Car Camping, Paddling, and Hiking the Meadow Valley and Cave Trails at Governor Dodge State Park

Need a relaxing environment to test out your camping gear in preparation before embarking on summer wilderness adventures? April car camping offers moderate weather and spring's first blossoms without the summer crowds. Looking forward to the weekend, we rushed to head out Friday night after work, getting camp set up just before dark. Governor Dodge State Park is located in Iowa County near Dodgeville on Wisconsin State Highway 23.

April Hike, Paddle and Camp Out at Devil's Lake State Park

Anticipating a break in the April showers, we rushed home Friday night to head out for our first spring camping trip. Hard to say what we enjoyed the most. I loved my sunrise solo hike around Devil's Lake on and off the Ice Age Trail. This is one of the prettiest hikes in Wisconsin, but these trails tend to be jam-packed with tourists. Best times to go are early mornings, weekdays, and off-season.

How to be a Good Green Car Camping Neighbor

Sometimes camping green and being a good camping neighbor go hand in hand. One day I realized when it came car camping, I was getting green all wrong. When camping with my cousin’s family, I noticed my family generated two full sized trash bags, while hers required a small bag that never seemed to fill. Concerned for what I was teaching my daughter, I started making changes. Now, I practice the green suggestions listed here, and I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to teach my daughter to be a good, green camping neighbor.

March hike on the Ice Age Trail, Gibraltar Rock County Park and Connecting Routes

Sunrise hikes offer the opportunity to see more wildlife and experience a special kind of stillness. Morning's glow lights the trees in temporary shades of orange and gold before painting them their ordinary daytime browns. The stress of deadlines, business travel, and life's little worries melt away. There is nothing like a sunrise hike.

LÄRABAR

Trying to give up sweeteners and missing your granola bars? For me, foregoing granola bars on hiking and canoe trips turned out to be one of the toughest things about giving up sweeteners (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners). Many of the "healthful" granola  bars and all of my former favorites contain sweeteners. 

Spring Hike on the Indian Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Two weeks changes everything. Soft mud now replaces the hard-packed ice and snow trail cover. Caught up in the whirlwind of the first two weeks on a new job and business travel, I've missed the trail. With spring in the air and the weather a bit warmer, my family happily joined me in hiking the Indian Lake Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

March Hike on the Cross Plains and Table Bluff Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Another sunny March day beckoning, I headed to Cross Plains for a walk on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. After so many months of overcast skies, March sun and geese honking overhead provide welcome signs spring will soon arrive. Today's hike covered the Cross Plains Segment, a finish up of the Table Bluff Segment, and the connecting route between the segments.