Date of departure: 03/26/08
Destination: Phillips,WI.
Distance from Appleton: 226 miles
Route:
US 96 West to US 10 West
US 10 West to US 51 North
US 51 North to US 8 West
US 8 West to US 13 North
US 13 North to Phillips,WI
Estimated drive time: Approx. 4 hrs
Date of return: 03/29/08
Return Route
Distance from Appleton: 188 miles
US 13 South to US 10 East
US 10 East US 96 East
US 96 East to US 15 South
15 South to US 41 North and exit to home
Our first getaway for 2008 was to Phillips Wisconsin. On this trip we stayed in a rental cabin and the original intention was to stay in the same cabin in which I proposed to my wife. We had contacted the owners via phone and email and sent them a deposit check as requested. This cabin is located on Long Lake just outside (a little North and West) of Phillips.
We discovered this place back in 1999 on a Fall trip to Bayfield,WI. We stayed the night on a recommendation from the local Chamber of Commerce. We enjoyed the the night had a chat with the owners at the time and had a tour of cabin number four, where we stayed on our return trip in the fall of 2002 when I proposed to my wife..
Upon our arrival in Phillips at approx. 2:30 pm we went directly to our planned accommodations. Our arrival seemed to have surprised the owners,the cabin we had planned on using for our stay did not even have a cleared path. The parking space and walk way were both snow covered and it was obvious that it had not been cleared for quite awhile if ever during this past winter. Upon discussion with the owners ,they had not received nor could they find our deposit check and had not planned for our stay. They indicated that cabin number four was not ready for use ,even though we had an email saying it was ready, but we could use one of the open cabins for our stay. Needles to say the available cabin had not been cleaned, the water was not running in the bathroom and the condition did not seem acceptable for our stay. We immediately went to the Chamber to find an alternative accommodations.
The Chamber of Commerce is located in a small log cabin right in US 13 on the south side of Phillips. They are always friendly and helpful and eager to assist you in anyway they can. Phillips is a very tightly knit community with very traditional values. As you pass through you will see many aged buildings still in use. Phillips is proud of their history and they share it with all visitors. The Chamber people were very helpful, they made several phone calls and even provided a little background on the owners of the resort we selected. Within fifteen minutes we had a place to stay, now this may not be that easy during the busy season but it worked for us on this stay.
This community continues to have the charm of “Hometown” to me. Shopping is sparse and non-competitive but reasonable in pricing. While as the price of gasoline seemed to be stable all along trip with the going rate of $3.29/gallon,we were very surprised at the sharp jump on Friday morning to a price of $3.44/gallon in Phillips. They must want to make a little extra on the weekends. Our return trip home proved that once we departed Phillips the price of gas dropped back to $3.29/gallon. What does this tell you? I would suggest filling up just before getting Phillips and holding off until you leave unless you plan to spend some time on a weekday when the price drops again.
It is now a over a week later 4/3/08 since our stay in Phillips and the original resort has not cashed my deposit check nor have they returned it to me. I sent it out 2/29/08 and maybe because of the date the post office does not deliver any mail post marked on leap day. I am not sure and I am not going to point any fingers at anyone, I just know it will cost me some bucks to stop payment on the deposit check.
I do like the Phillips,WI area and perhaps someday I will return but that will be after the bad taste leaves my mouth.
This is the first time that I visited the area of the state in the spring of the year while the trees were still barren of leaves. I was amazed at how many birch trees there are and how great they looked when mixed with the evergreen trees, just beautiful!
Phillips,WI and the area offers many outdoor activities including fishing EVERYWHERE. If you are interested , start with this link as they were the most helpful
Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce - Phillips, Wisconsin
The next trip will be camping and you will get a report afterwards.
Lesson #1 : Always call a day before arrival to confirm your reservations.
Lesson # 2 Have a back-up plan in place.
Lesson #3 If you plan only a weekend stay in Phillips gas up before getting there and wait until you get a few towns down the road before you purchase again.
Cottage Number four, our original destination. Located on Long Lake
Clubhouse II, where we stayed while in Phillips,WI located on Soo Lake
The road to Clubhouse II, very quiet this time of year, I do not think there was any traffic on this road during our stay.
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