Wednesday, July 22, 2020

My First Travel Post Since Covid!

Like everyone else in the world, our 2020 vacation plans were cancelled.  Dealing with that fact was so difficult for me because last year we only took one vacation for we had too many projects to do around the house.  We were going to make up for it this year, and take a several vacations to places we had never been before.

But Covid had other plans for us, and we were forced to cancel all our vacations.  Sniff, sniff. 

Once things started to open up again, we decided to take a mini staycation!  My son came up from Illinois and we spent a few days bumming around Wisconsin and seeing some sights we have never seen before.  Because we were restricted in our travel choices, we were forced to explore our home state.  


Now,  before I begin my post about the very first place we went to on our staycation, I want to share our 4th of July experience.  Like most of America, most of the fireworks in Wisconsin were cancelled.  Most ridiculous thing ever.  Seriously?  They cancelled fireworks when it is so easy to stay six feet away from everyone, and you're outdoors.  Unreal.  My husband and I were so peeved about it that we decided to go to the fireworks of a nearby small town since our own small town did not have them.  The fireworks were shot over their lake.  Here is our view before the fireworks began.


Having the fireworks over the lake was a breathtaking site!  I loved how the fireworks were mirrored in the lake below.






We were so happy to be able to see fireworks and celebrate the 4th of July!  


Now, onto the first place we went to on our vacation:  Eagle Point, Wisconsin!  This is a spot that was recommended to us by a co-worker of my husbands.  We have lived in this area almost thirty years and have never heard of this place.  It is quite the hidden gem.  I think the best thing about taking a staycation is discovering new spots in your own area you never knew were there.


This tranquil spot is found after a short hiking distance through the woods along the Old Abe Trail.  It's a very difficult spot to find.  There are no signs advertising it.  It's almost as if they don't want people to know about it so they keep it a secret.  


The Old Abe Trail is 28 mile biking trail that connects the cities of Eau Claire, Cornell, and Chippewa Falls.  We joined the trail from the Chippewa Falls parking lot (directions to this lot in Old Abe Trail link),  this is known as Area 178.  Area 178 is a nine mile loop trail (We did not hike the loop. We took the trail only to the river).   There is a trail map in the parking lot.  I took a picture of it with my phone so we wouldn't get lost.


We didn't have to hike long through a mosquito filled woods till we reached our destination!  The view was spectacular.  I could not believe this place was so close to where I lived and I never knew it existed.


The water with the surrounding rock and multiple little rapids was so beautiful.


The Chippewa Falls Dam and Hydro Generating Station can be seen in the distance.  My husband and son rock scrambled to get a closer look, but I stayed behind to just sunbathe on the rocks.



The water is not recommended for swimming.  In fact there is a danger sign right before you reach the area.  As always, I have to remind my son and hubby to stay on the rocks, and don't go in the water, because they are both quite the thrill seekers (which causes me to have anxiety anytime I go anywhere with them).





I loved all the little water falls this area had.  It was such a hot day, I was so happy to find a safe spot to just sink and cool my feet in the refreshing water.





It was a wonderful first day of Staycation and I will be back with more posts of all the beautiful sites we saw in our own home state of Wisconsin.

So what about you?  How have you been enjoying your summer?  Are you traveling anywhere or just enjoying your own backyard?  I'd love to hear from you!

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40 comments:

  1. Last year a hurricane blew my vacation plans up and this year Covid did. We still have hopes for a short vacation planned in November. We'll see if the hotel cancels us. But we've been doing the weekend side-trips. We drive out and then ask Google if there's a park nearby. We've found several new ones that way.

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    1. Oh, that's so sad. I'm so sorry. It's been a bummer year for so many people. It's amazing how creative we have to get to have some fun now. We do the Google maps to find nearby parks too since most restaurants only offer drive thru services. We pick up our food and then go to a nearby park to eat it.

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  2. Those pictures of the fireworks over the lake are amazing! Beautiful! Glad you got to explore some new places: I love water!
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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  3. I just love fireworks over the lake! That looks like a beautiful place to hike and your husband and son sound a lot like my husband and middle son. They love adventure!

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  4. Those fireworks and the lake looks amazing! I really love it ❤️

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  5. I'm so glad you were able to see fireworks (crazy restrictions...that's what annoys us the most is when they don't make sense ) and get away. I do think that our own areas have a lot to be discovered.
    XOOX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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    1. Thanks Jodie. Yes, I think what has been driving everyone crazy during this whole Covid experience is the restrictions that seem like they have no logical reason behind them or the hypocritical ones (like you can't go to church and sing but you can go to a protest and scream.).

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  6. Glad things are getting better! Good to see you travel. Thank you for sharing the wonderful photos!

    https://nanchi.blog/

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  7. Vacationing in your own backyard is the best. We will be doing the same thing next week. Love your 4th of July photos.

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    1. Yes, Covid has forced most of all to enjoy our own backyards. Thanks so much.

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  8. So very nice. Love the pics of the fireworks over the lake. Amazing. Eagle Point looks so pretty and amazing. So very nice. I want to go there now.

