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You are here: Home / Camp Wandawega / Camp Wandawega 2014

Camp Wandawega 2014

Oct 12, 2014 By Layla

per·fect 

adjective
/’pərfikt/
1. having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

Diamond

The drive from southern Minnesota to southern Wisconsin on Thursday certainly had all the desirable elements, qualities, and characteristics one would hope for during the month of October. A blue sky filled with puffy clouds, tree branches bursting with colorful leaves, patches full of pumpkins you cannot find in the South, bright red stone-bottomed barns…ahhh. Perfect!

Wisconsin Barn | The Lettered Cottage

We stopped for lunch in La Crosse (goodness, what a pretty town!) and we pulled into Elkhorn just before suppertime.

The air was crisp at Camp Wandawega, and sun-dried leaves crunched underfoot as we made our way across the yard to cabin #1.

Camp Wandawega | The Lettered Cottage

Wrapped in dark green-painted wood, “our” humble abode sat atop a steep ridge overlooking Lake Wandwega…

Camp Wandawega | Green Cabin | The Lettered Cottage

…and you better believe I did my very best to soak up every second of that view. 🙂

Camp Wandawega | Elkhorn Wisconsin | The Lettered Cottage Blog

Just following doctor‘s orders, of course. 😉

We came and went as we pleased (like the leaves) for three glorious and gusty days.

Fall Leaves | Cabin | Camp Wandawega

We kept our “stuff” in the bunk room on one side of the cabin…

Camp Wandawega | Elkhorn Wisconsin | Bunkbeds | Fishing Lure

Camp Wandawega | Acoustic Guitar | Hope In The Rescue

Wandawega Lake Resort | Elkhorn Wisconsin

…and curled up early each night under soft sheets and thick, wool blankets.

Camp Wandawega | Green Cabin | The Lettered Cottage Blog

A vintage mini-fridge kept our milk and OJ cold, and a small, electric heater (shaped like a cast iron stove) kept us extra toasty over night.

The decor? Simple, colorful, and fun! A small collection of old, camp-inspired goodies, and fishing lures on finishing nails. Perfect.

Camp Wandawega | Elkhorn Wisconsin | The Lettered Cottage | Blog

There wasn’t running water in our cabin, so we used the kitchen and bathrooms on the top floor of the old hotel next door. I forgot to take a photo of it with my “big camera”, but here’s one I snapped with my iPHone:

Old Hotel | Lake Wandawega

I caught up on some computer work in one of the rooms over there one day, and spent the other two wandering around camp, taking pictures and reading. Kevin was writing lyrics, and bounced back and forth between the old hotel’s lounge and the treehouse each day. When we got hungry, we rode into town and looked for places with fun names. 🙂 I had the best gnocchi and pesto I’ve ever eaten at Holi Cannoli on Highway 12 right around the corner from camp. Seriously. Think: bite-size, melt-in-your-mouth, ricotta pasta dumplings smothered in a basil, garlic, parmesan, pine nut puree. #delectable

We also tried Someplace Else in downtown Elkhorn.

Someplace Else | Elkhorn Wisconsin

I ordered their specialty: chicken pot pie. A creamy chicken stew loaded with peas, potatoes, and carrots- baked inside a rich and flaky crust. Mmmmmm! It was comfort in an 8″ pie tin, y’all. 🙂

I have lots more photos to share, and memories I want to write about, but it’s getting late, and my husbear is looking mighty lonely over there in that king-size (hotel) bed we’re crashing on tonight.

The Lettered Cottage | Camp Wandawega

We’re staying just outside Detroit for the next few days while Kevin is recording, but I’ll pick up here again soon with another Wandawega post.

Until then, take good care and happy new week!

XO,

PS- Our friends, David and Tereasa (the owners), were out of town while we were at camp, so it was awfully sweet of them to let us crash & create there for a few days on our way through. (Thanks again, guys! XO) This was one of my favorite (Instagram) moments:

Camp Wandawega Sunset

…and that sunset was pretty awesome, too. 😉

 

Filed Under: Camp Wandawega, Travel

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathleen W.

    Oct 13, 2014 at 5:32 am

    The views at Wandawega are heavenly ! What a lovely place to relax and recharge.

  2. Molly

    Oct 13, 2014 at 6:53 am

    I have loved following all things Camp W! It gets more beautiful with every blog post I see!

  3. AndreainWI

    Oct 13, 2014 at 7:08 am

    You’ve taken one of my favorite drives! I have family in Northern Iowa, so I make the drive from SE Wi to N Iowa often. Fall is the best-especially will all the colorful bluffs along the Mississippi River! Glad you enjoyed your time in Wisconsin. I will have to try one of those places to eat the next time I’m in Elkhorn.

    Andrea

  4. Flower Patch Farmgirl

    Oct 13, 2014 at 7:12 am

    It truly does look like perfection! Glad you guys scored some downtime there.

  5. Cheapdiva

    Oct 13, 2014 at 7:18 am

    Fall here in the upper Midwest can’t be beat! But you get tired pretty quick of what is to follow . . . MONTHS of cold, wet, dark snowy days! But nothing is as beautiful as our Wisconsin falls.

  6. Diva Kreszl

    Oct 13, 2014 at 7:42 am

    Breathtakingly beautiful…thank you for sharing these pics with us!

