Summer With Cousins

Are you starting to dream about summer yet?  Are you thinking how fun it would be to get your families together?  A summer vacation for the cousins?  Well, let me show you how can do it on Washington Island.  I have a huge immediate family and while we couldn't all fit in our house, two other homes were rented on the island.  Our home became the main hangout spot.  The rented homes weren't on the water (which can reduce your costs), instead using our house for the lake frontage.

Here the cousins hang out at the snack bar.

Roasting marshmallows on the shore.

Back at the snack bar.  Placing orders at the service window to the kitchen.

Note the "Snak Shak" sign made especially for this trip by the cousins.  And, the daily menu so everyone knew what they could order!

Yeah for cousins!  Yeah for Washington Island!

Summers with cousins are the best!

A little yoga on the deck.

Or red, white, and blue goldfish...

How about a hot outdoor shower/bath?

And maybe some rock star performances?

Collecting rocks...

Getting ready for kayaking.

Long afternoons spent on School House Beach where only four of these beaches exist in this world and it's almost a crime to take any of the rocks.  We like to bring washable watercolors and paint them.  Even without the paint,  hours can be spent simply painting them with water while watching your masterpieces disappear within minutes in the hot summer sun.

Can you see how clear that water is?!

The appearance of the orange dock is a sign that summer has arrived on the island.

Back at home it's awfully nice to share some fudgesicles while playing cards on the deck.

I don't know about your woods, but in our woods we have fairies come visit.  They love to bring candy, trinkets, and even jewels!

More painting on our shorefront.

Our waters are shallow for a long way out.  This means the water is warmer and it's a great place to park your chairs for some sun while your toes stay cool in the water.

If you're ready for some summer fun, book now!

To see our rental listing, click here.  We are #116 Judy.  

Or, you can call Mike Kickbush at 920-847-2870.

Of course if you come without kids, your vacation would look like this:

Perhaps it is because we've had no snow this winter in Wisconsin that I'm feeling a little reminiscent of this particular winter on Washington Island...  

We made our reservations in advance to secure a spot on one of the three trips leaving for Washington Island one cold winter day.  It was aboard the Arni J. Richter, the one and only ferry that can cut through ice.  Before there was the Arni J. Richter, one simply rode on a snow mobile across the ice if you needed to get to the mainland.  This day I was thankful for this ferry. 

 The ice was thick.  At one point the ferry stopped, went in reverse, and then gunned it forward into the ice, cracking a path for us to get through.  With sheer excitement  I ran to the back of the boat to watch the gulls flock and dive to catch whatever fish they could in this short moment the waters opened.

As we trudged along I watched the birds fly away and the water close up as quickly as it opened.  As if it had never happened. 

 It was beautiful, serene, and exciting.  Aside from being on a large cargo carrying modern day ferry that can cut through ice, I felt like we were pioneers in a deserted land.  Just us and the birds.

 Amazing.  Thrilling.  Blood pumping fun!

 When we finally touched land and arrived at our house, this is what our shore looked like.  Almost completely unrecognizable from what I remember in the summer.

 The next morning we awoke to this.

 A blanket of white can turn any place beautiful.  

A blanket of white on Washington Island can turn it utterly ethereal.

 And, being sufficiently warmed by our vintage Jotel stove indoors, a walk in the woods was invigorating.

If you want an experience like this click here or call Mike Kickbush at 920-847-2870.

We'd be happy to start up the stove and fluff the down comforters for you.

Of course, you'd have to be okay with no running water and using the bathroom en pleine aire :)