The call of water and the promise of long days together brought the Lucas family to Madeline Island for a memorable end-of-summer vacation.
Jen Lucas shares how she, husband John and their boys Jack, Charlie and Ben — who were twelve, nine and six at the time — spent their time on the largest of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.
What were you expecting out of this vacation?
We were really looking for new experiences, especially in Wisconsin. Our middle son would be starting fourth grade in the fall, and we knew that it is a home state-focused year, too.
What were your days like?
We set up “base camp” at our AirBnB house and fanned out into daylong activities around the island. The car ferry to the island and being surrounded by oceanlike Lake Superior felt otherworldly from our urban Madison life!
What role did the house play in your experience?
Our oldest son, Jack, has severe food allergies, so I prepared and brought every meal with us. Our cabin allowed us to have lazy mornings filled with Legos, reading and board games, and time to pack lunches and snacks in the cooler. We returned in the evening for dinner, s’mores and more downtime.
What were highlights of the trip?
We loved Big Bay State Park. We hiked a lot of the island and spent several days at the beach. The biggest thrill was chartering a speedboat to take us around the Apostle Islands for the day. We saw shipwrecks, historic lighthouses and a preserved fishing campsite, and then used blow-up kayaks to explore the sea caves up close.
The hands down highlight for the kids was a popular spot to do cliff jumping. Charlie, my middle son, spotted the crowd the first day and promptly started the begging process after I was a solid “nope.” But because the island is small, we revisited the spot several times and watched all ages making the jump. I acquiesced on our last day. To my great surprise, Jack and Ben wanted to do it after Charlie. They’re all solid swimmers and found Lake Superior’s brisk welcome exhilarating.
What was an unexpected delight of the trip?
We were surprised by finding fall leaves in early August! I was also utterly charmed by being on beaches with full forests behind us.
What parts of the vacation have stuck with you the most since then?
We celebrated Ben’s sixth birthday on the island. I tucked a little “Happy Birthday” banner in our suitcase to make it feel more like his day. We now keep his birthday vacation-free so he can celebrate with friends, but I sincerely hope he holds a special place in his memory for vacation birthdays.
How is your family different on vacation than at home?
As the kids have gotten older, they have their own friends, interests and activities that pull us away from each other. Getting away allows us to come together without distractions and have a shared experience.
What other Wisconsin vacation locales have you loved? Any others on your wishlist?
We’re always drawn to water, so Door County, Sheboygan and Milwaukee are spots we’ve loved. We’ve also spent a lot of time in the far southwestern corner of Wisconsin on a family farm, and a lovely getaway near Antigo, Wisconsin, on Moose Lake is dear to me. The Driftless region is on my list!
Photos by Jen Lucas.