The Picker Family: Hayward Getaway

We try to take an annual trip with my family and this year we decided on a fall trip so Miss Piper could join us (my new niece born in August). My sister, Bridget, learned of a nice rental from a friend, so we rented it for MEA weekend (a long weekend each fall in Minnesota school districts). None of us had ever been to Hayward, WI so it was exciting try out a new town and surrounding area.

We arrived at our rental Thursday at lunch and it was gorgeous both inside and out! (The rental is part of a large four-plex and the unit we stayed in is actually for sale.) There was a huge deck overlooking Lac Courte Oreilles (the lake) perfect for sunsets and inside we had the perfect amount of space for our families (my parents, Bridget, Ross, and Piper, and our family of four).

View from the deck

Family pic

We headed to town for lunch and groceries. We had lunch at the Gridiron because it was close to where we parked and it turned out to be very good bar and grill food. We spent the rest of the evening exploring the area on a walk and grilling out for dinner and sitting by a bonfire. The colors of the changing trees were incredible as well as the view of the sunset from our deck.

Walking near our rental

More beauty

Friday turned out to be a drizzly, cloudy day so we decided to head back into Hayward to check out some shops. We especially liked Gliks, a men's and women's clothing store and I also found a cute shirt in another shop, I think it was called Ahlgrens. Later that night we had dinner at The Waterfront which was only a mile away from our rental on another lake. It was a cute, local place with good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Family selfie at The Waterfront

Saturday was our last full day in Hayward and the weather was sunny again so we found a county park to do some hiking. We found Hatchery Park which had some great cross country skiing trails that worked great for us since we were pushing a jogging stroller. After our hike, we decided it was time for some treats in town. Some had ice cream at West's Dairy and others had candy from Tremblay's Sweet Shop. Our last night at the rental included more grilling out and playing cards.

Hiking (Piper in the carrier on Ross)

HUGE ice cream cones at West's Dairy

Sharing with Papa

Incredible sunset

Same sunset, a little later

Sunday, we were on the road by late morning and decided to take a different route home through Menomonie, WI and Wabasha, MN (on the way we drove through Red Wing, MN). We stopped for a late lunch in Menomonie and all had great meals at Log Jam Bar and Eatery. We especially loved their wild rice soup and I had a really good caprese grilled cheese sandwich. On our way home from Menomonie, Brent, the kids, and I stopped in Alma, WI which you can read more about at this post. The Beckmans and Moyers made a short stop in Wabasha for SeptOberfest. We had hoped to join them too, but we ran out of energy and headed home after Alma.

We had a great get away together, as always, and Piper was a wonderful addition this year:) We all loved Hayward and agreed we'd like to check it out in the summer some time so we can enjoy some swimming and fishing in the lake. Though, I have to say, I really love the fall colors and appreciated the lack of mosquitoes:)

I also have to tell a funny story from Luke. He knew the rental was for sale and asked if we could move there. I said I wasn't sure where Daddy and I would work in Hayward since it was a small town. He said we could work at Tremblay's Sweet Shop:) Oh the dreams of an 8 year old:)

A few of my favorite pics from the trip: