Last Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2007 2:50 PM CDT
Family Fun in the Northwoods
by Julie Holperin - Special to The Daily News
Memorial Day weekend means three days of fun before the final days of school. We all know the weather is questionable this holiday weekend. To start your planning be prepared with some indoor activity the entire family will enjoy.
Friday night is family night at the YMCA. If you are not a member, the Y is open to everyone for $7.50 for the family. Swim, play games and outdoor activities, like bubbles and bug-hunting are featured family events for the evening, 362-9622. Saturday afternoon bowling at Hodag Lanes is always entertaining and you can order great pizza there too, 362-7115. The new Pirates of the Caribean family movie is coming out on May 25 at Rouman Cinema, and don't forget to treat everyone afterwards to their delicious gelato, 362-2800.
Teaching our children about the nature that abounds in our area is so important to preserving our area's beauty.
Some ideas for the whole family include: Saturday only, stop at Pioneer Park for a Farmers Market-sponsored farm and garden swap. Cost is $5 for a booth to sell or swap your live animals as well as purchase plants and fresh dairy - the kids will love to see the varieties of chickens and bunnies. On Sunday head over to the Northwoods Children's Museum in Eagle River.Through the end of May there are live baby bunnies bringing the tale of Peter Rabbit to life, 715-479-4623 .
Eagle River is also hosting the annual Strawberry craft sale at the Eagle River fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday. The event features free family entertainment, food and strawberry specialties. Free admission call 715-675-6201 for information. The Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua has free tours on Friday and Saturday. The center educates tourists on the care of injured or orphaned wild animals, 715-356-7400. Also Vogel's Farm in Elcho is showing off their “Farm on the hill” this weekend. For $3 you can feed the live animals, tour the goat milking parlor and lots more. Call 715-275-3532 for more information.
If the weather is beautiful I suggest spending Friday night hitting a bucket of balls at the Northwoods Country Club, 282-6565. Their restaurant has new management and a new menu so stay and enjoy the local fish fry in a family friendly environment. Go ahead and spoil everyone with ice cream afterwards. On Saturday check out the afternoon sightseeing expedition on the Wisconsin River cruise boat touring our scenic Wisconsin River. The onehour cruise starts at 2 p.m. and costs $6.95 for children to age 10 and $12.95 for adults, 369-7500. Sunday Mel's is showing off canoes and kayaks and offering free demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hodag Park (north of the beach. Adults must accompany children - bring along their boating life jackets and call 362-5800 for more information. Sometime this weekend take your family to one of the local plant shops and let them pick out their own vegetables and herb plants to grow. Planting pumpkins and gourds now will yield a great fall pumpkin patch. Or, buy a tree and plant it in memory of a beloved member of your family.
On Memorial Day, in addition to paying tribute to our soliders by attending a ceremony listed on page 2 of this section, drive, ride or bike over to Pioneer Park to enjoy the opening day of the Logging Camp Museum for special exhibits, demonstrations and ceremonies.
Admission is free but be generous in the goodwill offering because the workers do a great job of keeping up our local museum. My kids have delighted in checking out the old school house every year since they were very little. Pack a picnic and enjoy the park! Be prepared parents -- this is the time to pack a bag in your car with sunscreen, bug spray, a blanket, bottled water, garbage bags and a large inventory of band-aids!
For a simple but really different kind of fun, pull out your old photos from the storage box and buy a photo journal, some markers and stickers and make a family scrapbook. Involve everyone; your kids are going to savor those memories forever!
Just a reminder to be a good role model to your kids and grandkids who by law have to wear their life jackets in boats - so wear your life jackets, too! My family will be hosting our lake association meeting - a great opportunity to see all our neighbors and discuss ways to help preserve our beautiful lake. Happy holiday weekend. Feel free to e-mail family oriented events to The Daily News at news@rhinelander dailynews.com.
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