I love the luxury picnic trend because it’s a relaxed and intimate way to get together with friends in the beautiful outdoors.
Recently, I attended a luxury picnic alongside fellow travel bloggers, photographers, writers, and content creators at B.F. Nelson Park, located on the historic Mississippi riverfront. Miko Picnics, a new local company, set up this gorgeous luxury picnic.
Until this event, many of us only knew each other through Instagram, and this was our first time meeting in person! That, together with this incredible setting, made for a night to remember. Not to mention connecting, laughing, sharing stories, and bouncing ideas off each other. It was a great night of women building up women.
RachCakes Vegan Baking made these yummy cookies for the event. Her vegan treats are fresh and made to order.
Sip and Bloom provided a floral arrangement class. The class was so fun; I highly suggest checking them out! We enjoyed working on a creative project and having something to bring home to remember a fun summer night.
Thank you to Shelby (Marketing Manager for @BloomingtonMN) and Sara (Planet with Sara) for planning a great event and bringing us together.
I can’t believe that I grew up in Minnesota and never experienced the Gunflint Trail! Anyone else? We spent most of our time in the Crosslake/Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota because that is where my grandparents lived. So, this was an exciting adventure after reading and hearing stories about the Gunflint Trail over the years. We had a blast exploring and can’t wait to go back.
The Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway is one of three nationally designated highways that wind through the Superior National Forest. The drive is filled with views of lush trees, wildflowers (fireweed is my favorite), and breathtaking overlooks. The trail is about 57 miles long, starting in Grand Marais, and runs along the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Pincushion Mountain Overlook – Views of Grand Marais
Our first stop was the legendary Trail Center Lodge (Home of Camp Chow). I had the BEST gluten-free salmon burger slathered in the perfect amount of tartar sauce. Thank you, ladies! As well as being a great spot for lunch, you will find groceries, gifts, gas, and firewood. The Trail Center’s history goes back to the 1930s. You can read about it here http://www.trailcenterlodge.com/history.html.
Traditions carry on in this small beautiful community on Poplar Lake.
After lunch, we hiked Honeymoon Bluff. This is a short hike (1 mile) but with a lot of stairs. The stairs are worth the views of Hungry Jack Lake. That small speck in the photo below is a pontoon boat – doesn’t that look amazing?
Lodging and Restaurants
Then, it was time to check into Poplar Haus! We stayed in the Northern Gnome Cabin. This dog-friendly historic log cabin, built in 1927, has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and is adorable. In addition, you have your own personal dock, fire pit, and picnic table. There is a full-service onsite restaurant, liquor store, and free use of kayaks and canoes. Plus, fishing and pontoon rentals. All of this, coupled with the Poplar Haus being located just outside the Boundary Waters Wilderness, means enjoying a little piece of heaven.
We took full advantage of the peace and quiet and panoramic views at the lake.
How cute are all the gnome decorations? Every day, I found a new one.
There’s a perfect spot to hang your hammock right by the water.
On the whole, this is a great spot to lodge if you want to be close to some modern conveniences or it’s your first time experiencing the Gunflint Trail. For example, if you’re in urgent need of ice cream. 😉 The Trail Center Lodge is only one mile down the road. After eating the Poplar Haus burger (which was excellent), we went back to the Trail Center for one of their malts. They have a ton of flavors and are HUGE. I suggest the rhubarb.
Allen loved hanging out by the lake and watching all the little animals, bugs, and butterflies. Thank you for being dog-friendly, Poplar Haus.
Last, there is so much more to do with endless trails, lakes, and nature to enjoy.
This is a tiny peek and I look forward to many more Gunflint Trail adventures. Visit the Cook County website for more information – https://www.visitcookcounty.com/.
Don’t you think the first workday is really the official start to a new year? Before that, I’m floating in neverland.
My blog started as an outlet to share my feelings about living with a chronic disease. It has transformed along with me as I learned to navigate my condition and life. Just like 2020, the disease kicked my butt. At the same time it put me on a path to discover what truly matters and makes me happy. That’s what I’m taking away from this last year. To focus on what matters, to help others, and to share hope.
My blog name, What Stirs Your Soul, was created to inspire others. Inspiration to pause and ask yourself that question.
We get caught up in the swirl of life and don’t take the time to find what truly makes us happy. We do things that we think we “should” do and soon we are on autopilot. It took a life-changing diagnosis for me to slow down, find my passions, and appreciate the little moments. That can be the benefit of challenges in our lives. It’s not easy and it’s always a process. It’s taken me years and something that I continue to work on.
My wish for everyone during this crazy unusual year is that you are able to reset. To experience life with new eyes, to find peace, enjoy simpler festivities, AND ask…what stirs my soul? If 2020 taught us anything, it is how fast everything can change. Live your dreams. Live you.
When I look back, I realize that it was during the hardest times in my life that I put roots down, grew stronger, and found solid ground (even though I didn’t know it at the time). That probably doesn’t feel possible right now. It is hard to see clear when we are in the middle of a storm.
We grow through every experience. If we pay attention, we can see the beauty in the struggle. That doesn’t mean that we should ignore the pain or be positive all the time. It means learning from the challenges, searching for new ways to survive, and taking the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. We have this one precious life to live.
As humans, we can be stubborn and blind to what is right in front of us. We are all moving too fast. We don’t want to slow down because then we are forced to look inward, to face our problems…insecurities, sadness, anxiety. What we don’t realize is that it is in the slowing down that we can heal. If we don’t “feed and water” ourselves, how can we move forward? How can we truly grow as people…as a community…as a country?
If you’re feeling sad, look around today and find one simple thing that has brought you joy in the last week. That one thing is a start, something to build upon. Look inward and think about what has felt good…what has “stirred your soul”. That is the place to plant your roots and grow. When I’m struggling, I hold onto to what stirs my soul and it brings my life back into focus. Keep searching for that light… ❤️
Today is Giving Tuesday Now. The current pandemic is affecting everyone including homeless pets and pet shelters. I’m so thankful for the hard work that Best Friends Animal Society is doing even during this uncertain time to save them all.
Giving Tuesday Now is an opportunity to support the organizations that you love most. If you give to Best Friends Animal Society today – your donation will be triple-matched by an anonymous donor.
In times of uncertainty and hardship, our pets are here for us, helping to ease our anxiety and lift our spirits. Their unconditional love provides priceless healing. Indeed, they make our families whole. That’s why during this crisis, Best Friends is:
🐶 Accelerating emergency foster programs, remote adoptions, pet food distribution, virtual vet care and whole family support to save lives and keep pets and people together
🐱 Helping nearly 3,000 shelters and rescue groups with essential resources and innovative lifesaving solutions tailored to meet community needs to save the most lives, even with social distancing in place
🐶 Organizing people in communities across the country to join together, take action and be a beacon of hope for animals at risk and neighbors in need
Our resolve to save lives doesn’t stop even in times of global crisis, and now more than ever, homeless pets need your kindness to continue receiving love, care and lifesaving second chances.
Let’s do what we can to save all these beautiful souls. Click here to give: BEST FRIENDS.
: 
