Snackleboxes & Sass
Camping Close to Home: Girls Just Wanna Have Campfires (and Vintage Finds)
In late April, Ashley and Nora decided they needed a one-night escape—because who says you have to drive halfway to Alaska for a taste of adventure? Living in SE Wisconsin means epic camping is practically in your backyard, and they zeroed in on Pike Lake State Park in the rolling Kettle Moraine. Me? I’m two hours away in Central WI, but let’s be real: 1) I’m always game for an adventure, and 2) I used to live in the area, so I know how drop-dead gorgeous it is.
Flashback: My BearBear Days
Pike Lake was my playground back in the day, courtesy of BearBear—my very first four-legged fluffy husky trail buddy. Most of the trails are wide, all are well-kept, and so clean you could practically eat off them… though I’d recommend a snacklebox instead (more on that later). Trail maintenance here is next-level—seriously, someone give those rangers a medal—because those rolling hills will have your quads screaming in delight.
BearBear - my first husky hiking, biking, running, shotgun-riding adventure partner.
The Great Easy-Up Heist
We were aiming to rendezvous at the campground, but yours truly made a strategic detour to Ashley’s house first: 1) snag the Easy-Up shelter (rain contingency plan—because soggy marshmallows are the worst), and 2) perform the sacred “did you close the garage door?” ritual. Safety first, people!
Campfire Vibes & Full Campgrounds
Cool, damp weather? Pfft, details. Ashley and Nora already had a fire roaring faster than you can say “s’mores.” Pro tip: Pike Lake’s sites fill up quicker than my coffee cup on a Monday morning, so book ahead or arrive early if you want a spot.
Sunrise Summit & Canine Cavalry
Morning light, fresh air, hiking boots, or tennies—it doesn’t get better. We all conquered the overlook tower (70 feet of pure exhilaration), and though I thought dogs were a no-go up there, we saw zero signs banning them. Since it was pre-dawn and free of foot traffic, Maverick (my current husky) and Rufus (Ashley’s furball) got to escort us to the top. No complaints about leg day when the view is this good! Well, we may have complained a bit when we messaged Jill, our trainer from Mission Fitness (we’ll cover her in a different blog). We passed on Saturday morning, PiYo, and sent her a few squats from the top of Powder Hill to show we weren’t just sitting at the camper snackleboxing to our heart’s content.
Snackleboxes: The Unsung Heroes
After summiting, we dove into our snackleboxes—yes, “snackleboxes.” Ashley is the queen of portable grazing: one sweet treat box, one savory treat box, all packed like a Tetris champion. They’re cooler-friendly, bench-friendly, and impressively Instagram-friendly (although I refuse to let my snack game be overshadowed by filtered filters).
Plan D: Juice & Kombucha Pit Stop
We’d hoped to paddleboard down the Rubicon River into Neosho Pond, but Mother Nature had other plans. Enter Plan B/C/D: hit The Daily Dose Juice Bar in Slinger. Ashley downed her signature Black Rifle Brew, I detoxed with a Daily Detox, and Nora? She grabbed “the Aaron” smoothie like the health guru she thinks she is. We also scored a few bottles of local kombucha—because bubbles and good gut vibes are non-negotiable.
Vintage Therapy in Neosho
After packing up camp and dropping off gear at Ashley’s, we cruised to Cool Cat Vintage. Ashley teased, “Vintage—like you, Mom.” Ouch. But this place is pure time-travel magic: zero farmhouse-chic knockoffs, all genuine retro thrill. Think beer-can crochet hats, Dukes of Hazzard lunchboxes, lava lamps flickering like it’s 1978, and enough vinyl to make a DJ weep. Truly a memory-stirring wonderland.
Short & Sweet, But Oh-So Worth It
I rolled back home feeling refreshed, blessed, and just a tad jealous of my own snacklebox packing skills. Sure, it was a quick trip, but sometimes the best adventures are the spur-of-the-moment, close-to-home ones.
Quick Tips & Need-to-Knows
Pike Lake Essentials: Get the 12-month vehicle pass (daily options available).
Trails: Nine routes ranging from forest jaunts to wildflower strolls.
Pets: Leash ’em (max 8 ft), pick up after them, and let them sniff responsibly.
Facilities: Clean restrooms, well-maintained trails, and friendly rangers.
Links:
WI DNR Pike Lake Park info → https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake
The Daily Dose Juice Bar → https://www.dailydosejuicebar.com
Cool Cat Vintage (last weekend each month, 10 am–3 pm) → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088812905932
Go forth, pack those snackleboxes, and embrace the sass of spontaneous camping!
