At the Campfire

Evening bonfire on at MN lake cabin resort on Fish Trap LakeOur blog for the love of the Minnesota lake resort experience and everything outdoors

 

Welcome to our blog about our Minnesota lake resort, our Caribbean cabin, and more! We add new posts at least every 2 weeks or so. Here, Heather and Brian Sams, we the owners of Campfire Bay Resort, share stories and tips about our experiences of 22 years of resort ownership, our love of nature and desire to protect it, and outdoors activities. Because we've been around the world, we also write about travel, wellness, and the community of friends and family not only in our own little microcosm here on Fish Trap Lake in northern Minnesota, but beyond.

The Minnesota lake resort cabin is so different from any other type of lodging or vacation destination that it's hard to describe unless you've experienced it. However, we're going to try here in this blog. We've had a variety of life experiences that have been, among other things, entertaining and educational, and we love to share those stories with our guests in the evenings around our central fire pit right on the lake. So if you can't hear about them in person from us at our Minnesota lake resort, we invite you to join us here on our blog, "at the Campfire".

Hibernation Hobbies: Surviving the Dark Seasons in MN (Part 1)

A snuggly blanket near a warm fire in a lakeside cabin at Campfire Bay Resort, MN

Do you feel that? The chill off the lake? The peace that flows through a body in the blue hours of the morning? It could mean only one thing: the dark seasons have arrived, and so has hibernation.   An Introduction to Hibernation and the Dark Seasons “What are the dark seasons?” you may ask.…

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Executing Your DIY Lakeside Wedding | Pt. 2

A lakeside resort wedding couple kiss in the autumn sunshine.

Not only do you have your beloved partner, you have your lists, you’ve begun to delegate who is working on what, and your Pinterest is chock-full of the best vibes. You can finally get to work on planning the best DIY lakeside wedding! But oh, where to start? Not to fear, my dear–here’s your guide!…

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Planning a DIY Lakeside Wedding | Pt. 1

Wedding ceremony under a chuppah on a stunning blue lake on a sunny day wwith blue sky

Congratulations! You’ve found the love of your life and have decided to commit yourselves to one another publicly! This is an incredibly exciting time, and you want to make the ceremony as welcoming, warm, and full of love as you two are. But you don’t have the budget to spend tens of thousands of dollars…

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Duck Hunting in Central MN

Waterfowl hunting near Campfire Bay Resort includes Fish Trap Lake

When it comes to waterfowl hunting, there’s nothing more beautiful than watching ducks glide into your decoy spread – it’s art. And there’s something special about duck hunting in central Minnesota. There are so many bodies of water open to the public to explore within a couple hours drive of most of the state.  Perhaps…

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The Best Summer Month for a MN Vacation

The best month for a MN lake vacation is when you can paddle board and swim.

Summer in Minnesota. Those beautiful three months — June, July, and August — that have thousands coming back from southern states to live, and thousands more from all over to vacation. Our pristine lakes, clean air, and long days evoke strong desires to just spend as much time as possible on the water. If you…

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Best Books to Read on Break

The best time to read a book is on vacation and we have a list of the best books to read

There are many moments while on vacation that beg for the perfect book. The quiet time when you’re curling up before the fire in the evening with the scent of fresh air lingering in your hair. Watching the kids hurl themselves off the end of the dock and into the lake. Floating in the middle…

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Top 10 Things to Do Near Little Falls

From beautiful lakes to iconic restaurants, there's a lot to do in central MN

Most people in the world, and even many in the state of Minnesota, have never heard of Little Falls. Or if they have, it’s just a place to gas up or pass by on their way to the cabin up north. That’s unfortunate, because there are so many interesting things to see, taste, and experience…

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Spring Break at the Lake

Relax on the sandy beach at at Minnesota lake resort for spring break

Sure, the hot sandy beaches of Florida or Cozumel are inviting in the spring, especially if you live in a cold climate. The idea of sitting on a beach in the sun with a frosty drink in your hand seems idyllic. At least, until you think of all the time, energy, and money it will…

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How to Create the Perfect Romantic Cabin Getaway

Two feet snuggle by the fire during a romantic cabin getaway at a Minnesota lake resort

Does your relationship with your significant other need a pick me up? An escape from the busyness of life to a quiet place in nature may just be what you need. We aren’t relationship experts, but we have been married for almost thirty years and dated for over four before that, so we do know…

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Top 10 Things To Do in the Brainerd Lakes Area in the Winter

Winter Activities in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota include sitting by a bonfire at a lake resort

If you live in a cold climate, the thought of a winter vacation in that cold climate instead of say, the Caribbean, may not excite you. You don’t know what you’re missing! We want to encourage you to take another look at a spring break or winter getaway to a lake cabin in northern Minnesota.…

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