Four Tips for a Great Trip to the Lake

One of my favorite all-time phrases is “the lake.”

I grew up in northern Minnesota, where “the lake” was often just a short walk from your back door. In fact, we had so many lakes around us that we only had to use their first names (omitting “lake”) and everyone knew what you were talking about. “Whacha doin’ this weekend?” “Goin’ to Basswood.”

When I moved to Minneapolis, the lakes were a little farther away and the conversation changed  slightly. “Are you going out to the lake this weekend?” “Yep, as soon as I can ditch work and load up the car, we’re heading to the lake.” The name of a specific lake did not matter. It was enough that you were getting out of the city and going to any lake.

I live in central Illinois these days. We have a lot of small muddy rivers but few real lakes. Sadly, any decent-sized lake within a 2-hour drive is generally jam-packed and accommodations are expensive. When we go to the lake now, it usually means a 9-hour drive north to Fall Lake, nearly Ely, Minnesota. Translation: It takes a lot more time and planning to ensure that we have a great trip. Sure, I miss the old days when I could run down the hill and jump right into the lake. But I’m also grateful for the gorgeous days I do get to spend on those clear, rocky lakes surrounded by pines.

Having made the trip to the lake so many times now, I’d like to offer you a few “I wish I’d thought of that sooner” tips to help you make the most of both your journey and your destination, especially if you’re on a tight budget like we are.

Step 1: Make sure you have the right clothes and shoes. You’re going to need things you probably don’t use every day at home, like footwear suitable to hike down rocky trails, wade into lakes and waterfalls, and then hike back out. Sure, you’ll wear those sequin-strapped flip-flops out to a restaurant at night, but they aren’t going to stand up to the rigors of life at the lake. Two swimsuits, lots of shorts and t-shirts (trust me, you’ll wear more than one a day), a big beach towel, and you’ll be good to go. Look for quick-drying fabrics that will be comfortable in the hot sun, like ripstop nylon khaki shorts (not black) and Under Armour or similar lightweight, quick-drying T-shirts.

Step 2: Make sure the car is in good shape. The lake is generally quite a few miles from the nearest auto parts shop, so now’s the time to get new windshield wipers if you need them and make sure you’re up-to-date on basic maintenance like oil change, tire rotation, and the like.

Step 3: Prepare the cooler. Be sure to choose a cooler suitable for multiple purposes: For snacks and drinks during your long drive to the lake and back, to carry picnic supplies to the beach or out on a boat, and also to pack home any fish you catch or other goodies. On our drive to the lake, we pass a shop that makes the world’s best caramel rolls, so we always buy a dozen, freeze them at my folks’ house, and bring them home in our cooler.

Step 4: Pack plenty of bug spray and bite-relief products. Choose one of the “dry” sprays, like Deep Woods Off! Dry. If your mosquito bites turn into welts and drive you crazy with itching like mine do, also pack Benadryl tablets and Benadryl spray. Do not skimp on these two things.

You can thank me later.