Every other year we go on a week long vacation with Cory’s side of the family. In previous years we’ve gone to Pensacola, FL and Lake Norris, TN. This year we ventured eight hours north to the Muscoda, WI area and stayed in this beautiful airbnb! Before going on a trip I love doing a bit of research on the area and getting recommendations from others. I thought I’d share everything from what I packed, what games/activities we did, and what excursions/experiences we did.
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The airbnb
With a group of 15 – 8 adults/7 kids we need a large space with at least four bedrooms – although we try to look for rentals with a bunk room as well for all of the kiddos. This home was perfect and had just that. Although the property was beautiful, there were a few pros/cons that I’ll share below. If you’d like to book the property, click here for the listing!
Pros:
- Plenty of space
- Beautiful property
- Large outdoor patio
- Pool Table
- Multiple TV/Hang out areas
- Secluded
Cons:
- 1 hr from major attractions
- Loud – you can hear everything going on in the house from the three main bedrooms
- No swimming – owners stated it was dangerous due to under current
- One refrigerator – bring multiple coolers for drinks
In my Suitcase
With it being a casual family trip, I wanted to be comfy so most of my suitcase was stuffed with loungewear. I also planned a few outfits for running into town or a potential date night. Anything I felt was excess will have a star by it!
- Leggings x2
- Sneakers x2 (one casual/one athletic) *I lived in my sandals
- Shorts x3
- Tank Top x3
- Heeled Sandals
- Swim Suits x4 *we didn’t know we couldn’t swim until we got there
- Sandals x3
- Sweatshirts x3
- Sweatpants
- Jean Jacket
- Ballcaps x2
- Slippers – I like to feel like I’m home
- Robe
- Dress
- PJ’s
I purchased a few items before the trip and wore the heck out of each piece – I have the sandals in alternate colors in my shopping cart now and have been living in my distressed shorts.
Activities/Outings
My favorite part of the trip was the Upper Dells Boat Tour! Cory’s Father had taken the same tour when he was a kid and wanted the family to have the same experience. The tour was two hours in total with two stops. The first stop was Witch’s Gulch – which was MAGICAL!
The second stop had a longer hike/walk but an option for a short route. This is where the famous dog rock jump takes place!
During the trip we planned a free day – where each family would have the day to do what they’d like, Cory and I wanted to take a trip into Madison to explore a bit. We walked around the downtown area and stopped into a few local shops. Then went to The Boathouse for lunch on the water – the food was delicious, views beautiful, and drinks tasty.
The Terrace at Memorial Union was a recommendation from a friend and it was an awesome spot. Cory and I both wished we would have found it earlier in the trip. You pay a $1 to be able to drink on the waterfront patio. They host many events here but the multiple food stands are worth the trip regardless of an event.
On the last day of the trip we had a “girls day” with our oldest nieces. We went into Richland Center which had a few thrift shops. The girls had a blast and most of us found treasures to bring home. I love thrifting during vacation – It’s a great way to bring back a non-cheesy souvenir.
Games
As a family we love playing games – kids charades and the water balloons were a hit for everyone and I’d highly suggest adding them to your cart for your next trip! I’ve also linked others we loved playing – options for every age group!
Overall we loved Wisconsin and definitely want to revisit and spend more time in the madison area! If you’ve been to the area, I’d love to know what you did and your favorite parts!
