A Perfect Day
In my career as an advertiser and marketer, I wrote many, many things. I loved every minute of it, but at the end of the day, it was still a job.
But now that I’m retired, I still write, but only about the fun stuff. Things that I truly enjoy. Because it’s no longer a job. It’s something I love to do, and so I do it almost every day.
One of my favorite things to write about is Rome, Wisconsin. If you’re reading this on visitromewi.com right now, then you’ve probably seen my other work. But if you’re reading this on social media, or anywhere else, then you should take a look at visitromewi.com/blog and get caught up on some of the things that make Rome such a great place to visit - for a day, weekend, season, or a lifetime.
With that as the backdrop, I was recently asked to describe my perfect day in Rome, and I thought, oh that’ll be easy. But then, with my laptop in hand I started thinking, it’s not easy at all. I had a real case of writer’s block. I just sat and stared at the screen and didn’t know where to start. Not because I couldn’t think of anything, but, rather, because I was overloaded with all the things there are to see and do.
But as I learned early on, when there’s nothing but a blank page staring back at you, just walk away. Take a break. Give your brain a rest. So, that’s what I did. I went and poured myself another cup of coffee and wolfed down a donut, and that’s when it hit me; that’s how I’ll start my perfect day.
And with that, the rest just flowed.
With my wife Michelle at my side - because my perfect day wouldn’t be perfect without her in it - we’d head over to Slice of Heaven Bakery in the Town Center for a cheese Danish and a cappuccino. We’d take our time because Slice of Heaven is one of the most welcoming places to simply relax and take it slow.
From there we’d visit one, or several, of Rome’s quaint and one-of-a-kind shops. For sure we’d walk across the street to The Gift Shoppe and again take our time as we perused their huge selection of unique specialty gifts.
Speaking of unique, with a couple bags in hand, we’d take the short walk past the gazebo and splash pad to Market Boutique. With an obvious theme materializing here, we’d again take it slow. There’s such an incredible selection - from lake and golf themed apparel to hand-poured candles, mugs, and jewelry. We’d inevitably leave with a thing or two for the grandkids.
Not sure if it’s lunch time yet, but I’m thinking we’d be pretty hungry by now. This is where it really gets tough to decide. There are so many good choices. Will it be a burger and a Bloody Mary from Hoozels? Or a Club sandwich and a Bloody Mary from the Greenside Grill at Lake Arrowhead? Or any of the many other choices for comfort food and, you guessed it, a Bloody Mary?
As the sun rises high in the sky, we’d lather on some sunscreen and head to one of the many hiking trails in and around Rome. Some of our favorites are the trails at Sand Valley - navigating our way through oak savannas, rugged sand dunes, and the wide expanse of some of the most beautiful golf holes you’ll ever see - we’d for sure work up a sweat and quite a thirst.
And that’s the perfect excuse (not that we’d need one) to head over to Up North Brewing Company for a hand-crafted beer. I’ll probably go with a pint of “Tea It Up,” an unfiltered wheat beer fashioned after good ol’ Arnold Palmer with a perfect blend of lemon and black tea. As for my wife, her decision is one that’s “Too Easy,” a strawberry blonde reminiscent of summers past and to come. After savoring at least a couple pints, wouldn't you know it, it’s dinner time.
Any other day of the week we’d have the same dilemma we had at lunch - where to go with so many choices. But if it’s Thursday, we’re making a beeline to Cal’s for their ribeye steak night. With a steak so big it’s literally hanging over the edges of the plate. Tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection, and so much better than you'll ever get at home - including the price!
By now, some of you might be thinking, perfect day? How can this be a perfect day? All they’re doing is eating and drinking. You’d think that being in a place like Rome, with world-class golf and beautiful lakes all around, we’d find some time to tee it up or drop a line in the water. Or maybe just relax with a leisurely lap in a kayak or canoe, but there’s only 24 hours in a day, so we’ll have to save these for another perfect day.
Maybe tomorrow.
Written by: Lydell Capritta
