Open up Google Maps and find a cluster of lakes in northern Wisconsin. Zoom in on your tiny screen a little further to find a small town called Manitowish Waters. Made up of about six hundred year-round residents, that number skyrockets with summer homeowners and visitors looking to escape and spend time on the lake.
While I came a little too late for the summer crowd, I was among those that wanted, or rather needed, a break from the day-to-day. A weekend to relax and meet truly amazing women. Little did I know how much I needed this weekend or how amazing these women would be. All these beautiful people made up the first annual Adventure North, put on by Northerly Collective and Lake Effect. A weekend created for the soul purpose of connecting (and disconnecting) in northern Wisconsin.
Night one of the retreat was taken up by a wine and cheese tasting on a local cranberry farm, followed by dinner at the lodge and swapping stories by the fire, with s'mores more wine in hand. After a night of rest, a few of us woke up to watch the sun rise over the lake, enjoying a kind of quiet I had forgotten exists. A little breakfast to get the day started led us into a calligraphy course taught by the wonderful owner and creator of Tiny Bits of Happiness. She is truly a ray of sunshine and if you have the opportunity to take one of her classes, do it. An afternoon of relaxation and a short hike shifted into an evening on the lake followed by a delicious meal at Blue Bayou. Another lovely morning came around and we enjoyed yoga lakeside, breathing in the last few moments of the weekend and the company of new friends.
Here is to the beautiful and wonderful women that in just a few short days left a lasting impact. And to Tito, the sweetest little doggy that graced us with his presence.
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