Over the years we’ve traveled by a variety of conveyances and stayed in everything from tents to the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. We tend to prefer the latter…and our clients generally would agree. But, for Elán, the credo “Travel Beyond” applies to anything and everything beyond one’s day-to-day life. These days we spend a good deal of our time at Borah Borah, our place in Wisconsin, where we trade the conveniences of the City for the allure of wildflowers and fresh air.
Our modest rural escape is actually in a pretty special place known as the Driftless Area. This geological island was missed by the recent ice ages that scraped much of the Midwest flat, and remains an area of tall bluffs and deeply carved valleys. Because of this, species that have long been extinct elsewhere have served…in an area also referred by scientists as the Paleozoic Plateau. You should think about visiting us sometime. Seriously.
Over the next few months we will be traveling extensively. We’re presently winging our way to Alaska, where we’ll be visiting some of the most exclusive and remote destinations in North America, including Talkeetna Lodge, Winterlake Lodge, and Sheldon Chalet. After that we’ll be voyaging to the Arctic Circle via England, Norway and Denmark, aboard the stunning Explora I. Then, it will be on to Positano, Italy to spend time exploring the Amalfi Coast.
But, before that, we owed it to ourselves to see a bit of what was in our own backyard. So, we loaded up the Yukon (also known as “The Big Bus”), and set off to explore a bit of Wisconsin.
The first leg of our local trek took us to Villa Bellezza in Pepin, Wisconsin, a remarkable property aimed at replicating an Italian winery. Stopping for lunch, we explored the grounds, then were greeted by Chef Antonio Cecconi, who now heads up the Villa’s culinary program. It’s really a surprising place, set not in Tuscany, but in Wisconsin, near the Mighty Mississippi. Chef Antonio, a native of Sardinia, came to the United States as a young man and has had a storied career in exclusive restaurants and in corporate America. If you’ve ever picked up the Betty Crocker Italian Cookbook, you may recognize him as the author.
Chef Antonio fed us well…very well…and gave us a tour of the impressive grounds. But, we had miles to cover. The Big Bus then took us to Stockholm, a tiny town (population 78) that has a surprising number of great shops and restaurants. Though we had eaten well at Villa Bellezza, there is always room for pie at the renowned Stockholm Pie and General Store. Mike declared his chocolate cream pie “the best chocolate pie of my life.” Without exaggeration, even if you have to fly, drive or walk thousands of miles, you must visit this place in your lifetime. Elán can charter a jet for you, and we’ll meet you for pie. It will not be a hardship.
And, yes, Wisconsin does have a “Pie Trail,” which takes the fortunate gastronome to some truly marvelous venues for home-baked pie.
From Stockholm it was on to our next stop, Wisconsin’s only Relais & Chateaux property, Canoe Bay. Driving to Canoe Bay (www.canoe bay.com) you would not really guess what you’re about to discover there. Miles of farms, rivers, and lakes takes you to a sign on Hogback Road which signals you’ve arrived.
Exquisite. Really, that’s probably the one word that summarizes it all. Arriving at the reception building, we were greeted by a cascading waterfall fountain, mounds of flowers, and an immaculate, understated lodge that provides the first hint of how special a place this is. Meredith welcomed us at the reception desk and escorted us to our Lakeside Cottage. This and all of the buildings on the property are inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright school of architectural design. Two were designed by one of his protégés, and the others were designed and built in a complementary style. Again, exquisite.
This was a celebration of Victoria’s birthday, and we were greeted with a beautiful display of flowers, a lovely charcuterie plate, and a bottle of chilled Larmandier-Bernier Brut Champagne. Meredith gave us a quick tour of our cottage, then excused herself. We relaxed for a bit, anticipating the next (best?) part of our visit, a private dinner in the Inn’s Wine Cellar, prepared and served by Chef Joy. Canoe Bay is known not only for its exquisite setting and architecture, but also for a truly unbelievable culinary program, headed by Joy and a tremendously talented team.
Then it was back to our cottage for an evening of relaxation. Awakening the next morning and peering out the window, the beauty of the sylvan vista promised that a wonderful day awaited.
Breakfast and lunch are brought to each guest cottage by the staff. Served in imaginative pottery containers, their delicious dishes arrive piping hot and presented beautifully. We enjoyed breakfast in our cottage--very civilized—and then we were off for a walking tour. We met John the Gardener, a Danish immigrant who manages the entire landscape maintenance and gardening operation nearly on his own. He showed us the way to the resort’s expansive garden, which supplies most of the produce used by the kitchen. Though it was early springtime, some of the produce was ready for harvest, representing an incredible amount of work on John’s part.
A stroll around the resort takes you through lush woodlands and glistening lakes, all in quiet solitude. Later we spent some time in the Lodge, which serves as the resort’s library, offering a truly great variety of books that span history, art, and nature. It’s a real “Wow!” that is sure to impress the most discerning bibliophile.
