Travel Tips

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Wisconsin Food and Drink Favorites

It’s very clear that I am not from Wisconsin. I don’t say “don’t you know?” and I don’t call a water fountain “the bubbler”. I had a hard time finding a time machine (Tyme, as in an ATM machine). I do however, believe in drinking a hot toddy elixir to relieve the common cold. Plus, I add cheese to everything, really everything. One of my favorite things about moving to Wisconsin almost a decade ago is the food. Wisconsinite’s really take their food seriously and take lots of great steps to make sure that your belly is happy and satisfied after a meal. Let me share with you some of the recipes that Wisconsin is known for.

A Wisconsin Beer Brat:

Most people in the country don’t even know what a brat is (sorry for those of you that think that this news is shocking). The fact that you let meat sit in beer to get its flavor might seem weird but not here in Wisconsin. It’s actually quite simple and no steps should be skipped when preparing this delicious recipe.

The Beer Mixture:

2 bottles of a German amber

Enough cheap beer to cover the brats when boiling.

2 roughly chopped onions

1 teaspoon of Worchestire sauce

brat
Bring to a boil and then add brats. Let them simmer in beer mixture while you prepare the charcoal grill.

When coals are red hot and a glowing bed, add the brats on medium heat for 6-7 minutes. Do not overcook!

When time is up, place them back in the beer mixture and simmer until they are ready to be served. For best results, no less than 20 minutes.

While simmering the brats, toast your buns to a golden brown. No brat is complete without stone ground mustard (Wisconsin is the home state of the Mustard Museum) and the cooked onions from the beer mixture. Enjoy!

Beer Battered Cheese Curds:

I didn’t know what cheese curds were either, and when someone gave me my first cheese curd the day I moved up to Wisconsin, I thought it was a miniature glorified mozzarella stick. I just didn’t have the right kind. After learning the best way to make a cheese curd, I will never again mistake it for a mozzarella stick again. Here’s the specs:

Beat together:

12 ounces of your favorite light beer

2 eggs

Mix together:

2 cups of flour

1 1-2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

3 cups finely ground bread crumbs (do not add to beer batter mix)

2 cups of room temperature cheese curds

beercheesecurds
Drop cheese curds into the beer batter and then lightly roll into a shallow dish of bread crumbs. Place cheese curds on a cookie sheet and freeze for 25 minutes. Meanwhile heat up peanut oil in fryer. Place cheese curds in basket and carefully lower into oil. Curds should not be in there more than a minute but pay attention to the golden brown color to take effect. Cool off cheese curds on paper towel. Let the cheesiness melt in your mouth!

Be mindful to let cheese curds cool down slightly.

Cheese curds are delicious on their own but can be accented with a variety of dressings. I prefer Ranch dressing.

Wisconsin Fish Boils:

Because of Wisconsin’s heavy Scandinavian influence, Fish Boils are very popular. If you haven’t experienced a Wisconsin “Friday Night Fish Fry” – get to it. Restaurants book fast and guests start to arrive about a half hour before to witness the fish boil production, chat with other locals, and tip a couple back. Now, unless you have a large firepit, a kettle large enough for 50 people and a huge iron bar to lift the kettle by its handles after boiling fish for so long, I would suggest keeping it on a lower scale and follow the recipe below. This recipe has been scaled for 5 servings. It’s roughly two pieces of fish and baby red per person.

You will need:

10 pieces of whitefish, salmon or lake trout

A large pot filled with boiling, salted water

10 baby red potatoes, not peeled but cut ends slightly

12 small onions

¾ c. of butter

Bring salted water to a boil and carefully lower the potatoes and boil for another 10 minutes. Add onions and return to a boil for another 3 minutes. Place fish in a wire basket (if you have one) and lower into the pot. Boil for 10 minutes and then drain into a strainer. After serving up portions on the plates for your guest, drizzle over the entire plate with butter and serve with a lemon wedge, traditional coleslaw and a roll. To view a video of a traditional Lake Michigan Fish Boil, click here.

Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet:

brandy
After all the work in the kitchen, a drink sounds pretty good right? Wisconsin has no shortage of brandy! That’s the official drink of Wisconsin and you can hear many ways to make it. When I bartended at a brewery a couple years ago, a wise man taught me to prepare a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet this way:

3-4 cherries per glass

An orange slice

3 dashes of bitters

2 tablespoons of sugar (can be more or less depending on your preference)

And a splash of water

2 oz. of Brandy

Lemon Lime Soda

Place cherries, orange, bitters, sugar and a splash of water. Muddle (squish) ingredients in a short glass and add ice. Add brandy and lemon lime soda. Voila!

Hot Toddy:

Wisconsinites are pretty serious about their past times and after skiing mountains, sledding, snowmobiling, building ice castles or ice fishing, it’s time to warm up. Head back to your Wisconsin vacation cabin and a Hot Toddy will do just the trick. No one seems to know where the name came from but that isn’t exactly important. We firmly believe it has medicinal properties and can cure a sore throat, or that’s what we tell ourselves anyways. Try this concoction next time you’re chilled and tell us what you think!

2 oz. brandy

2 oz. honey or simple syrup

Cinnamon stick

Thin sliced lemon, feel free to pierce this with a clove for added flavor

3 oz. Hot water

Mix liquids together vigorously in a mug, garnish with the lemon and your set to go!

Enjoy these special foods and drinks on your next vacation! Visit www.RentWisconsinCabins.com and use our Narrow Your Search Tool and Google Interactive Map to find YOUR perfect cabin, cottage, lodge, or home!

toddy

Rebecca is a blogger, full time Wisconsinite, taste tester, and jokester. We can barely keep her in the office and it’s even harder for her to keep her shoes on the whole day. We let her stick to her blogging most times. Any questions, feel free to visit out contact tab for more information on who we are as a company!

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Enjoying a Fall Vacation in Wisconsin – “Colorama”

If we ask vacationers to tell us their favorite vacation memory, we typically don’t expect to hear about their road trip. Bustled with excitement, the road trip always seems to take longer than anticipated. Traveling with kids? We’re sure you’re used to the classic, “ARE WE THERE YET?!” We don’t even think we’re crazy to suggest that some adults may have slipped this phrase now and then. And finally, as the vacation comes to a close and you’re all packed up you’ll think, “Do we really have to go now?” That’s the drive home that no one is ready for.

It’s time to enjoy the road trip too.

We get it. When compared to the vacation itself, it’s hard to compete. But as fall begins in Wisconsin, we want to change this mentality. Sure, biking the scenic trails of Wisconsin, visiting an apple orchard, enjoying autumn inspired events and other fun activities may trump the “drive time.” Yet, we can say that this colorful drive will be something to enjoy.

Don’t dread the travel time! It’s time to enjoy the colorful drive to your next vacation destination. It’s not too late to book your perfect Wisconsin vacation property. And where can you turn to find that? We’ve got you covered. Search over 700 Wisconsin vacation rentals & book directly with the property owners to save.

Wisconsin, Fall, Colorful, Road trip, Driving, Autumn

For those of you looking for a Wisconsin color report, we recommend using the Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report tool – it’s pretty neat. 

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Traveling On a Budget, It Can Be Done

Memorable Vacation Experiences Without a Huge Price Tag

  1. Vacation Properties vs. Hotels
    Opt for vacation properties, not overpriced hotels. For longer trips, vacationers can expect to pay less when renting cabins, cottages, lodges, and homes. Plus these properties offer amenities that hotels can’t offer: full kitchens, washer/dryer, ample space, and fantastic locations.
  2. Budget for your vacation
    Once you decide that you want to take a vacation, financially plan for it. Take a small amount out of each paycheck, then plan how you wish to allocate your savings. The goal is to not be surprised — plan ahead and research some pricing prior to your vacation.
  3. Avoid traveling during the peak-season
    Many people look to vacation during the peak travel weeks, for Wisconsin that can be in both the summer and winter. But vacationer interest means more competitive pricing. Avoid that and book your vacation during the shoulder season.
  4. You don’t have to a lot pay to have a great vacation experience
    Stop having the mindset that every great activity costs a lot of money — that’s a hoax. Instead, look for properties that are near affordable attractions that interest you.

