About Douglas County, WI

Every now and then, I get calls from homeowners, most often widows, who have decided they're ready to move to town. When people reach a certain age, sometimes an isolated home at the lake or in the country no longer feels as perfect as it once did. It's been your dream home for decades, but now you're dreaming of shorter drives, closer friends, and closer coffee.

Around here in Northwest Wisconsin, the winters can be long. Sometimes the road to the doctor or the grocery store can feel a little longer, too. If you've lived through 70 or 80 of these winters, you know what to expect. Maybe you're ready to brave several more winters.

But maybe you've decided you'll enjoy them a little more when all the conveniences are a little closer. When it's time to move to town, I can help you sell your old home and find a new one. If you'd like to move a bit farther, maybe all the way down to the Cities so you can be closer to family, I'd be glad to introduce you to another agent in the Edina Realty network.

If you're not sure when you'll make the move, I'd still be glad to perform a detailed market analysis so you know what your current home is worth in today's market. I can also give you a better sense of what you'll need to pay for your next home. That way, at least you'll know your options.

True, the market has changed the past couple years. But if you've owned your home for quite a while, you may be pleasantly surprised at its current value. And one way or another, more information is always good. It's good to know your options.

If you're headed north on Interstate 35 from Minneapolis - Saint Paul toward Duluth and plan to cross over into Wisconsin, here's an alternate route you may want to try over the congested Fourth of July weekend.

Instead of taking the Bong Bridge (Interstate Highway 2) into Wisconsin, take the Minnesota 210 exit near Black Bear Casino and head east through Carlton, Minnesota. This route takes you past the Thomson Hydroelectric Dam site and the Willard Munger Trail, through beautiful Jay Cooke State Park.

The winding road through Jay Cooke State Park will take you past some of the most delightful unspoiled wilderness views anywhere in Minnesota. If you haven't taken this route before, I highly recommend it!

At the easternmost end of Highway 210, you'll find yourself in Fond du Lac, Minnesota (Fond du Lac is actually considered a south Duluth suburb). Take a left on Minnesota Highway 23 and head north a few miles beyond Fond du Lac, until you see the Highway 39 bridge. Drive east and you'll cross the Saint Louis River into the town of Oliver, Wisconsin.

Once you're in Oliver, the town of Superior is just five to ten minutes east of the bridge crossing. Beyond the bridge crossing, the eastbound highway becomes Wisconsin 105.

In Superior, you'll intersect with Wisconsin Highway 35. Another pleasant detour on the way east would be to head south on Wisconsin 35 until you reach Douglas County Road C. Heading east on 'C' will bring you to South Range, Wisconsin, just west of Amnicon Falls State Park and Highway 53.

Or, you could drive a little farther south and head east on Douglas County Road B, through lovely Pattison State Park. The Pattison family built and occupied historic Fairlawn Mansion, in Superior, Wisconsin. Fairlawn Mansion is another must-see destination, just across the highway from Barker's Island.

Douglas County 'B' goes east through Pattison State Park, jogs south briefly and then east again, intersecting with Wisconsin Highway 53 in Hawthorne.

You can take B further east, all the way into Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. And if you continue east to Wisconsin 27, you'll wind up in Brule, Wisconsin, at the intersection of 27 and U.S. Route 2.

Take the back roads next time you visit northwest Wisconsin and enjoy some fabulous scenery!

I finally figured out where to get a cup of coffee at 7 in the morning up here!

I'm at Rose's Bakery & Coffee Shop, in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. I stumbled in here at about 6:45 and Rose herself made me a latte. There were only two customers in here when I arrived, but now (about fifteen minutes later) the place is packed! This seems to be the place where the locals congregate in the morning for an eye-opener.

Rose's offers an assortment of espresso, Americano, cappuccino, latte and specialty beverages, including Chai and regular teas and hot chocolate. The baked goods are fresh and the service is friendly. You can get lunch here (panini sandwiches), but this morning I needed coffee.

I'm off to Port Wing for my morning appointment..

Lake Nebagamon is getting its own Organic Farmer's Market this summer!

Sharon's Lakeview Cafe in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, will sponsor a farmer's market and outdoor art & craft sale each Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to Noon, beginning in June. Participating organic farmers will include Brent ("the Garlic Man") Campbell of Iron River, Wisconsin, who has appeared on PBS channel eight's "Venture North" television program.

[Venture North is produced in Duluth, Minnesota by PBS eight and is currently broadcast on PBS stations in Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Wyoming, and now on the island of Guam.]

Area artists Becky Loken and Maureen McGrath will be among the artisans and craftpersons participating in the Farmer's Market this season.

It's often been said that one shouldn't mix politics and real estate. I couldn't agree more. However, there's an issue that both parties can agree on: ‘Fishing in Wisconsin is fun.' Here's a look back on some of the former Presidents of the United States that have sought a break from the rigors of the office and found respite on the waters of northern Wisconsin: Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower.

See full post and photos here:

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