One of my favorite spots when walking around my small town of Elkhart Lake (well, actually I do have many!) is past Victorian Village Resort.
Originally it was named Rustic House and was built in 1872. Fire would destroy the hotel in 1890, but it was rebuilt, and then named Lake View House . Today the building is called The Grand Victorian Lady at Victorian Village Resort having gone through a renovation in 1999.
The sidewalk running past the hotel is lined with trees that act like an umbrella over the walkway for about a block long. It always feels like I am entering a secret garden.
It never fails that Gidget and I see at least one squirrel bounding through the big yard outside the hotel who quickly scurries up a tree when he sees us.
It will be just a few short weeks and then the hydrangea’s will be in full bloom which will add to the beauty of this exquisite spot.
Every time I walk through this magical portal of trees, flowers, bunnies and squirrels, I never want to come out the other side. But eventually I do.
Luckily it continues to be quite enchanting with a white cottage with yellow shutters that I adore as we stroll by. Then right after that our beautiful lake captures my attention and draws me in.
The Native Americans (the Potawatomi Indians, the original tribe of the area) believed the water of the lake to have curative powers. If they bathed in them, they would be “rejuvenated and handsome again.”
But soon enough this street that leads through the secret garden, past the darling cottage, and to the lake, will be lined with many vintage cars which come in for the weekend mid-July. The secret garden is then no longer secret with thousands of visitors strolling by admiring the old cars.
But if you are smart, you can take full advantage of this magical walk in the early hours of the morning thus carrying it in your heart for the rest of the day.