  7. Kathi

    Oct 13, 2014 at 7:54 am

    What lovely photos of our beautiful area, thank you for sharing. Should you ever have the opportunity to visit again, you may want to time it with the Elkhorn Antique Market. It is huge and wonderful and reasonable and happens 4 times a year. Here is their link. http://www.nlpromotionsllc.com. If you would like to see some of our FB pics here is a link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.623195711130109.1073741852.118735631576122&type=1
    Thanks for sharing, we will have to look for this camp the next time we drive that way!

  8. Dori Troutman

    Oct 13, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Oh…. I really, really want to go there! 🙂 It just looks like the perfect vacation for rest and rejuvenation. Love your pictures. – Dori –

  9. Lorraine R.

    Oct 13, 2014 at 8:07 am

    That place looks like pure perfection!!!! What a wonderful spot to rest, relax, and recharge!!

  10. Gina in WI

    Oct 13, 2014 at 8:08 am

    I went to college in LaCrosse and agree that it is one of the most beautiful spots in Wisconsin. I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip through the state I call home. I love the fact that I live in Wisconsin and have enjoyed some of my best vacations in Alabama–while you live in Alabama and enjoy “vacationing” in Wisconsin! Just another reason I feel a connection to you and your writing. Prayers to you today, Layla!

  11. Lynda

    Oct 13, 2014 at 8:11 am

    The Hudsons Bay blanket caught my eye immediately because I just finished hooking a pillow in those colours. I’d attach a picture but I don’t see a way to do it.

  12. Danyel

    Oct 13, 2014 at 9:02 am

    I also went to school in La Crosse and would move back in a heartbeat! It’s a gem. Originally from WI, living in MN these pics make me feel at home.

  13. Julia G.

    Oct 13, 2014 at 9:08 am

    So glad you had some r&r time! Beautiful pictures!

  14. Kimberly ~ Serendipity Refined

    Oct 13, 2014 at 9:20 am

    Camp W is one of the most glorious and magical places on earth! So glad that you’re spending “the best part of fall” here in the midwest. It has been beautiful, and just the right amount of “relaxing”. Enjoy, friends! xo

  15. Iryna

    Oct 13, 2014 at 9:33 am

    The foliage is so beautiful!

  16. Kristin S

    Oct 13, 2014 at 9:47 am

    I physically exhaled while reading this.

  17. Trisha Kachel

    Oct 13, 2014 at 10:10 am

    My daughter has been after me for a weekend at Camp W for two summers now and it just hasn’t happened yet. What’s really bad is we only live 30 minutes from there! So Glad you enjoyed your time in the Midwest!

    Trish

  18. Bobbi

    Oct 13, 2014 at 11:13 am

    Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! That camp looks amazing.

  19. Linda McClellan

    Oct 13, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    I love your pictures and if I wasn’t recuperating from back surgery I would be seriously thinking about packing and getting ready to go. I used to camp (primitive) but I was about 15 to 20 years ago. Now I’m into cabins, air mattresses don’t work well on my aging body anymore. That took only 5 years to decline. Getting older is good wisdom wise but it can take it’s toll on your body. Anyway, I hope to continue seeing your travels, maybe I will improve and be out there again. God bless and take care during your adventures!

  20. Kati B ~ FurnishMyWay

    Oct 13, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    What a lovely mini getaway! Looks very peaceful–I’ve always wanted to visit one of their treehouses. Hope you had a wonderful time!

  21. Lauren

    Oct 13, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    Oh my goodness! I’ve been following your pics on IG, but I didn’t realize the camp was in Elkhorn, WI! My husband and I were married in Elkhorn! What a lovely place this camp is!

  22. jamie

    Oct 13, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    {waving} from the ann arbor area. welcome to michigan!

  23. Lisa

    Oct 13, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    Lovely! I was hoping you’d visit there again, as I remember you posting about it before. Wish I lived closer. I’d visit too!

  24. TEREASA

    Oct 14, 2014 at 6:13 am

    we loved having you two stop by! so happy that you enjoyed your visit. we look forward to hosting you again sometime! – Tereasa & David

  25. Maryjane from MB, Canada

    Oct 14, 2014 at 8:45 am

    Your blog won’t let me Pinterest these amazing photos 🙁 I hope that changes soon, because I want to add them to my “places I wanna see in person” board. I seriously want to pull a copycat of this adventure in my near future.

    I’ve loved this spot since your post with your Mom here – “things I’d tell my 17-yr-old self”. I go back and re-read that amazing post sometimes just because it is sooooo lovely.

    I hope whatever your health concerns are, you are healing, laughing, and loving yourself through it. Love and laughter are two VERY powerful healing energies. Envision yourself healed. Find every possible thing to feel joy, love, and gratitude towards. Thank your body for continuously healing. Forgive it for not being perfect. Tell your body that you love it. And laugh…until you cry and your tummy hurts. 🙂

    (A book by Louise Hay is always a good thing too) Much positive vibes to you & Kevin.

    Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!
    Maryjane
    from Manitoba, Canada

    • Layla

      Oct 14, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Hmmm…that’s strange, Maryjane. I just “Pinterested” them yesterday! Do you have the little “Pin It” button in your menu bar at the top of your computer monitor? That’s how I always do it. I’ll check with my blog tech about adding the little “pin it” buttons to the pics too!

      Thank you for the encouraging words of advice, too! I absolutely loved reading them. 🙂 Getting my tummy to hurt in *that* way sounds /perfikt/! 😀

  26. Angela

    Oct 14, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Thought you should know I had to close out a travel channel pop up ad twice to finish reading your post. So weird because I never had an issue before!

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