Door
Over the weekend, Sweets and I packed up the truck, grabbed the dog and the camper and met good friends in Door County, Wisconsin (about a 5 hour drive from Chicago), for a weekend of camping. The weather was perfect (70s and sunny by day; 50s and clear by night). The company was outstanding (even SoMi got to play with one of her most favorite pals). And we left with a renewed vigor about more camping excursions next summer.
SATURDAY: We left Chicago by 4:45AM (let’s just say since Sweets was driving, I let him pick what time we left – never again!). While I might not have been happy about it still being VERY dark when we woke up, getting to our campground in Peninsula State Park by 10AM was awesome. We were able to set up our camper and meet our friends, Dave and Kris, for lunch in town. After a long lunch catching up with friends we don’t often see, we returned to the campsite. And never left. I took a long nap. We got the fire going and popped open some cold beer. Sweets and I brought pre-marinated beef from Trader Joe’s for dinner – perfect for some campfire grilling. So were the onions and potatoes. And roasted garlic with a little sourdough bread made for the perfect meal. We stayed up late laughing and having fun with our friends.
SUNDAY: We woke up relatively early (as in, when you’re camping, you tend to wake up with the sun) and went into town for breakfast. We then drove a few towns over to Newport State Park where we were able to hang out on Lake Michigan. SoMi and her pal, Gigi, played for hours chasing toys in the water and running through / rolling in the sand.
After lunch, Dave and Kris decided to pack up and head back to Chicago. They had arrived the day before us and had always planned to leave on Sunday. After our farewells, Sweets, SoMi and I went for a hike through the park. I had to readjust my expectations … in Montana, we saw maybe 2-3 groups over the course of a day. In Door County, on one of the busiest weekends of the year, we saw lots and lots of people over our hour hike. And there was the constant hum of motorized water vehicles throughout our hike. Nevertheless, it was peaceful and serene.
24 hours in the outdoors, capped off by a long hike meant I was ready for a shower. Somewhere out there in the interwebs, someone is taking stock of all us bloggers without make-up. Here’s my entry. Plus an entry from Sweets, who was none too pleased I snapped away without at least a little lipstick. Now that I look at the photos, we are both kinda badass. ha.
Sunday night, we made another fire. Grilled Trader Joe’s marinated chicken, eggplant and zucchini. As Sweets and I chilled next to the fire after dinner, SoMi was distressed. Actually, it was more like she was exhausted. She looked at us for permission (which Sweets gave her) and she moped over to the camper, jumped in and jumped up on the bed. She was done and needed her sleep (let it be noted, this was the first time she has ever gone to sleep without us).
MONDAY: We got up that morning a little after 5:00AM. To shut down camp and head home. As Sweets got the camper disassembled, I took SoMi for a walk. The set of campsites where we stayed were located just across the main road from the water. So, I walked with the dog over there for an early morning peak at the water. It was cool, calm and so peaceful. Perfect for an early morning fishing excursion.
Sweets and I got on the road by 6:45 and made it back to Chicago by noon. A perfect commute to end a perfect weekend. We were stoked by this camping trip. This state park books up months in advance for a reason – it’s a beautiful setting and clean and well-run. We hope to return next summer for at least two trips: a long weekend in late June and a 5-day trip around Labor Day. Who wants to come with us?!? =)
September 8th, 2009 at 7:59 am
That looks like so much fun! Let me know when you’re going next year. We have a tent with a blow-up bed instead that we’ve been itching to use. And just yesterday I was telling Steven we could do a “cheaper” vacation and still feel relaxed :)
September 8th, 2009 at 8:03 am
First of all, you look absolutely beautiful without makeup. I had to remember to say that before anything else.
That looks like an awesome weekend! Wasn’t the weather beautiful? We went apple picking, which was my first big outing since surgery and it was just a perfect day.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Lovely!
Door County is so beautiful and Peninsula State Park is such a hidden gem. we were in Door a year ago and we stayed in a cute lodge. We did go hiking in the state park.