    I left the San Francisco Bay Area and headed up to Reno and Carson City in Nevada for a few days. It was nice.

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    1. Thank you. That's great you got away for a few days. It feels so good after being locked up for so long doesn't it?

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  9. Yay for you guys to be able to get away a little. What a beautiful spot to hike. It reminds me of one we have close by that we have only visited once. Need to get back out to McKittrick again this fall...if it is open.
    Your 4th photos are dazzling. Just wonderful. What a perfect vantage point you had for all the fireworks and festivities.

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    1. Yes, it was nice. I hope you get to McKittrick again. Thanks so much.

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  10. Hi Amy - loved the fireworks pictures and glad you got to see some. A staycation seems to be the perfect interim plan as we battle covid closures and your walk along the water looks lovely. It's always nice to see something new in your local area. #MLSTL

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    1. Thanks Leanne. Yes, staycations are a good idea for now.

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  11. Great to read of your staycation Amy and your firework shots look fab. Isn't it funny how we can find things close to home that we didn't know existed?? So pleased for you! #mlstl

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    1. Thank you. Yes, that's the best part of Staycations...finding something new!

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  12. All public fireworks were cancelled in town but there were so many private large aerial displays we could see a few from our third story condo. We stayed there for the first four and a half months of the pandemic. A week ago we decided it was best to go home to our British Columbia small town to finish out the summer at our float cabin home. Canada Day fireworks were cancelled here a well, but when they have them they are over the water on a fishing raft at the main public park. We can see them from our condo balcony there a well, or walk down to the park to see them up close. I think it was best to cancel events to be safe with so many people ignoring distancing and masks. - Margy

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    1. I am so surprised you didn't quarantine for the entire pandemic in your float cabin home; it's more secluded and away from people. I am probably the opposite of you in my thoughts of the pandemic. I feel it's being politicized by globalists to accomplish their goals and that is why we are seeing so many hypocritical restrictions.

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  13. It looks like a great time! We are being encouraged to explore our own 'back yard' here in New Zealand. It's amazing what you can find to see that is new and exciting!

    It's great to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

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    1. It was! That's great you're exploring your "back yard" too.

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  14. Such lovely captures of the fireworks!

    Glad you got to see them!

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    1. Thank you! We were happy one small town still had them.

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  15. You found a great alternative to your usual fireworks and are discovering hidden gems in your own neighborhood. (I have been trying to find the positives in the craziness right now - here's two for you lol!) Glad you had a chance to get "away" for a bit!

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    1. Yes we are. We are trying to make the best of it.

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  16. YOur home state is gorgeous!! YOu took some fabulous photos!!!

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  17. It's great you were able to see fireworks like you wanted, and that you have been able to get out and explore a little of your state! We haven't gone too far from home since restrictions have been lifted, maybe next school holidays when it's a bit warmer - but who knows, with the second wave of outbreaks in another state that might be spreading to a second state. this virus gets around so quickly!


    Hope that you are having a nice weekend! It's a quiet one here as it's raining again!

    Away From Blue

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    1. I suppose it's different where you are because it was warm when the virus spread, and now it's cold there and you have the usual seasonal flu and cold to deal with.

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  18. Those photographs of the fireworks over the lake are simply beautiful.
    Glad you were able to find some nice spots to explore in your own state.

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  19. Our city always holds fireworks at a local lake, they are so beautiful to watch there! But of course this year they got cancelled too :( Glad you got do watch them from a nearby city!
    And loving the pretty area you found so close to your home!
    All of our plans got cancelled. I even booked a place in Estes Park in June but with free cancellation and ultimately decided it just wasn't worth the long drive this year...We spent July doing some home repairs and I added several plants to my backyard, I found such great deals on plants at Lowes and still do! I never knew until this year that they had a clearance flower/plant section, now I stop in there weekly to see what I can find :-) It's been a different summer for sure but I've been enjoying it so far!

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    1. Ellie, you are always so positive. Much more than I about current events. Yes, we considered going on our fall trip to Yellowstone but we also did not think it was worth the drive/cost. All the parks are open, but yet not open. We went to one park in Wisconsin where they had their viewing tower roped off "due to covid". We just thought that was the most ridiculous thing ever. And we also saw a video on YouTube of a couple who went to Zion. The park is open, but the shuttles aren't operating and parking is very limited. The poor couple had to get up in the middle of the night and wait in line at 3:30 in the morning to hike the Narrows. Even at 3:30 am they were #65 in line. It is insane! Definitely not the year to travel. So like you, we also just committed ourselves to doing projects at home and staycations. The home improvement stores are garden centers made killer sales this year!

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  20. Wow what a stunning country you live in. I wish we had such amazing locations within the UK, I don't think I'd ever leave if we did hehe. Those fireworks are incredible, it must feel so good to be able to travel again. I'm so sorry your vacation was cancelled xo

    Makeup Muddle

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    1. Thank you. America does have a very diverse landscape from tropics to desert and everything in-between.

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