Mostly, though, Canoe Bay is a place for relaxation, which is how we spent the balance of our time there. It wasn’t all that difficult in our beautiful cottage overlooking a lake, with countless birds providing the soundtrack. The occasional deer graced us with her presence, as well.
Beyond that, we simply enjoyed an unhurried day at Canoe Bay, with lunch and dinner in our cottage, interspersed with a drive around the area, a resort haven for midwesterners. A great way to unwind.
After two nights it was time to return to Elán’s Northern Outpost (Borah Borah), but we lingered a bit along the way. We stopped at an outdoor market where we bought a couple of wooden pens that were handmade by an industrious young gent of about 10 years of age, then drove on to La Crosse where we were compelled to visit Meringue Bakery, owned by Jen Barney, a three-time winner of The Food Channel’s baking competitions. Rounding out the pie theme of our trip, we opted for a savory hand pie that was mighty delicious, after which we set our final course for Borah Borah. And, yes, we have to confess that we bought a cookie.
Rolling into the driveway of Borah Borah, we took a few moments to reflect on what was a really beautiful getaway. Not the same as hiking in Nepal or visiting Versailles, but equally rewarding in providing an opportunity to relax and reflect in a beautiful nearby place.
Having visited over 100 countries, it’s sometimes easy to forget the treasures nearby—great food and unique resort properties that celebrate local culture are often within easy driving distance. While we encourage our friends and clients to see all the world has to offer, we also are able to help them find unique experiences, like Canoe Bay (and the Pie Trail) nearer to home. Travel Beyond…but don’t forget the nearby treasures.
Exquisite. Really, that’s probably the one word that summarizes it all. Arriving at the reception building, we were greeted by a cascading waterfall fountain, mounds of flowers, and an immaculate, understated lodge that provides the first hint of how special a place this is. Meredith welcomed us at the reception desk and escorted us to our Lakeside Cottage. This and all of the buildings on the property are inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright school of architectural design. Two were designed by one of his protégés, and the others were designed and built in a complementary style. Again, exquisite.
This was a celebration of Victoria’s birthday, and we were greeted with a beautiful display of flowers, a lovely charcuterie plate, and a bottle of chilled Larmandier-Bernier Brut Champagne. Meredith gave us a quick tour of our cottage, then excused herself. We relaxed for a bit, anticipating the next (best?) part of our visit, a private dinner in the Inn’s Wine Cellar, prepared and served by Chef Joy. Canoe Bay is known not only for its exquisite setting and architecture, but also for a truly unbelievable culinary program, headed by Joy and a tremendously talented team.
Then it was back to our cottage for an evening of relaxation. Awakening the next morning and peering out the window, the beauty of the sylvan vista promised that a wonderful day awaited.
Breakfast and lunch are brought to each guest cottage by the staff. Served in imaginative pottery containers, their delicious dishes arrive piping hot and presented beautifully. We enjoyed breakfast in our cottage--very civilized—and then we were off for a walking tour. We met John the Gardener, a Danish immigrant who manages the entire landscape maintenance and gardening operation nearly on his own. He showed us the way to the resort’s expansive garden, which supplies most of the produce used by the kitchen. Though it was early springtime, some of the produce was ready for harvest, representing an incredible amount of work on John’s part.
A stroll around the resort takes you through lush woodlands and glistening lakes, all in quiet solitude. Later we spent some time in the Lodge, which serves as the resort’s library, offering a truly great variety of books that span history, art, and nature. It’s a real “Wow!” that is sure to impress the most discerning bibliophile.
Mostly, though, Canoe Bay is a place for relaxation, which is how we spent the balance of our time there. It wasn’t all that difficult in our beautiful cottage overlooking a lake, with countless birds providing the soundtrack. The occasional deer graced us with her presence, as well.
Beyond that, we simply enjoyed an unhurried day at Canoe Bay, with lunch and dinner in our cottage, interspersed with a drive around the area, a resort haven for midwesterners. A great way to unwind.
After two nights it was time to return to Elán’s Northern Outpost (Borah Borah), but we lingered a bit along the way. We stopped at an outdoor market where we bought a couple of wooden pens that were handmade by an industrious young gent of about 10 years of age, then drove on to La Crosse where we were compelled to visit Meringue Bakery, owned by Jen Barney, a three-time winner of The Food Channel’s baking competitions. Rounding out the pie theme of our trip, we opted for a savory hand pie that was mighty delicious, after which we set our final course for Borah Borah. And, yes, we have to confess that we bought a cookie.
Rolling into the driveway of Borah Borah, we took a few moments to reflect on what was a really beautiful getaway. Not the same as hiking in Nepal or visiting Versailles, but equally rewarding in providing an opportunity to relax and reflect in a beautiful nearby place.
Having visited over 100 countries, it’s sometimes easy to forget the treasures nearby—great food and unique resort properties that celebrate local culture are often within easy driving distance. While we encourage our friends and clients to see all the world has to offer, we also are able to help them find unique experiences, like Canoe Bay (and the Pie Trail) nearer to home. Travel Beyond…but don’t forget the nearby treasures.