Missing Minnows

Gratuitous shot of Flossy impatiently waiting for a ride on the pontoon

We just returned from a family trip to Wisconsin, where we stayed in a cottage on the shores of Lake Okauchee, spending our days boating and our nights eating/drinking local favorites and playing board games. Though the fish weren’t particularly interested in our bait, the crystal-clear water, crisp air and amazing Songza fishing playlists (seriously, check them out) made the endeavor completely memorable. I'm already looking forward to a return visit to the area this December.

Hence the title of this post

At my insistence, my family's new go-to board game

Heading out on the water after the front cleared through

A seriously amazing meal at Glenda's Cafe

One of the coolest roadside signs that I've ever seen, somewhere out in Lake Country

Taking on the beer sampler at Water Street Brewery during a Packers game

Lake Lounging

On the dock with a captivating book that I highly recommend

We’re back from a few days at the cabin up north, and as usual, I’m feeling notably refreshed. Time away from computers, cell phones and TV can do wonders for state of mind. The weather was perfect, the meals that my boyfriend’s mom prepared were excellent, and the fish were biting like crazy. In other words, it was business as usual in the Northwoods.

Big lazy clouds floated overhead all weekend long

We never strayed too far from the cooler of ice cold New Glarus

Each evening ended with a paddle around the lake

The picturesque barn at Blue Vista Orchards

Just a sampling of the ten pounds of blueberries that we picked one sunny afternoon

We were greeted with a view of Lake Superior at the end of a hidden hike through the Red Cliff Reservation

We made a pit stop in Cornucopia for some fresh fish to fry

My dream shed, tucked behind Siskiwit Bay Coffee & Curiosities

Ireland

Our first pints, set against a backdrop of live music and trad dancing

Within moments of landing at the Shannon airport, it was evident that many of the Irish stereotypes are true. From what we could tell, these were some of the most lively, friendly people that we came across during our travels, and Ireland itself is like one big, lush, cow-studded garden. It wasn’t long before we were swept up in a conversation with a local about JFK over a huge plate of fish and chips and a pint of Guinness.

My sister’s Irish friend later joined us for a road trip to the Cliffs of Moher, and then we drove from our base in Galway over to Dublin, where we wrapped up the last few days of our trip wandering around, sampling a few Anthony Bourdain-approved restaurants, and visiting a few of the farther flung spiritual sites like Glendalough and the Newgrange.

Peeking over the Cliffs of Moher

Cliffside cows

6,000 year old portal tomb in the Burren 

Kevin's Tower in lovely Glendalough

 The start to a noteworthy meal at Chophouse 

A deeply intense and eye-opening morning tour of the Boyne Valley

Well manicured gardens and puffy clouds in St. Stephen's Green

The act of getting here was a loooooong and memorable story

Scotland

Gorgeous hike to the top of Arthur's Seat

Scotland is so much more than the land of Loch Ness, Braveheart and Harry Potter. It’s one of the most mystical and rugged places that I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit. Though I was prepared for an enjoyable time, I think that the sheer beauty of the country and its many faces caught me a bit by surprise.

We spent a few days in Edinburgh—one completely cloudless and sunny, the other more characteristically dreary. It only rained once during the day throughout our entire trip, and I’m glad that it happened in Edinburgh. The steam coming off of the cobblestone streets at dusk created the perfect mood for our evening ghost tour.

Next, we rented a car (aside from the Tube, the only other source of anxiety during the whole trip, which also turned out to be no big deal thanks to my boyfriend’s trusty driving skills) and headed up to the Scottish Highlands. We stayed in Glencoe, at an inn that served as the social hub for the entire area and, as our photographs can attest, the most picturesque place to have a post-hike beer.

One of the hidden closes on the Royal Mile

Upper and Lower Bow Street in downtown Edinburgh

The creepy cool Witchery

Misty morning on the way to Oban

Oban's catch of the day 

Must-see roadside stop: Castle Stalker

Crystal clear waters and a glimpse of Glencoe at Loch Leven

Stirling Castle, atop a landscape that made me want to head home and watch Braveheart

Wales

The way to Wales

After our quick stop in Bath, it was on to Wales for a few days to visit with Michelle, a friend of mine who put down roots there after our college days together. Because we stayed with her family and not in a hotel, this was perhaps our most authentic European experience. Michelle had many exciting plans for us, including a lively and engaging personal walking tour with Nigel of Cardiff on Foot and a trek through historic Cardiff Castle. 

The unbelievable view from Michelle's front door

The National Museum of Wales, and the starting point for our walking tour

The lovely, flower-filled Gorsedd Gardens around back

One of the many intriguing gargoyles on the walls surrounding Cardiff Castle

The flag-lined path through downtown Cardiff

The perfect amount of sugar encouraged us to eat more than our fill of these traditional cakes

The most classic sight of the day: the Norman shell keep