Cozy Little Colonial: A Week on a Northern Lake, Once Again

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A Week on a Northern Lake, Once Again

One of the things we've missed the most about living in the Midwest was our annual family trip to Lake W*nnibigoshish in northern M*nnesota. We spent the second week of August at B*wen Lodge in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Last summer, we missed it terribly. This summer, we decided to try to fill the void, and it was a great success. Different, but at least as enjoyable.

We stayed at H*nry's Cottages, in Alburgh, VT, at the far north end of Lake Ch*mplain (nearly in Canada). It took roughly four and a half hours to get there, and the drive through the V*rmont countryside was beautiful and relaxing (an improvement over the eight-hour trip to W*nnie, through the Twin Cities).

The cottages (Sarah insisted on calling them cabins) are rustic and charming, with large screened-in porches that offer an escape from bugs, rain, and, for introverts like me, neighbors. They are situated right on the water, along the Alburg P*ssage.

We arrived on Saturday, and, once the weekend boat and float plane traffic subsided, it was tranquil and surprisingly secluded. The weather was hot for the first few days, then turned rainy and cool mid-week. Don and Sarah went fishing every morning, rain or shine, leaving me to my solitude. Despite Sarah's attempts to control everything and everyone (her survival response to a new environment), it was the most relaxing vacation I've had since she came home.

The fishing was fine -- not great by Midwest standards (no walleye) but respectable. We* caught 31 smallmouth bass, nine largemouth bass, 70+ sunfish (bluegill and pumpkinseed), 24 yellow perch, and a handful each of white perch and rock bass, along with one lone northern pike. Most were returned to the water, but we kept enough to have one yummy fish fry there, and another with my mom when we got home. *I use the term loosely, as Don and Sarah did the bulk of the fishing.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that one of the longest sand beaches on Lake Ch*mplain was just around the corner from the cottages. We visited Alb*rg D*nes State Park on Monday and stayed until we couldn't take the sun anymore. We need to invest in a beach umbrella before next year.

We also took a short drive to Isle L*motte and visited our good friends Mark and Chris, who live across the lake in Sw*nton, one evening. It was a wonderful trip, and we look forward to returning next year. Perhaps we'll throw in a day-trip to M*ntreal (only an hour away).