Big Apple to Charm City

I took a trip to the east coast recently and stopped in New York and Baltimore. My brothers both go to school out there and I was excited to see where their “homes.” I found a quaint little Airbnb penthouse, with the nicest owner, Thomas. The space had a sweet spiral staircase that led up to a tiny loft, complete with books and succulents. It was one of my favorite, most unexpected, Airbnb’s I have visited.

I spent one morning wandering the streets of manhattan. I stopped and grabbed an everything bagel with cream cheese. It was very good. Also, I had a tiny breve coffee, the size of a dixie cup. It was pretty average, but the cafe sign was cool.

I don’t think I could ever live in New York City, but it is a special place. There isn’t quite a city like it.

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The next stop was to see my brother in Baltimore aka Charm City. I was charmed by the old streets lined with row houses and history of the city. We had mussels on Fell’s Point and walked on the brick streets. It was a necessary chill trip to balance off the insanity of New York.

I wish we had more time there, and I can’t wait till next visit.

Granite Falls, Minnesota

I liked to think that I knew a lot about my Grandpa and Grandma. But when I thought about the place they grew up and currently reside, I realized that I don’t know much. Last weekend, I took a trip to Granite Falls, Minnesota to learn more about my Nana and Papa’s past.

Granite Falls, Minnesota has a population of about 2,700 people. It was named for the large amounts of granite rock deposits in the area. My grandpa led the tour as we drove around parts where he grew up in town. We began around the Minnesota River Valley where he talked about how they use to take swimming lessons in school out on the beach. They would eat lunch by the water and change in the old bathhouse. He said the water was cold so they learned quick.

Next, we drove to my great-great grandpa’s house. My papa Jerry chatted about how his grandpa used to rent out the entire upstairs to the young nurses and school teachers in Granite Falls while him and his wife lived on the first floor. He said rent used to be $20 a month for each room upstairs :^0

Grandpa continued on about how he used to walk back in the alley every day after school to play basketball. He said the backyard used to have a small driveway for old trucks to pull in and unload. This is the garage that he used to play basketball on with other boys around the neighborhood.

As we drove around, my grandparents pointed out things that were significant and insignificant about their town. I loved listening to the stories and learning more about their time there. One of my favorite stories was how my papa used to go to a restaurant called “The Drive In,” after every American Legion baseball game in high school. His favorite thing to order was a basket of 20 shrimp, fries, and a coke all for $2.

The next morning, my mom and I rode with grandpa to Lee-Mar Ranch to round out our tour. Papa Jerry works as the Executive Director at the ranch which helps in therapeutic rides for children with disabilities. The center also serves as the premier equine facility in the area and is still home to Granite Falls Western Fest PRCA Rodeo held each year. My papa loves his job and it was fun seeing him light up around the ranch.

I loved seeing the horses different personalities. Above is Sammie the donkey, and he kept following me around wanting to get extra pets. Paps took us around the barn and showed us the rodeo stadium. It was neat to see him so happy while feeding his horse friends. Also, I saw a new litter of kittens (!!!!)

The last stop was meeting my grandpa’s horses. He has several including a mini horse named Foxy. It was evident that he loved this place and it was special being there to see it. I encourage anyone to go out and take a drive with your grandparents. Hearing their stories and understanding where they grew up is something I will treasure. Thank you nana and papa for a wonderful weekend!

100 Grand Marais

What a weekend! Madeline and I took a camping trip up to Grand Marais to Two Island Lake Campground. The weather was perfect, with a fall crispness to the air. We started the drive at 5 AM to make a quick stop at Gooseberry Falls before heading to the campsite. It was a beautiful morning and a great start to the trip. 

ps. all photos of me throughout are credited to Madeline Harpell. 

Pss. Here is our spotify playlist for the road trip if you are interested! 

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The next stop was downtown Grand Marais, where we had burgers and bloodies at the Tavern! The view was incredible with the lake disappearing into the horizon. We walked around on the harbor for a bit and jumped around on some rocks. After, we had to stop at the World's Best Donuts because you don't many chances to taste the best donuts in the world.  They were very good, probably because they are the best in the world.

Grand Marais is such a cool coastal town with serious ocean vibes. 

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After all the eventful morning, we were ready to nap and camp. We chose to find a spot at Two Island campground in the Superior National Forest. It is a first come, first serve campground so we wanted to get there early to grab a spot. We managed to get a secluded place on the lake, which was awesome. We felt very at peace and had a blast cooking meals, canoeing, and hanging around camp. 

Our last stop on the trip up north, was a hike at Tettegouche. We had never been there in the summer before and it was pretty amazing. The colors and warmth of all the rocks and water was crazy. We hiked down to the high falls and then towards the two step falls... both we highly recommend checking out! After a dip in the falls and a caramel apple snack, we headed on back home! 

It was a great trip that left us feeling like we didn't have enough time to explore it all. Can't wait to be back! If anyone has any questions about camping or places to see, feel free to drop me a line in the comments. Be good, friends :^)

IV

I keep reading unfair articles and ridiculous tweets about the Eaux Claires IV Festival this week. Complaints ranging from lack of bathrooms and food vendors, to the absence of surprises and an underwhelming lineup...... So many issues that I felt the need to set the record straight. For those of you who thought the festival sucked because you weren't able to plan or get excited for a surprise headliner, then this festival isn't for you. The intention of this festival, from its birth, was to celebrate music in its purest form. That means very little advertising, smaller stages, no headliners, and an emphasis on local art.

The (absurd) people who are upset missed the point of the festival. They are upset because they can't comprehend what happened; they simply are not used to a festival that will sacrifice money for a pure experience. Sure, Festivals can attain expensive, popular artists and sponsors, but this concept ruins the art of collaboration and community. Eaux Claires IV surprised us with new songs, plentiful artist collaborations, and moments that very well may never be heard again. They created an atmosphere full of local talent, unique sounds, unbelievable interactive art, and special stages to build a once-in-a-lifetime experience... And if you missed that because you were too busy worried about your headliner, then I feel sorry for you. 

The most important and overlooked part of the festival is the hearts of the talent. The artists of this year, in particular, were not only musically gifted but understand what music is about. Song at its core, was not made for money, or reward, or fame. But a way to cope and heal us as people. And today, the music industry is so obsessed with commercializing the artist and their music, that we've forgotten what it is all for. Eaux Claires has given us like-minded people, an opportunity to forget all the bullshit in the world, be happy, to appreciate each other, and listen to rad music. A chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. The way life should be. 

So haters... yes, it is not what you are used to. This experience is a rare thing; but do not base your opinion over your lack of understanding.

I am sick of reading hateful words about a festival that promotes nothing but love. My biggest hope is that everyone gets to experience an Eaux Claires Festival once in their life to enjoy the company of the utmost quality of people and music.

Ok, that is all. Much love and be good friends :^)

-Nick

“Got learn to respect, what we don’t understand.”

— The Indigo Girls

Drove to Chicago... all things go

Madeline and I hopped in the car and headed to Chicago for the weekend! It was Madeline's first time really exploring the city so we tried our best to pack in as much as we could. This meant stopping at the Art Institute, brunch at Happy Camper, a walk around Millenium Park (no picture at the bean, sorry everyone), biking through downtown, strolling on the river walk, passing by Navy Pier, chilling on the beach, drinking and eating on Fountainhead's rooftop, and finishing off with an Oberweis brownie sundae. This all happened on Saturday :^0 I managed to capture a couple photos in between breaths...

Madeline's highlight of the trip was the Miniature Rooms by James Ward Thorne. If you haven't seen them, I highly recommend. We spent almost all of our time in the room (almost 2 hours), which was ok by her. She loves mini things so it was basically heaven on earth.

The rest of the day and trip was spent walking around! The weather was perfect which made walking a breeze. I forgot how much I actually like Chicago and was super glad we made the trip. Fun fact, I grew up 45 min NW of Chicago - super interesting I know. 

Ok that's it for now! Stay tuned for more adventures soon :^)

Be good, friends!

The Rush

My dad, mom, brother, and I took a trip to the Rush River near River Falls, WI this weekend. It is a favorite spot for my dad and brother who are avid fly fisherman. I'm not out on the river much, including this weekend, but I do enjoy the rolling drive and landscape of Northwest Wisconsin. My goal this summer is to get out there more to catch some trout, and hopefully capture more pics along the way. 

My mom and I went into town, so I wasn't able to capture either of them landing a fish. My dad caught 3 and my brother 2, a pretty successful day without much rising. I was pretty amazed by the denseness of trees and beauty of the area. I'll be grabbing my canoe and dropping in next time! Anyone else have a favorite river they like to fish on?

P.s. check out one of my favorite songs ever below. So good, especially when you're near the Rush! Cheers Amanda!

Be good friends :^)

First Cabin Weekend

Hey friends! I am going to try and be a little better at writing these things... It is mostly a place to store my trips and photos :^) As you probably already know, my favorite place growing up was my grandparent's lake cabin. The place has been in our family since the early 80's and visiting never gets old. I love the original A frame of our cabin and the beach it sits on. There are so many magical things that I could get sappy about but I'll spare you the annoying details. Pics will have to do for now! (thanks to Madeline Harpell @madelineharpell for some of the pictures !!!)

We spent the weekend near the water since the temps were in the mid 90s. Madeline and I woke up at 5:20 one morning to catch the sunrise before the rain, which was pretty insane. The lake was glass, the sky was pink, and the loons were singing. I was able to catch a video below...

