Wilderness Bay Resort

We're reporting from Wilderness Bay Resort in Park Rapids, MN! After a nice long, relatively quiet drive, we arrived to a quick and friendly check-in, and promptly sat on our picnic table directly overlooking the serene Little Mantrap lake. It's got to be one of the clearest lakes John and I have ever seen in our lives. There's just no murk whatsoever, seaweed yes, but the water itself is crystal clear. It's so quiet out here, all we can hear is the wind and a donkey off in the distance, and even a wild turkey gobbling across the other side of the lake :) We've already seen quite a few wild turkeys (and a host of not wild ones that I won't describe, but I will give a solemn nod to) along the journey up here, along with tons of cows and horses. They've got the cutest, friendliest, hairiest kitty that lives here, and she just ran right up to us, sat on the picnic table and has been hanging around the cabins, stalking along the banks, and she even came into the cabin with us for awhile when the thunder was roaring close by.

This place really is an "up north" marvel. It's perfect for our tastes (running water, bathroom, shower, heat, fully stocked kitchen, etc) but more rustic than the last place we stayed with the family. I think this place will be where I recommend us all to come next year because there are two log cabins right next to each that would be perfect for mum and my sisters family to all stay in. We're in the bigger one, which I think would be great for the family and then another couple snagged the little one that we originally tried to book which is also right on the lake but only one queen bedroom. They're downright quaint.

Since the skies are cloudy tonight, we won't be able to use the telescope, but we've just spent the entire evening staring at the rippling waters, listening to an amazing wind, and talking the evening through. We're tucked in having tea and reading now that it's too dark and buggy outdoors. Tomorrow we plan on heading into Bemidji to get some jeans (since I didn't re-check the bag after we did laundry and forgot to pack them) and get a few more groceries to grill up for supper. Tonight we just had a breakfast-dinner of eggs, sausages, toast and bananas, followed by coffee and a walk around the grounds. We also bought fixins for S'mores that we'll have to settle on the gas stovetop tonight since it's supposed to rain out.

What a perfect evening!!