Winter Getaway

Canoe Bay, located outside Chetek, Wisconsin, is a little slice of boonie heaven -- check it out at www.canoebay.com. Two plus hours from the Twin Cities, CB is even more remote than Blakeslee, Pennsylvania (MSP is the closest airport). Honestly, we only passed a few farms, acres of corn fields and not a single car on the 10 miles from the highway to the resort on a Saturday afternoon (the GPS was going berserk). CB is a 280 acre resort with three spring fed glacial lakes. The Wisconsin native Frank Llyod Wright inspired architecture is very warm and cozy with a stone fireplace (we had two) in every suite, villa, and cottage. Although it is a year round resort, I think most visit during the warmer months, it felt like we were the only guests. Breakfast and lunch were served en suite to order, dinner was served in a small intimate room steps from our door. Although the remoteness of CB provides opportunity to experience many types of wildlife, I think it was just too darn cold. We saw a few squirrels on our deck. We did see evidence of the white-tailed deer, one of Wisconsin's official wildlife animals, on our snowshoe trek through the miles of trails criss crossing the property. The snow was fluffy and undisturbed except for the tracks of deer and we even came across deer beds in the snow. 

The trails were through the woods, around some ponds, and up and down gentle hills. We were toast after an hour from the exertion and the cold. It was a peaceful, serene, relaxing two days. A perfect escape from the city.