Seeing Mom
I used to think my mom took a lot of naps. Now I think she was just surviving. Becoming a parent always changes the way you see your own parents. Things that once looked ordinary, annoying, confusing, or even lazy suddenly look completely different through exhausted adult eyes. I Misunderstood My Mom As a child, I […]
Read MoreReal Rest: Why We Need It and How to Get It
I was the only one in the lodge office, 10 p.m., brain buzzing, eyes burning. And the list still wasn’t done. A quiet, persistent hum lingered in the back of my mind: just one more thing. One more email. One more task. One more reservation to review, confirm, or fix. It was the kind of […]
Read MoreThanksgiving at a Lake Resort
In 2019, my family left the Twin Cities the day before Thanksgiving, set for the North Shore. It was the first year we hadn’t gone to my grandparent’s house or hosted it ourselves. The year had been tough, and doing everything we normally did for Thanksgiving was nothing we could even remotely fathom, so we […]
Read MoreResort vs Vacation Rental: Which One Fits Your Vacation Style?
We all want our precious vacation time to be everything we hoped for—whether that’s fun-filled days with family or a peaceful retreat. With so many accommodation options out there—resorts, vacation rentals, hotels—how do you choose the best fit for your needs? 🏨 Resorts vs. Vacation Rentals: The Key Differences I’ve stayed at resorts, vacation rentals, […]
Read MoreBest Grill Recipes for the End of Summer
After a summer of grilling and smoking meats (or even just attending barbecues), you can start to lose inspiration for new things to make over the coals. Fear not! While the Sams family is quite busy from June to August, that doesn’t mean we don’t do our fair share of grilling. Take a peek below […]
Read More10 of the Best Summer Camp Games
Here in Minnesota, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find someone with no childhood memories of cabin or camping vacations with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Personally, I remember hunkering down behind a lichen coated rock, trying so hard to steady my excited breathing while flashlights hit the trees around me. There were nights by the […]
Read MoreFive Unique Adventures on Fish Trap Lake
Welcome to Fish Trap Lake! Surrounding the dead center of Minnesota is over 1,160 acres of water, fish, loons, and a myriad of bugs and botanical wonders. We here at Campfire Bay Resort are very lucky to call it home – and many of our guests have come to call it their second home! And […]
Read MoreA Simple Guide to Father’s Day
Holidays centered around parents can always be tough, for a myriad of reasons. Still, the most common issue children face is figuring out what to get or do for their dad on Father’s Day. We may have spent a lot of time with the man, but when it comes down to it, do we really […]
Read MoreA Simple Guide for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day can be difficult for a multitude of reasons, but one of the most common issues children face on such a day is simply what to do or gift. Sure, we spent a good chunk of our lives with the woman this day honors, but it’s as we get older that we realize we […]
Read More5 Crafts to Welcome Spring
Sunlight has already begun to stretch longer, and the world smells fresh again. Soon, flowers will start springing up! But that beauty and light doesn’t need to stay outside your home–let’s look at some crafts you can do to bring spring in! Have you felt it? That rush of energy in the wind? The warmth […]
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