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After a week grinding at the office, we both needed a break but didn’t want to use vacation time or spend a lot of money to escape. This led us to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin – a village located 45 minutes south of Milwaukee and about 60 minutes north of Chicago. It makes for a nice, easy getaway if your in need of a change of pace and quickly.
We started our visit with a yoga flow session at Santosha yoga studio. We’ll be honest – we struggled. We were sweating buckets. It was early. Too early. But we left refreshed and energized. We highly recommend the Fergie v. Gwen Stefani Core Sculpt class. This class offered a total body, low-impact workout. If you have any hesitations about joining a class at this studio, let those go! You will feel welcomed and enjoy the sense of community cultivated by the instructor. The pain will be worth the gain.
Things to know before you arrive at Santosha yoga studio:
~ Classes fill up fast! Download the Santosha Yoga app in advance to stay up to date on the current class schedule.
~ We brought our own yoga mats but mats and towels are available to rent on-site.
~ If you join an early AM session, you might be able to enjoy a beautiful Midwestern sunrise!
Next, we grabbed some much-needed fuel at Shelby Campbell’s. Attached to the DoubleTree by Hilton, you don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine here. Enjoy fast and friendly service while sipping on a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The dining space was cozy and bright with lots of large open windows. The menu was focused and has a variety of American breakfast classics. There is something for everyone including vegetarian options, gluten-free and healthy choices too. We left satisfied and ready to seize the day.
FYI – coffee service was unlimited! So go ahead, say yes to that coffee top-off when asked.
Next, we headed outdoors for a leisurely walk on the Donald Hackbarth Trail.
Address: 9525 114th Ave, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
We picked up the trailhead near the beach pavilion at Lake Andrea. From there we enjoyed an easy, 1.9-mile trail that took us through woods and wetlands. This trail is perfect for all hiking skill levels and kiddos would enjoy it too (we think!) The highlight of the trail was the boardwalk which crosses over Jerome Creek. It’s a lovely addition that allows you to tune out the hustle and bustle of ordinary life and tune into nature.
A must stop, pit stop for us on this trip was the Mars Cheese Castle.
Address: 2800 W Frontage Rd, Kenosha
We headed here specifically to pick up some hiking/trail treats. We highly recommend this place – you won’t regret this visit. Between bags of the squeakiest cheese curds, savory cold cuts and sweet treats, eating a little bit of everything here is a worthwhile goal. Plus, most of the products, especially the cheese and brews, are locally made in Wisconsin making this a great way to support local businesses in the area and state. All products are reasonably priced too. So go ahead, pick up that wedge of truffle cheese you’ve never seen before and give it a go!
Bonus: You can try a variety of cheese and meats at sample stations set up inside near the deli section.
Cost: $0.
Enjoyment level: High.
Bags of curds in hand, we continued to get our nature fix by venturing over to the Kenosha Sand Dunes.
Address: 8228 7th Ave., Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
The dunes served up the best lake views in Pleasant Prairie. If you ask us, this place is a well-kept secret. We could hardly believe it was a stone-throw from Milwaukee.
The gently rolling sand dunes, formed long ago by Wisconsin glaciers, are traversed with easy to spot footpath trails. The main trail is about 2 miles and is mostly easy. Depending on where you start, the trail will lead you directly to the shoreline where you can enjoy lake views for as far as your eye can see. There is no entrance fee to access the dunes and the trails are dog-friendly.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed recharging in Pleasant Prairie and were happy we didn’t have to travel far or break the bank to do so.
~ Justin + Alyssa
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