While Corinne Burgermeister and PJ Schwieger are active Madisonians, they recently embarked on an activity that has ignited their sense of adventure.
Both moved to Wisconsin’s capital city for college and quickly adapted to its lifestyle. And their love for the place only grew as they progressed in their careers — she at Destination Madison and he at PBS Wisconsin — and welcomed their son Emerson, who is now almost three.
But becoming campers has proven to be a great adventure, and a new way to explore and appreciate their home state.
What do you like best about living in Madison? What are some of your favorite things to do as a family?
I love living downtown and walking or biking to restaurants, coffeeshops and the grocery store. I love that Madison is filled with so much delicious and fresh food, and that there’s plenty of green space and nature to explore, too.
As a family, we love going on hikes at the Arboretum or out to the Henry Vilas Zoo — both are a short walk from our house. We spend lots of time at playgrounds, and with over 270 parks in Madison, there are so many to try. The Capitol lawn is another favorite playspace.
How did you get into exploring the outdoors and, more specifically, camping?
Like many, spending time inside throughout the pandemic pushed us out for more walks. Walks and hikes turned into running and biking. We gained a lot of confidence in doing outdoor activities with our then one-year-old. And after years of saying we should go camping, we finally decided to just go for it.
Had either of you ever camped before?
Neither of us had ever camped before! And neither of our families are very outdoorsy. We’d gone on casual hikes, and visited the Grand Canyon in 2019. It was such a life-changing trip. We bought a tent and sleeping bags as soon as we got home, and were eager to plan our first camping trip.
How did you start out with your camping?
We started with one night at Mirror Lake State Park. I wanted a spot near Madison so we could come back home if things were awful. That very first trip, we focused on learning how to set up our tent and hammock, and building a fire. We cooked hot dogs for dinner, and kept it really simple.
What’s it like camping with a toddler?
Camping, like any travel with a toddler, is not as relaxing as you’d want it to be. And that’s okay. Adjust your expectations! There’s not much sitting still. Lots of snacking. We give E easy tasks to help out with, so that he can be a part of it too. And although I’d love to hike ten miles, we’ve learned that short hikes are best. I take time to point out the different leaves and cool sticks. Birds, bugs and rocks, too. It’s so much fun to experience camping from a toddler’s point of view.
Any tips for fellow parents looking to camp with their kids?
Get a big enough tent! We have the Basecamp 6 for the three of us. It fits a Pack ‘N Play well, and I’d recommend that for younger kids. If your child is using a sleeping bag for the first time, try it out at home first. Bring favorite bedtime books, and their regular pillow or stuffed animals to keep the space familiar. We try to keep a normal-ish bedtime (so Mom and Dad can enjoy alone time by the fire), but it’s important to stay flexible.
We try to keep at least one meal a day really simple — like sandwiches and fruit for lunch, or yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast. For toys, we bring a few “outside cars” and some sand toys. There’s no need to overdo it! Most state parks have a playground, which is a familiar space for kids to run around and have fun.
What are some of your favorite camping spots in Wisconsin? And what’s on your wishlist?
We’ve been camping at a few state parks, and I’ve loved them all for different reasons. Mirror Lake has a nice beach, and smooth water for swimming or kayaking. Its proximity to the Dells is great in case the weather turns bad. Roche a Cri State Park is the quietest park we’ve been to. At the center is a huge rock with Native American petroglyphs, and there are several shorter trails perfect for a toddler. Kohler Andrae State Park has an interesting mix of terrain. There’s Lake Michigan and the beach, sand dunes and wooded campsites. It was cool to experience such variety in one place. And my very favorite — Wyalusing State Park. It’s an absolutely beautiful park. The landscape is so different from the Milwaukee area where I grew up. The hiking trails are challenging, and the views are amazing.
The more experienced we get, the farther out I hope to go! I’d love to camp Big Bay State Park in the Apostle Islands or any of the parks with waterfalls up north. Also on my wishlist: camping in national parks. I’d love to tackle Utah’s Mighty 5.
Please tell us about camping in Wyalusing! When did you go and what was it like?
Wyalusing is located near Prairie du Chien. Right where the Wisconsin River — our state’s biggest river — meets the Mississippi River. We visited first in 2020, and immediately booked a return visit for summer 2021.
There are two main camp areas — one wooded, and one up high, upon a ridge overlooking the Wisconsin River. Sunsets here are truly magical. It’s so peaceful to sit on the ridge and look out at the river, either with your morning coffee, or at night by the fire. There are great hiking trails — some are steep and challenging, while others have scenic overlooks that are easy for anyone to pop over to. There’s kayak rentals, and preserved effigy mounds, too. It’s got a mix of everything. To round out your trip, a visit to Pete’s Hamburgers in Prairie du Chien is a must, as is driving along the Mississippi River on the Great River Road. I would love to visit again in fall to see all the colorful leaves.
What else are you looking forward to this coming fall?
I’m looking forward to putting mums out on my porch, playing in the leaves, apple picking and pumpkin carving. Each year I’m excited to experience those things in new ways, as my son turns a year older. I also hope to make it to the Olbrich Biergarten and the Memorial Union Terrace once more before they close for the season. Fall is my favorite season, so I really try to be present, and enjoy all the little traditions that make it so special.
– Katie Vaughn
Photos (of Wyalusing State Park) by Corinne Burgermeister.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.