I am glad that you all had fun.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:22 am
That is so cool! Do you guys own a camper, or can you rent them? I’ve been wanting to camp lately, but Mister is 110% anti-tent. Maybe someday we can camp in such style! ;)
But that’s way too many pre-6 AM mornings for me, just fyi lol I can do pre-7 am but that’s intense!
September 8th, 2009 at 8:33 am
We’ll go, we’ll go! We didn’t camp once this season. Very sad. (Too many weddings!)
September 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am
I agree with Tori about how wonderful you look without makeup!
I am glad you had such an amazing time.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:46 am
We’ve only been on one camping trip this summer and it makes me SAD! Hopefully, we’ll get a couple more in before the snow flies.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:32 am
This sounds awesome. And the photos are lovely!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I LOVE the badass photos.
Sounds like the perfect weekend. I know I’ve tired Jack out when he asks to go to bed before I do; it’s happened only a few times but is pretty cute when it happens!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
sounds like a great weekend! were you tired at the end of it? those are some early mornings!
had you rented that camper? or do you kids own that?
September 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
What a blast. I’m desperately trying to get in a camping trip before all the nice weather fades away…
September 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
That looks AMAZING.
You have totally inspired me to plan a camping trip with Mr Button! We love to camp, the weather is warming up, and we have zero weekend plans for the rest of the year (so far). It’s perfect!
September 8th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Girl, do I have a no make-up picture for you! No shower for me from Friday morning until last night!
(We went camping this weekend, too. So, ya know, it’s not like I just decided not to shower….)
And very cute about SoMi deciding to go to bed on her own. Chloe did that too this weekend. She was all like, “night night guys” and headed into the tent to go to sleep!
September 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Oh that sounds like an awesome weekend! We had a wonderful one ourselves :) This time next year over Labor Day weekend I’ll be saying “I do!”
September 8th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I think my mouth was watering as I read this. You made me want to go camping SO bad! Mr. W hasn’t been since he was in college and I know I’m going to have to strongarm him into it. But oh how your pictures make it look all too worthwhile. And you’re right -- you guys look totally badass when you’re camping.
September 8th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
If I had a camper like that I would totally camp! I don’t like sleeping on the ground. Makes for grouchy Sizzle. I’m delicate, what can I say?
Sounds like a really fun weekend. :-)
September 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Sounds like a great weekend -- and especially great that you gave yourself time to re-adjust to Chicago life on Monday, too! I hate traveling late into the night and don’t even have time to unpack my bag before going to bed in order to make it to work the next morning!
September 8th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I absolutely love Door County, we go every summer and the state park up there is amazingly beautiful. Glad you guys had fun!
September 8th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Sounds like a great trip! And I love that photo of the fishing boat!!
September 8th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
This post takes me back to high school when I would go camping with my friend and her family in their popup. I loved those weekends. I am glad that yours was so fantastic and relaxing. Weekends in nature, grilling over an open flame, no internet or phone connections are so wonderful for the soul and spirit. Now I want to go camping! I hope you have many fun adventures in the camper in the coming months/year.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Whenever I think of camping, I forget about the camper/RV option. My back can’t take the old fashioned kind of freezing-your-butt-off-on-very-rocky-ground camping. But your kind of camping? That I could do…
September 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Is Sweets badass or just in need of fiber?
September 8th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Fantastic pictures! Glad you had such a great time :)
September 9th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Sounds like you had a blast camping. There’s nothing better than hanging around a campfire with good friends. You look beautiful sans make-up. Sweets definitely looks badass. ;)
September 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’ll go! Looks gorgeous and so serene. It’s definitely worth getting up that early (but I know, painful) to get to your destination.
Simply lovely.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Yaay camping! And I love that last photo--absolutely gorgeous!
xox
September 9th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I love the last photo!
Glad you and Sweets had such a good time :)
September 9th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Awesome! I love Door County! I went to college in Wisconsin (about an hour from DC)- we spent practically every weekend up there during each fall. The last time I was up there, we stayed at a B&B on a working sheep farm. :)
September 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Great pictures! And you guys DO look badass. :-)