"Up North"...Cabin Life:

Owning a cabin is a dream for nearly all Minnesotans.  In fact, in a recent survey by Lakestyle, 63% of those without a lake home or cabin hope to have one in the future.     It's no wonder that the roads to and from the lakes are getting busier every year.  

Of course, a cabin is more than a vacation getaway, it truly is a "home away from home" with all of the joys, and the headaches of homeownership and more!  Summertime is certainly the season most cherished by cabin owners.  Here are ten ways to make the most of your cabin this summer:

Beat the rush:

Without a doubt, the number one problem identified by resort area home owners is the weekend traffic.  Try leaving on Thursday and returning on Monday.  By beating the traffic, you'll avoid unnecessary hours behind the wheel, particularly if there is bad weather or an accident and you'll get more time at the lake too!

Find some local help:

Most cabin owners love the lake, the peace and quiet and the time with the family.  Very few love the yard work.  Check with the local schools and churches or try advertising in the local newspapers for teenagers interested in some extra money.   For a few dollars a week, you can arrange to have the grass freshly clipped when you arrive!

Double up:

Try a trick used by frequent business travelers, get two full sets of your morning toiletries and leave one at the cabin.  It is no more expensive and much easier than lugging your shaving kit back and forth.  In addition, you'll never get halfway to the cabin before realizing you forgot the shampoo!

Get to know your local grocery store:

Experienced cabin owners know that nothing takes up as much space in the car as a weekend's worth of groceries.  Why not shop at the local store when you get there?  Better yet, make sure you stock up on non-perishables early in the season.  

Plan for the inevitable rainy day:

Stock up on board games, books and, of course magazines.  Nothing is as boring for the kids as a rainy day with nothing to do.  Of course, they may prefer to go shopping for new Pokemon games or videotapes.

Plan a day-trip:

On out-of-state vacations, we often plan every day weeks in advance.  At a minimum, consider a couple day-trips this summer.  From the home base of your cabin, you might find that the special day trip to Itasca State Park, the Iron Range or Duluth is only a couple hours away.  You might find that the "vacation within the vacation" makes for your families' favorite weekend up north!

Try a mid-week weekend:

Some families find that spending Monday through Friday at the cabin offers the most restful break of all.  It is also a terrific time to get to know the town without the overwhelming influence of the out of town visitors.

Leave the kids at Grandma's:

Many couples plan at least one cabin weekend alone.  What a great way to get to know each other again.  You might take the opportunity to try a new bottle of wine, shop together at the local antique store or just watch the sunset from the dock.  You may never want to bring the kids again!

Consider a lakefront progressive dinner:

Some families get to know their neighbors through an annual progressive dinner with a twist, by boat!  With each couple taking one course, you'll try new dishes without all of the work.  Better yet, you'll get to boat from home to home together, allowing even more time for conversation.

Build a fire:

Sitting on the beach at sunset with a roaring fire is one of the best ways to build a lasting, and memorable, tradition.  Stories get shared, s'mores get toasted and loons get heard.  For children it is a particularly special event, mom and dad's attention and a chance to stay up late.  No wonder "cabin kids" so often consider a cabin a "must have" when they have children of their own!