Happy Memorial Day Weekend.
Before anything else — thank you to every veteran and military family who has sacrificed so that we can live freely, explore openly, and gather without fear. This weekend means something, and we do not take that lightly. To those who served and to the families who carry the weight of that service — we honor you today and every day.
Now let us get outside and make the most of the freedom you fought for.
May is Mental Health Month — and I lived it.
I have to be honest with you. This month I did not send a single weekly newsletter. Not because I forgot about you, but because I was doing exactly what I always tell you to do. I got outside, and I stayed there.
I planted seeds in my garden and watched something grow. I got my kayak in the river. I learned to make kombucha, and I am completely obsessed. I spent more hours on the phone with my family in South Africa than I have in a long time, and it filled me up in a way I did not know I needed.
And I let go.
I released a friendship that I had poured my whole heart into for years. Closed that door quietly and opened my heart to new people. It was not easy, but it was necessary. And what I know now more than ever is that not everyone is meant to stay. People come into your life for a reason and a season, and the minute you start evolving, start doing something different, start taking up space in a new way — some people cannot keep up. And instead of celebrating you, they will find something wrong with everything you are doing.
Let them.
Here is what I have learned: the version of me that comes home from an adventure is different. She is expanded. She has seen something, felt something, connected with strangers who became sisters on a trail or a river or the side of a mountain. Not everyone in my old circle can relate to that woman, and that is okay. I stopped waiting for them to understand.
Keep moving. Keep meeting new people. Keep saying yes to the adventures that scare you a little. I feel most alive out there — and I want that for you too.
Gardening, kombucha, the river, and the right people. That was my May. And it was exactly enough.
The Riverhouse Getaway just wrapped, and my heart is so full.
This past Memorial Weekend we gathered at my private riverfront property in Waushara County for our annual free women’s retreat, and it was the most beautiful one yet.
We kicked off Friday with a fish fry and old fashioneds at the Golden Nugget — one of the oldest bars still running in Wisconsin. Then the women arrived at the Riverhouse, set up their own gear, and we laughed until our sides hurt. Someone pulled out kayaking gear that had been sitting in a closet for ten years waiting for exactly this moment — and that is the energy I built this weekend for—outdoorsy women who are just excited to finally use their stuff.
Then we got in the river. Three hours of kayaking because we move our bodies here. Saturday brought yoga, a walk to coffee, more time on the water, and wine tasting at Pine River Winery, where we built a group charcuterie board and did a full Wisconsin cheese presentation — yes, really — and it was everything. We cooked dinner together over the fire, and something really beautiful happened. We started sharing hobbies, telling our stories, and realizing how familiar we actually are to one another. Different women, different backgrounds, same hunger for something real.
And then there was Sunday.
We gathered in the sunroom with fresh black coffee and let the morning come to us slowly. When the sun came out, we stepped outside, and my dear friend Tracy from Sun Prairie led us through yoga on the grass. We stretched our bodies, breathed together, and let the weekend settle into us.
Then we walked down to the fireplace for a release ceremony. We held hands. We stood together in that circle and something happened that I honestly do not have the words for. It was moving. It was sacred. It was the kind of connection that reminds you exactly why you said yes to showing up for yourself and for other women.
We packed up, said our farewells, and closed the weekend with a hike at Hartman Creek State Park. If you are on the adventure of visiting all 50 Wisconsin state parks, our handmade scratch-off poster is available on the website — grab one for yourself or as a gift.
We are doing this again in the fall. Date to be announced in August — stay close.
Riverhouse Summer Kickoff — 2026
If you missed the Riverhouse Summer Kickoff — do not worry. We have a fall retreat and a winter retreat coming up. These gatherings are for women who want to slow down, connect, and do something meaningful outdoors. Dates will be announced soon. Stay close and get on the list so you do not miss your spot.
SAVE THE DATE | Mother’s Day Hike 2027
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin · 22 Miles Around the Lake · Mother’s Day Saturday
This one is my favorite—every single year.
We meet at 8:00 am on Mother’s Day Saturday in Lake Geneva, and we walk — all 22 miles around the lake. No shortcuts. No quitting. Just 25 women showing up with full hearts and zero idea how strong they actually are until the trail shows them.
What makes this hike different is who shows up. Women who have never hiked 22 miles in their life. Women who drove hours to be there. Women who just needed a reason to do something hard and beautiful. By mile 5, everyone is laughing. By mile 12, we are barefoot on a patio eating lunch and refusing to admit our feet hurt. By mile 22, every single one of them crosses that finish line feeling something they did not expect — stronger than when they started.
Eight hours of walking, talking, eating, and becoming. That is what a day with 25 women who said yes looks like.
Mark your calendars now. – because women who do hard things tell other women about it.
Upcoming Local Events
Mark your calendars — here is what is coming up locally with Wisconsin Adventure Family.
Farewell Hike Before Summer Adventures
Friday, June 6 | 7:00 am | Devils Lake State Park — South Shore
We are hiking both bluffs before I head out for the summer, and I want you there. This one is for active hikers — a full-body workout with views that make every step worth it. We start at 7:00 am sharp so we can get off the trail before the crowds arrive and the heat sets in. Hiking boots strongly recommended. Bring enough water and snacks. Please be on time.
Lupine Season — Ice Age Trail Merrimac Segment
Sunday, June 29 | 7:00 AM | Devils Lake — Merrimac Segment
The lupine is blooming, and we are going to chase it. We are exploring the Merrimac segment of the Ice Age Trail — about 7 miles through one of the most beautiful stretches of trail in Wisconsin right now. It is already hitting 80 degrees, so we start early. Dress light, bring plenty of water, and come ready to move.
The Drakensberg 2027 trip is sold out.
March cannot come fast enough. Our Ultimate Drakensberg Adventure is officially full, and I could not be more excited about the women coming with me. A beautiful mix of adventurers — different stories, different backgrounds, all saying yes to the mountains of my homeland in South Africa.
This one is personal. It always is.
Teva fans — the Memorial Day sale is still running.
Teva is currently offering 50% off sitewide, and the sale is still live. On top of that, use my ambassador code DINI15 for an additional 15% off your order. If you have been waiting for the right time to grab a pair — this is it. Shop now before the sale ends and use code DINI15 at checkout.
Patagonia 2027 — do not sleep on this.
October 1 through 7, 2027. Ten to twelve women only. One of the most breathtaking and wild places on this entire earth.
This trip goes live in August, and I am telling you now because it was one of the most requested destinations on the WAF website, and spots will not last. A trip to Patagonia is not one you talk yourself into later. It is a trip you say yes to before you feel fully ready, and you figure out the details afterward. If you are even a little bit curious, start dreaming about it now. More details coming in August — consider this your early warning.
Three weeks until Italy.
I am counting down. Three more weeks until Bryce and I leave for the Dolomites, and I feel like a kid before a field trip. My very first time in Italy. The mountains, the trails, the food, waking up in the middle of all of it — I cannot wait. I am taking you along every step of the way, so stay tuned.
With so much love and dirt on my boots,
Dini
Dineo Dowd | Founder, Wisconsin Adventure Family LLC
@dineodowd | wiadventurefamily.com
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