Hygge is hot right now. It’s a Danish word for cozy, comfortable and content, and it’s showing up in home décor and travel trends. See how some Wisconsin B&Bs are interpreting the simple pleasures of hygge. If Pinterest is any indication of trends – and it is – hygge is big. How to hygge, you ask? Create a cozy atmosphere, be present in the moment, partake of simple pleasures, slow down, be thankful, embrace harmony, and carve out time and space for friends. Count us in! For us, this Danish word, pronounced "hue-guh", really boils down to “contentment.” And here are inns that have been serving up hygge long before it became a thing:  

Real tea and coffee: Lindsay House B&B, Manawa

[caption id="attachment_2356" align="aligncenter" width="363"] French pressed coffee, comfort, and a good book on the porch at Lindsay House B&B[/caption]  

Candles at breakfast: Garden Gate B&B, Sturgeon Bay

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Candlelight and pleasant conversation await you with breakfast at Garden Gate B&B[/caption]  

Freshly baked pastries: The Livingston Inn, Madison

[caption id="attachment_2354" align="aligncenter" width="276"] This homemade pistachio breakfast ring is just one of many delicious pastries from The Livingston Inn[/caption]  

A sprig or two of fresh flowers from the garden: Red Forest B&B, Two Rivers

[caption id="attachment_2342" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Enjoy your refreshments outdoors in the beautiful garden area at Red Forest B&B[/caption]  

Less-is-more home décor: At The Lake House, Lake Geneva

[caption id="attachment_2341" align="aligncenter" width="277"] At The Lake House offers modern simplicity to feel right at home[/caption]  

A reading sanctuary: Castle La Crosse B&B, La Crosse

[caption id="attachment_2344" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Pick out a book and set yourself up in a quiet spot by the window at the Castle La Crosse B&B library[/caption]  

Conversation nooks: 1810 Emerson House B&B, Beloit

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="387"] A quiet corner for your enjoyment at 1810 Emerson House[/caption]  

Crackling fireplace: Honeybee Inn B&B, Horicon

[caption id="attachment_1621" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Bask in the warmth of the fireplace in the Queen Bee Victorian room at the Honeybee Inn[/caption]  

Hiking path with picnic spots: Lake Orchard Farm Retreat, Sheboygan

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Rolling fields, natural woods, fruit orchards and a Lake Michigan view greet you on the trails around Lake Orchard Farm Retreat[/caption]  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

  Here in Wisconsin, we love all four seasons, and that includes the frosty offerings of winter. Candlelight cross-country ski events are a peaceful way to embrace the snow, while fat biking on frozen lakes produces a more adrenaline-spiking high.

As antidote to the hustle and the bustle of the season, try a candlelight cross-country ski in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources maintains a master list of those events going on around the state into March: http://dnr.wi.gov/calendar/events/parks/index.asp?caudience=Candlelight.

Let’s take a quick look at January gatherings: [caption id="attachment_2184" align="alignleft" width="271"] Bowman's Oak Hill Garden Cottage Bed[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2190" align="alignright" width="300"] Country Comfort at Valley Springs Farm[/caption]                 The Jan. 6 ski, hike and snowshoe at Mirror Lake State Park near Wisconsin Dells is sure to be serene just like the setting itself. Spend the night at Bowman’s Oak Hill B&B or Valley Springs Farm B&B to continue the quiet vibe. [caption id="attachment_1621" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Getaway at the Honeybee Inn[/caption] On Jan. 20 there’s a candlelight hike at the Horicon Marsh in Horicon, a natural treasure in the state. There will be candlelit trails, a roaring bonfire, owl talks, and crafts. Reserve a suite at the Honeybee Inn B&B and be enveloped in luxury. The breakfasts are phenomenal too. [caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="300"] An Evening at the Stewart Inn[/caption] Then, on Jan. 27, Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau hosts a candlelight snowshoe hike. After being inspired by the natural beauty of the park, you’ll be inspired by the stunning workmanship of the Stewart Inn arts & crafts mansion. Now, if you’re into biking in the warm weather months and looking for a way to extend your season, give fat tire biking a whirl. Cruise on soft snowy terrain or take to frozen lakes for a twist on two-wheeling. [caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignright" width="284"] Fat Tire Winter Biking[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2186" align="alignleft" width="285"] Snowshoe Group with Bay Point Inn[/caption]                 In Newport State Park on the Door County peninsula, the two-mile bike trail loop provides scenery and a workout. Relax after your ride at Bay Point Inn in Egg Harbor, where the accommodations will remind you of a European vacation villa on the water. [caption id="attachment_2192" align="aligncenter" width="371"] Crystal River Inn Winter Night[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2191" align="alignright" width="291"] Winter Lights with Green Fountain Inn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2182" align="alignleft" width="300"] Apple Tree Lane B&B Through the Snow-Covered Trees[/caption]                   The third annual Fat Tire Bike Race in Waupaca is set for January 27, coinciding with their annual Pond Hockey Classic tournament which runs all weekend. Whether a rider or spectator, there’s a room waiting for you at Crystal River Inn B&B, an 1853 farmstead set on the banks of the Crystal River that is Travel Green Wisconsin certified. Nearby inns also include Apple Tree Lane B&B, where the elegant parlor's cozy wood stove invites you to sit a spell around her warmth, and the Green Fountain Inn, with decor and furnishings reminiscent of the grandeur of the 1920s.  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?