When's the Last Time You Explored Something New?

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Notes from Tanglewood Hideaway: Brown County Highlights – This is a weekly email I send sharing things to do, local updates, and ideas for everyday life in Brown County. 👉 [Join the newsletter here]

Sunset over rolling hills in Brown County with silhouetted trees and glowing clouds. Text reads Notes from Tanglewood Hideaway Brown County Highlights.

When’s the last time you explored something new? I’ll share first…

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of big-picture thinking about why I started Tanglewood Hideaway in the first place, and one phrase keeps popping up again and again:

You don’t have to go far to get away.

I believe that with my whole heart. Don’t get me wrong—I’d hop on a flight to Portugal tomorrow if I could—but I think there’s a kind of magic in finding joy and adventure close to home.

Sometimes that means a full weekend away. Other times, it’s just making a little time to explore what’s already around you.

That mindset has led to some pretty amazing experiences right here in Brown County over the years, including a few recent ones:

🥾 I just finished hiking all 42+ miles of the Tecumseh Trail on Sunday! I went section by section (9 in all) and my goal was to finish before the end of April. Some parts were magical, others…less so (ha). But I wanted to fully experience the trail, and that’s what I did.
🛶 Last spring, we kayaked Salt Creek to visit the heron rookery. It was peaceful and surreal—like stepping into another world, and I still think about that evening often.
🕺 And last weekend, we hit up Mike’s Dance Barn with friends and kids in tow for live music and line dancing. It was chaotic in the best way, and yes—I’m still just as bad at the Electric Slide as I was in high school gym class (but you can bet I still remember all the steps!)

Sometimes the hikes are epic. Sometimes the adventure is just dancing like a fool and laughing about it the next day.

But every one of those experiences came from being willing to explore something right here—something nearby. And that’s what I want to help make easier through Tanglewood Hideaway.

Because the truth is, whether you’re visiting or local, exploring Brown County should feel welcoming, not overwhelming. My job is to make that easier. (And way more fun.)

So now I’m curious…

What’s the last little adventure you took—big or small? Or are there any Brown County adventures you’ve been wondering about that I could help with?

Hit reply and tell me. I’d truly love to hear about what you’ve been exploring lately…or help you plan your next outing, even if it’s just around the corner.

Thanks for being here. And don’t forget—you don’t have to go far to get away,

Kara

P.S. If you’re planning a summer trip (or just daydreaming), I’ve got my monthly Brown County event calendars updated through August—and fall updates are coming soon!

I add new events every week or two as they’re announced, so be sure to check back often:

🗓️ See what’s happening in Brown County

P.P.S. They do free line dancing lessons at Mike’s Dance Barn every Monday, so if you also want to relive your ‘Electric Slide Glory Days,’ like me, you can find all the details in the event calendars!

Four hikers, including two kids, pose by the “End of the Tecumseh Trail” sign near a small creek in a lush spring forest.

This weekend I officially finished hiking all 42+ miles of the Tecumseh Trail—broken up into 9 different sections over the last two months. I hiked 2 of them solo, 5 with Clint (including one with our daughters), and 2 with friends.

Along the way I saw spring wildflowers, got covered in mud, hiked through one torrential downpour, started several early mornings (but only caught one truly spectacular sunrise), and got a little off track more than once.

But I did it—and I loved the challenge of experiencing the trail in its entirety.