    • Love to bike? Many of the vacation properties are near popular bike paths.
    • End your evening around a campfire with your friends and family. Share stories around the crackling fire or make dinner over the flame. This Wisconsin tradition is so popular that many properties include a firepit with the rental, you’ll just need to supply the firewood and snacks!
    • If you enjoy shopping at unique shops and checking out local restaurants, search for vacation properties that offer that small-town-charm. You can spend an entire afternoon exploring the area.
    • How could we forget about Wisconsin’s lakefront properties. Step right outside your door for an entire day of fun.
  5. Take advantage of the property’s kitchen and/or grill
    We’re aren’t saying that you shouldn’t eat out on vacation — heck we encourage some indulgence. Instead, do both. Take a trip to the local grocery store; then pack a picnic for an afternoon or spend an evening grilling out. Going out to eat is never your only option with a vacation cabin, cottage, lodge, or home.

Everyone deserves a vacation here and there! Use RentWisconsinCabins.com to start your search — travel on!

Other Popular Wisconsin vacation destinations:

    Eagle River          |          Hayward         |         Wisconsin Dells

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Vacationing in Large Groups

Make sure the smiles are for real!

This summer my family is having a reunion at the same Northern-Wisconsin resort my parents owned in the 70’s and 80’s. Hats-off to my mom who is organizing the trip for 16 to 18 people. Heck, organizing a weekend getaway for my family 4 (5 with the dog) is nearly impossible.

Do you have what it takes to organize a large group?

Leadership
Don’t go into the leadership role halfway; reluctant leadership is worse than none at all. Remember, the best leaders actively delegate.

People
Avoid looking back on your trip and saying, “we should have done some group psychological testing before the trip.” I know, it’s not practical to ask my two sisters, (I mean) everyone you’re considering traveling with to submit to testing (no matter how tempting the idea is). But, if your group came together by happenstance; the Leader should ask questions. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers; their greatest value is self-awareness.

General Attitudes
The passive/aggressive is the achilles heel of any travel group. They will not state their needs up front, but they will openly complain during and after the fact if their needs are not met. Avoid them at all costs! Get answers…How much time do you want/expect to spend with the group? How much alone? What travel pace do you prefer?

Money
Differing attitudes about money is one of the key factors leading to divorce. If $ can split up people who plan to spend their lives together, imagine what it can do to those who’ve only committed to 7 days of togetherness. Ask about equally handling big expenses (example, damages to rental property) which we know would never really happen.

Do everything you can to enjoy your vacation and, if you have accepted the role of Leader, part of your job is to help your entire group SMILE.

We want to help you explore Wisconsin, visit RentWisconsinCabins.com. 

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Things to Look For to Get What You Want in a Vacation Rental

Don’t Be Surprised…Ask the Right Questions

  1. Photos — Look for properties with great photos of the interior and exterior that help you envision the vacation property. If the property states that there are 4 bedrooms and you only see photos of 2, ask for more! Don’t let yourself be surprised when you show up to your rented vacation property…you should have a pretty clear idea of what to expect beforehand.
  2. Details — Some property owners include fantastic descriptions about their vacation properties. You’ll want to get a pretty good idea of the layout of the home, any unique features, and area activities beforehand. Property owners love to put on their tour guide hat, just ask for more information!
  3. Location — Many vacationers are looking for a specific vacation setting when traveling. For example, a WI traveler may search for properties on a lake or snowmobile trail. It is important to distinguish what an owner defines as “Near the Lake” or “On a Snowmobile Trail.” If you are not finding clear answers regarding the proximity of the rental to whatever setting you are searching for…ASK.
  4. Configuration — Included in many of the owners detail sections is how they accommodate their guests. If the property sleeps 6, find out how the property does that – what are the bed sizes, are some of the beds sleeper sofas?
  5. Pet Friendly — Over a third of the vacation rentals on RentWisconsinCabins.com are pet friendly, but it is important to distinguish what exactly this means. Some vacation properties welcome all pets and have huge yards to accommodate them. Other rentals may apply a small fee for pets or  only accept smaller animals. If you plan to travel with a pet, make sure to figure out exactly what the vacation owner means by “Pet Friendly.”
  6. What to Bring — Don’t forget about the basics. What’s included in the kitchen and what linens (if any) need to be brought? Then think about the specific amenities that your vacation rental offers.
    • If the property is on water …Do you need to bring life jackets?
    • If there is an outdoor firepit …Do you need to bring wood or a fire fork to cook s’mores & hotdogs?
    • If the property has a washer/dryer …Do you need to bring detergent?
  7. Communication — It used to be that a vacation would cut off your communication with the outside world. Nowadays, staying in contact via internet and cell phones is very important to some vacationers. Cell phone coverage greatly varies between various vacation properties and it may be worth your time to ask if you’re concerned.
  8. Cleaning — Ask the owners if you’re expected to clean at the end or beginning of your stay. Many properties do this for you, but may apply a cleaning fee. Because each property is different, ask beforehand so there are no surprises.
  9. Extra Guests — Many vacation properties base their pricing on the number of people staying at the property. Look for specifications as to how many guests the property sleeps and if there are extra surcharges associated with extra guests. Don’t let hidden fees surprise you, get all the information from the start.
  10. Questions — If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call or send an email.

 

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Your Future Self Wants a Vacation

Studies Show That We All Need Vacations

We have all been there – when your schedule is so full that by the end of the day you wonder how you even did it. The economic challenges in America have encouraged workers to work even more. But research indicates that a break from every-day stress cannot be ignored.

The famous Framingham Heart Study found that a woman who vacations once every six years or less is eight times more likely to suffer from a chronic heart disease or a heart attack when compared to a woman who takes two or more vacations a year. Elain Eaker, co-author of the study states, “It shows how the body reacts to a lifestyle of stress, this is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health.”

Another study at the University of Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center asked 1,399 participants how often they preformed leisure activities. The findings showed a direct relationship between physical and mental health and how often participants engaged in things that they enjoyed. Lowered stress levels, a slimmer waist, lowered blood pressure, and positive emotions can all be contributed to participants engaging in enjoyable activities.

It’s time we all take some time for ourselves. You don’t just want a vacation, studies show you need it. Over time, your weekend getaways and exciting vacation weeks will pay off. Not only will you see health improvements, expect a better mentality. Having something positive to look forward is satisfying.

Reading, biking, yoga, kayaking, skiing, what do you love? Take time to enjoy it!

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What We’ve Heard Back From Travelers

It’s time to let vacationers speak for RentWisconsinCabins.com for a bit.

  • “I like it…didn’t even know this website existed. I will visit more often” (Brian from WI)
  • “I have found this website to be very helpful and informational in finding out some of the things that I needed and wanted to find out about trying to plan a family get away for me and my family. Although I really look forward to planning and making reservations for me and my family I won’t hesitate to visit the site again for more information.” (Teshima from IL)
  • “Great website! pretty sure my wife wants to take about 8 vacations next summer now.” (Bill from WI)
  • “Your web. is very easy to use and thank you!” (DJ from NY)
  • “The website it great!! My wife and I love trying out new cabins in Wisconsin, so relaxing!!” (Mark from IL)
  • “I have used this website to find a weekend rental twice this year and really like it! It can be very time consuming and difficult to find a good rental but this website makes it easy.” (Kari from WI)

More testimonials can be read on RentWisconsinCabins.com