I'll come back for both!" The weekend prior to the party, I was still in the mountains about an hour outside of Colorado Springs - a 17 hour drive from Milwaukee. I was going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to make the trip. I wanted to see friends and have a good time but it was suuuuch a long drive. I decided it didn't make sense for me to travel that far for a week just to turn around and drive back. I told my friend I was not going to make it to the bachelorette party around 9:30am on Friday morning. I have had a boyfriend (Mike) for over a year and he lives in the Milwaukee area. Back in May, we took Kona on a 4-ish mile walk and he complained about hip pain afterwards. We figured it was just from the walk. Fast forward about a month and Mike is moving from his apartment into his new house and his leg started to get super swollen. It didn't really hurt, but it was a balloon. He talked to a few friends and Googled a few things and came to the conclusion that he tore his abductor muscle during the move. Those take 4-8 weeks to get better and because he was moving (figuratively and literally) we assumed it wasn't healing because he wasn't really resting it. All of a sudden one day he had excruciating pain in his leg. It lasted two days and he decided to make a doctor's appointment. He got an ultrasound done and they couldn't see anything. They thought maybe the swelling was from a blood clot and recommended a MRI. He scheduled that, but the appointment took two weeks. Within that two weeks, he actually came to visit me in Colorado for a few days. That was the first time I saw his leg in person and it was definitely swollen but I attributed it to him not resting it when he should have. When he got back to Milwaukee, he got the MRI done on that Tuesday. On Friday morning, he received a call telling him to go to the ER because there was a mass discovered in his MRI. By 1pm, he was informed that he "probably" has cancer but it would not be confirmed until the biopsy next week. That's when I decided I needed to come home. The drive home was absolutely HORRID. I mentioned earlier that it was shown as a 17 hour drive on my GPS but the RV cannot go 75MPH on the highway. I also have to stop every few hours for Kona so the drive took a lot longer than 17 hours. We drove from 6am - 7:30pm on Saturday and 6am-5:30pm on Sunday... WOOF. It was confirmed about a week later that he does in fact have Follicular Lymphoma at age 36. He had his first chemo treatment last week and will continue those through the end of the year when we will reevaluate and see how the treatment is going. Cancer is terrifying. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that has a high potential to revisit later on in life, so there's a good chance this will not be the only time Mike goes through chemo. Thankfully his body took the first treatment pretty well and he did not have any major side effects, but it is supposed to get progressively worse. We are crossing our fingers that the symptoms remain tame but honestly, as long as the chemo does what it is supposed to, the side effects will be worth it. ANYWAY. If you made it this far, that is why I am in Wisconsin. This was obviously not the plan but life throws curveballs sometimes, right? And there's nothing we can do except to deal with what it throws at you. We are participating in the Light the Night Walk hosted by the Leukemia and Lymphoma on September 26th. IF you are able to donate to this great organization, please consider doing so. Everything helps! If you have any fun new restaurants I should try, festivals to attend, trails to hike, etc. in Wisconsin, let me know! I will be here until at least January 1, 2025.