Check Out This Midwestern Getaway
Wautoma, Wisconsin
Rest & Relax at the BlackBerry Lodge
If you are looking for a place within the Midwest to rest & relax, look no further than BlackBerry Lodge.
I came across BlackBerry Lodge on Airbnb while looking for a place for my family to enjoy, booked it, and after a few months, the date finally came!
We packed up the car and drove a few hours into central Wisconsin, arriving into Wautoma, Wisconsin. Wautoma reminded me of a quaint small town dipped in a batter of charm.
Seven Acres of Wonder, Countless Memories of Fun
BlackBerry Lodge is on seven acres, with access to a secluded lake towards the rear of the property. This is what you are able to see when you arrive!
The winding view of the road leading up to the lodge! I can only imagine how pretty the leaves must be in the fall here.
One thing that really drew us to this property was that we were able to bring our dogs as going away with an older pet tends to get harder as the years go on but this cabin was a great way for us to have a vacation while also being able to keep an eye on our pups.
When we pulled up to the property, there were trails throughout the land, lit by solar-powered posts that glowed in the evening sunlight. I decided to write down a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish while on this getaway - the first being to go on a bird walk on these trails the next morning!
The Lodge has a list of amenities to use during your stay. I was excited to play a game of bags, sit in the sauna, and enjoy the birds at the bird feeders.
They also had a large Weber grill, outside picnic table, seating area for games on the other side of the deck and zero gravity chairs to relax in while listening to the music from the Bluetooth soundbar speaker system above.
We took the time to do a few puzzles we purchased at the many thrifts stores in town (for fifty cents, might I add!) and played a game of Risk. But the memories made on this porch consisted of relaxing and visiting with family - sharing stories and enjoying time with one another!
I also downloaded the Birda App - where I started a log of all the birds I saw that visited the bird feeders. Here was the list:
Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Robins, Cardinals, White Breasted Nuthatches, Cowbirds, Blackbirds, and I even saw a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak!
The view of the dock overlooking the lake!
The first thing my mom said when she walked in “Wow, this place is really clean” …and it was smooth sailing from there!
The BlackBerry Lodge had two bedrooms with three beds, as well as two couches that were able to be converted into beds as well. There were two full bathrooms with showers in each as well as a washer and dryer. This made it really handy for us to be able to do laundry from spending so much time at the lake!
The “Bucket-List” itinerary for Blackberry Lodge:
Take a sauna in the six person sauna (bonus points if you get a bowl of cold water ready to dump it on top of you after fifteen minutes in the heat!)
Play a game of bags (some Midwesterners may call it cornhole… but I grew up calling it bags)
Sit on the porch during a storm and listen to the rain
Watch the birds visit the bird feeders
Play a game and/or do a puzzle
Watch the stars come out in the night sky
Go canoeing, paddleboarding, and wading in the sandy beach
Have a bonfire and hang out in the “BlackBerry Hut”
Play a game of darts and foosball
Go for a bird walk on the many trails
The BlackBerry Hut is an off-shoot hut that is a short walk down the road from the lodge and includes foosball, darts, a bar, couch, and a woodburning fireplace. There is a children’s play area that can be reached through a ladder that pulls down, which is a fun addition for little ones. There is also a cute screened in porch and a firepit - perfect for roasting marshmallows.
Wildlife Galore
The cutest little doe came to visit us multiple times, munching on the bird seed from the bird feeders. We kept finding squirrels digging for sunflower seeds in the birdseed and tossing the rest of the seed onto the ground for the deer to eat! We also noticed a territorial “fight” between Blue Jays and Mourning Doves for the bird seed - it was a thrilling watch!
In the town of Wautoma, Wisconsin, we spent Saturday morning garage sailing and checking out thrift stores. There were music shops, gift shops, wine bars, and supper clubs! We decided to visit two supper clubs - the Moose Inn and Silvercryst. The Moose Inn had all-you-can-eat country style ribs on Thursdays and Silvercryst had Friday Fish Fry with the options of baked or fried. The Fish Fry came with the choice of potato (baked, fries, sweet potato fries, mashed…etc.) as well as a soup or a salad for $22. It was right on the lake with tables in the sand, live music, and a dock for kids to jump off of as well as a places for boaters to park their boats while eating a nice meal. PRO TIP: Try the baked fish first before the fried - you won’t regret it!
Spending time at the lake with kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, paddleboards, and more! We went to the store and purchased tennis balls that float so our dog could chase after them as we threw it in the water. I honestly think she had one of the best days of her life! We came back a little bit later and watched the stars come through in the night sky.
The view of the stars coming out to play in the night sky as the other cabins on the lake illuminate. The longer we stayed sitting in the chairs on the beach, the more our eyes adjusted to the light, and the stars multiplied. I bet the northern lights are just mesmerizing over this lake during the winter months.
One of my favorite views of our trip - the sunset descending over the lake while listening to the frogs and the owls hoot in the night. It really made us pause in the moment and take in the sights and sounds of the perfect cabin getaway!
