Strengthen friendships, relax and enjoy
Sometimes you need to forget about work, both at your job and at home, for a few days and reconnect with your friends. You don’t have to go far:
Appleton
Close the door on the outside world by spending time at a local bed and breakfast.
A group of women can take over The Roost on Lee Street in Appleton and have the run of the house during their stay.
“It’s nice for them just to get away from their everyday life, come and not have to worry about anything, but it’s not like a hotel setting where you have to stay in your room,” notes Jan Dubois, who owns The Roost with her husband, Larry.
Guests are greeted with a glass of wine when they check in, and fresh cookies are always available. There are five guest rooms in the Tuscan-themed home, all with whirlpool baths and fireplaces.
Many guests come to Appleton for shopping. In addition to the Fox River Mall, don’t overlook the popular downtown Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. With 150 vendors it’s bigger than ever.
Waupaca
Groups of women can customize their stay at the Apple Tree Lane Bed and Breakfast in Waupaca.
Owner Kerri Thiel had one group of guests enjoy a cooking demonstration from a professional chef and another enjoy in-room massages from a massage therapist.
“The house is set up in such a way that it’s very conducive for getaways and events in general such as scrapbooking,” Thiel said of the 5,000-square-foot Victorian farmhouse on the Crystal River. “We try to customize it to the group, so we talk to them and hear what they like.”
She offers a chocolate indulgence as a special treat, and popcorn is always available. Guests are welcome to walk through the inn’s extensive grounds, and can also enjoy other hiking trails in the Waupaca area, such as the Ice Age Trail. Take in the community’s antique shops, canoeing opportunities and restaurants before returning to a relaxing evening at the inn.
New Glarus
Enjoy the charming Swiss architecture and specialty shops of this southern Wisconsin town, and take in the “Heidi” Festival June 26 to 28. That weekend the town offers a dramatized version of the story, as well yodeling and polka music.
On Saturday, enjoy the Taste of New Glarus with food, an art and craft fair, bargain shopping and outdoor music.
Cedarburg
Celebrate strawberries in historic Cedarburg in late June and enjoy live music, arts and crafts shows and plenty of treats.
Your strawberry tasting options are plentiful June 27 and 28. You and your friends can start the day with a strawberry pancake breakfast, and go on to enjoy strawberry shortcake, pie and even strawberry brats during the day.
Don’t forget to indulge in a few chocolate-covered strawberries and sample Strawberry Blush wine from the Cedar Creek Winery.
Take time to enjoy the setting as well, as the community’s stone houses and Victorian buildings make for a beautiful backdrop for the weekend.
Door County
With 10 lighthouses, picturesque communities and 300 miles of shoreline, there’s no shortage of charm in Door County.
You and your friends can immerse yourselves in its beauty with bike ride through Peninsula State Park, kayaking near Sister Bay or relaxing on the beach at Whitefish Dunes State Park.
At Peninsula State Park, be sure to check out the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, and admire the restored quarters for the lighthouse keeper and his family.
If you prefer more artistic pursuits, take in some of the area’s galleries, such as the Water Street Gallery in Ephraim or the Santa Fe shop in Fish Creek. Also check out the Hardy Gallery on Anderson Dock in Ephraim. It offers a juried show each summer with a collection of work from both local and national artists, and admission is free.
If theater is your passion, see what the Peninsula Players are presenting in their scenic theater between Fish Creek and Egg Harbor.
For a tasty and relaxing way to end your day in Door County, head to Ephraim to take in the sunset and enjoy an ice cream cone from Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor.