Baraboo, WI

Monday, September 1, 2025

Ready, set, adventure!

We’re making a big loop around Lake Michigan this September for our annual fall trip. First up is the southeastern side of Wisconsin; a part of our home state that our family has never explored.

After a busy weekend celebrating Tory’s 14th birthday and packing away all our summer toys at the lake, we left home around 1:00pm today. Summer at the lake is an amazing time of the year, but all four of us had the itch to see something new. RVing is such a great way to make memories as a family.

From our home in northwestern Wisconsin, we criss-crossed the state to Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Devil’s Lake is the state’s largest state park and often considered the “crown jewel” of the park system. It draws over three million visitors every year.

I’ve wanted to visit Devil’s Lake State Park for a few years now, and this route seemed like the perfect opportunity. There’s so much to see & do at this state park, including activities on the water, hiking, learning about its history, and daily programming at the nature center.

There are four campgrounds in this state park - wow! Andi booked us a site for one night in the Quartzite Campground. Soon after we settled in, the four of us set off to explore the park and its many amenities. Given that today is a holiday (Labor Day Monday) and the unofficial last day of summer, the park was packed with picnic-goers, people recreating on the lake, and hiking the park’s many trails.

As we walked, I spotted a car with a Wisconsin license plate. “Look! That person is from Wisconsin,” I exclaimed out of of habit. Typically, we’re so excited when we see someone from our home state while traveling, but I quickly remembered we’re still in our home state. None of us are used to being a tourist so close to home.

Near the shore, hundreds of visitors were recreating (yes, hundreds!) — kayaking on the lake, picnicking on the grassy lawn, and waiting in line for ice cream. Where did all these people come from, we asked ourselves? Then, Andi and I remembered we’re only two hours from Milwaukee and three hours from Chicago. There are a lot more people in this area of Wisconsin. What an idyllic scene though; the warm waters of Devil’s Lake surrounded by high bluffs on nearly every side. With so much to see & do at Devil’s Lake, this state park gives off ‘national park’ vibes.

Crossing the railroad tracks, we made our way to the eastern side of the bluffs. Our newly minted fourteen-year-old is suddenly looking so grown up!

The area surrounding Baraboo is known for its quartzite bluffs towering over the lake. Andi picked a hike called East Bluff Trail which ascended a series of stone steps along the bluff’s edge. The hike was moderately challenging, so we were surprised to find so many people on the trail. I guess everyone was interested in seeing the vantage point of the lake from the top.

One particularly interesting woman emerged from the woods waving a long stick in front of her. She was wearing bright blue latex gloves with long dreads in her hair, and she reeked of bug spray. “I probably look crazy,” she quipped, as she encountered us on the trail. “I’m out here hunting for mushrooms” she said. The kids smiled as we warned her to be careful; some mushrooms in Wisconsin are poisonous, and she didn’t seem to look like she knew what she was doing exactly.

Even though the trail was busy with people, we still enjoyed it. The hike got our legs moving and our hearts pumping, and the four of us shared lots of laughs together. I’ve missed traveling together so much! There’s no better quality time for our family. “I think we’ve talked to each other more on this hike than we have all summer,” Andi commented.

After we reached the top of the bluffs, we continued along the East Bluffs Woods Trail. I think most people turn around and go back down the way they came following the cliffside. Therefore, there weren’t nearly as many people on the second half of the forested trail. What a beautiful Wisconsin weather day this was; so glad we got to be outdoors to enjoy it.

We made it back to our camper just as the sun was setting on this Labor Day Monday. We opted for a quick dinner of leftover brats, white bean soup, meat sticks, cheese curds, & yogurt. Really, whatever we each wanted to eat was fair game — Mom and Dad weren’t cooking tonight.

All four of us had the giggles over Tory’s evening skin-care routine. “Oh my gosh, how many products did you bring?” Andi asked Tory in amazement as she whipped open a foldable bag of products. “Oh, this is nothing,” she said with a shrug. “I’m only on step one of my nightly routine — first skincare, then teeth, and finally hair.” She spent at least 30 minutes washing, brushing, and moisturizing.

Once everyone was in bed, the four of us read and relaxed until lights out around 10:00pm.

Tomorrow, we’re making our way to Lake Michigan on the eastern side of Wisconsin. We’ve been to Lake Michigan before, but never on the Wisconsin side. (Well, technically, this isn’t quite true since we’ve visited Door County). The eastern side of Wisconsin is an area I’ve always wanted to visit — looking forward to it!