This lake is so good for the soul. After two rounds at Granny's, a trip down the creek, and a late night beach fire, we felt energized and ready to tackle the upcoming week! I'm sure this will be one of many trips of the cabin this summer, so till then :)

Be good.

Hillhouse @ Camp Wandawega

It was so dark. Driving at 10pm in the Wisconsin deep woods, with only the light of the moon—it was tough to see anything.  Our directions to find the place were, “once you see the Wandawega sign, turn right. It’ll be house with the lights on, you can’t miss it.” We didn’t. As soon as we stepped inside, we felt at home. The old floor boards, roaring fireplace, and magical living room space greeted us with open arms. As first-time Wandawega campers, we were eager to jump into our cozy beds and get a good night’s rest to explore the next day. 

Waking up in the morning seemed like a dream. We opened our eyes to the sunrise beaming through the large kitchen windows and stretched in the morning light. My sister took to making us lattes with the Camp Wandawega coffee blend—which was AMAZING. We toured the house, sipping on warm coffee and expressing our favorite parts of the place. I couldn’t get over the wide planked floor boards and massive fridge doors in the kitchen. As you can see in the pictures, they fabricated a refrigerator casing with huge wooden doors with iron handles from an old meat processing company called Butcher Boy. They were insane and so fricken cool.

Most of our time was spent admiring the Hillhouse, looking closely at the details of each room and mustering stories out of each one. The big velvet couch in the kitchen, branded coffee mugs, Shinola record player, and tiny toy treehouse were some of the perfect elements that make the house unique to Wandawega. Each of us took a bath in the comfy clawfoot tub and read books out of the home’s dense library collection. I even found a book that I now have to buy, “Your Cabin in the Woods.” :) 

The Hillhouse is a space like no other. With its history and modern design, the tiny antique and worn details make this place an oasis in the woods. It will forever be a safe haven watching over the dream-like, vintage summer camp it sits upon. To us, it felt like a childhood home. We cannot wait to return to the Hill House in those dark Wisconsin woods. 

Be good,

Nick

Follow Camp Wandawega's adventures on Instagram.

St. Croix

My brother and I took a trip down the St. Croix river yesterday. It was the first trip with my canoe and it handled so well. Even though the trees aren't in full bloom yet, the scenery and vastness of the area around the St. Croix is amazing. We are anxious to get back in the summer and spend some nights on the river. 

I'm thinking of planning my first boundary waters trip soon... Does anyone know any lakes/trips that I should check out?

Island, Superior

My best bud and I decided to take a trip to Northern Wisconsin to an off-the-grid cabin this past weekend. I found an amazing host and cabin on Airbnb that I would recommend to anyone! It is a unique experience with pigs, no running water, and wood burning stove to keep you warm. If you are into roughing it for a few days, I would recommend it to anyone that is hoping to spend some time up near Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Check out the pics of the cabin below!

When we weren't chilling at the cabin, we took a day trip out to Bayfield to explore Madeline Island. The ferry is only $25 to take your car on so we hopped aboard! The whole weekend was overcast and moody, but on Saturday the wind picked up on the shoreline. The waves were so intense. I decided it'd be fun to hop down on the lower rocks and take a little bath. 

Such a fun time and glad I could experience a new place with one of my best friends. I would definitely recommend the island and taking a trip up north to the Apostle Islands if you have the chance!

North Shore

Holy crap you guys. My weekend up North was life-changing. For Christmas, I wanted to find a cabin up North to stay in for a couple days. I hopped on Airbnb and found the sweetest looking place up near Duluth, with a host that seemed awesome. (you can check out the place here). So, I booked the place and decided to take my brother and sister who were home from college to enjoy the experience with me.

It was my first time up on the North Shore. I couldn't believe how isolating and vast Lake Superior was. I grew up going to Lake Michigan but something about Superior makes it seem like the edge of the earth. We stopped in Duluth to see the town and Canal Park. Fitger's was a fun place to hang out to grab a bite to eat and check out the shops. 

I can't even begin to describe how perfect our cabin was. I thought it would be a cool little place by the lake but it turned out to be incredible. We were literally seconds from the lake and our host, Eric, was one of the most kind and happy people I have ever met. He opened up his home and life to us and we were so grateful to have met him. Eric had nothing but good vibes and was such a rad dude!!! Check out the cabin and pics of the shore below.

The next day we explored the shore with trips to Palisade Head, Gooseberry Falls, and Betty's Pies. Palisade was massive and I understand why it is so popular. I will admit it's pretty scary with the ice around the edge! Gooseberry Falls was so pretty with the falls frozen over. We worked up an appetite for Betty's Pies, which was amazing, where I had a slice of raspberry peach pie and a scoop of ice cream.

Our trip to the North Shore will be something I will never forget. The North Shore is one of Minnesota's most special places and should be appreciated in all types of seasons. I feel so lucky that I am able to live so close to a place that is unlike any other place in the world.

Happy New Year