Treehouse on the Magic Land (Missouri)
The Enchanted Treehouse on the Magic Land
Treehouse with firepit and hot tub!
Visit the “Enchanted Treehouse on The Magic Land and restore your soul!”
Unplug in nature. Connect, explore, and play.
Do you ever go on a busy trip and need a vacation to recover from your vacation? A stay at the Enchanted Treehouse is a true vacation, where you can let yourself relax.
On some vacations you feel guilty taking naps; you are missing all the sights and activities you should be packing in, but when you stay in an enchanted treehouse, napping is a great way to really enjoy the treehouse experience and the swaying of the trees. Relaxing in the treehouse is exactly what you should be doing. After almost 15 years of marriage, my husband and I really needed this chance to rest, recharge, and reconnect. Book your escape today.
Why Visit
While there is room for a crowd of close friends or family (which would be a blast), my husband and I booked it as a romantic getaway for 2. Perfect also for a girls getaway, celebrating a birthday, family getaway, bachelorette, boys trip, spiritual renewal, or even a solo retreat.
View of the kitchen table from the top of the ladder to the second floor. Note the live tree trunk!
Enchanted Treehouse
This two-story treehouse is nestled in a magic forest of tall pine trees. The treehouse is built around two of the trees but also on stilts allowing the trees to sway in the breeze with only gentle movement of the structure. All of the essentials are there: indoor plumbing with sink, toilet, shower, refrigerator, air fryer toaster, hot water pot, coffee, propane stove, and propane fireplace. Plenty of cozy spaces for your whole group to sleep: a bunk bed on the main floor, up a sturdy ladder find beautiful views and several beds and hammocks, including a comfy queen size bed, heaters, and window a/c.
The creaking of the timbers reminds me of being on an old wooden sailing ship. You can hear the dogs, roosters, and geese on the property. If you are a light sleeper, you may want earplugs, but we were able to sleep very deeply. The queen size bed was very comfortable.
There are so many cute decorative touches. You’ll continue to find more hidden delights each day.
Watch this quick video tour of the inside here! More photos in the gallery at the end of the post.
Fire and Other Fun
Relax in plenty of seating with chairs and tables around the central firepit and an old time tin hot tub: a large animal trough over a fire. This is a fan favorite. Fill the tub up with the hose, build a fire (you can buy wood onsite), let the water heat for 2.5-3 hours. Put out the fire and soak away your cares under the stars! It heats up faster on future nights if you reuse the water.
Explore the woods, enjoy sitting by the water (provide your own fishing poles), relax in a hammock, read a book, play with the animals, and connect with nature. You can add additional experiences to your stay, like individual, family, and couples coaching, massage, or a farm tour.
Friendly Dogs
Animal Friends
There’s a whole group of friendly dogs that are eager to greet you and hang out: Daphne, Skeeter, Barnaby, Velvet, Whistle Pig, and the giant neighbor dog: Davey. They will keep you company outside but don’t come into the treehouse. You can also feed the chickens. The geese are best admired from a distance. The dogs will lead you on expeditions into the forest and help with any dog-safe leftovers.
Food
Make sure to order the amazing big country breakfast at least one morning (or all of them). Laura Lynne, your host, makes the best breakfast potatoes. It is delivered to the treehouse with a parade of dogs and a cowbell.
There are lots of tools onsite to prepare your own food. Regular grill, fire skewers, a camp grill that goes over the fire as well as all the kitchen tools. We used a cooler to transport our cold items from home, but once there, there’s a refrigerator and freezer, or you can shop on the way there. We didn’t leave the property to check out any of the surrounding area since we had what we needed there.
Relax and listen to the wind in the trees
Tips
Bring cash or have Venmo/PayPal/Cash App for extras: firewood and breakfast for sure and any other extra services you might book.
Think through all your food. We got so excited bringing steaks, Italian Sausage, and hotdogs, and s’more makings that we forgot to bring side dishes except a bag of carrots and an orange.
You may want to bring a few paper plates if you don’t want to be washing dishes as often.
Bring a small firewood axe to chap the firewood up into some smaller pieces. There are lighter sticks, but if you want charcoal for the grill or firepit, bring your own.
Bring a couple pairs of shoes. Slippers/socks for inside, shoes that are easy to slip on and off to hang out by the fire, and sneakers/hiking boots to wander the grounds. You may even want rubber boots to tromp through the creek.
The main entrance is a steep set of stairs (much easier than a ladder) and the main level does have a bunk bed. There is a ladder to the second level, so if steep stairs are a challenge for your group, this might not be the best fit.
Download the gps map of the area in advance as signal can be intermittent in the area. You’ll get a comprehensive Magic Land Booklet that includes directions.
Bring a few of your favorite board games or card games (there are some there, too). There’s no wifi or tv, but you’ll appreciate the chance to unplug and stare at the fire and talk with friends, family, and nature.
There are plenty of outlets and charging cables for your essential devices in case you can’t entirely unplug. Keep your phone charged take some photos and communicate with your host by text. Signal can be a little iffy, but we didn’t have a problem. You can also walk down the hill to the main house.
Bring a box of plain Cheerios for feeding the chickens and dogs (the dogs will not eat carrots but love hotdogs).
Stop at Hermann
We were delighted to discover that stopping in Hermann, MO (the jewel of German Wine Country) on the way from Kansas City is only about 10 minutes off the direct route! Stop and pick up a few bottles of wine, enjoy a wineslush on a patio, or grab a meal on your way there and back. You could combine trips and spend Friday and Saturday in Hermann then move on to the the Enchanted Treehouse for a week or a few days to recharge. Read my Hermann post here to make the most of this opportunity.
Stop at the Central MO Renaissance Festival
Grubville, MO, where the treehouse is located, is a 2 hour drive from the Central Missouri Renaissance Festival near Columbia. Why not add a stay at the Magic Land before or after your weekend at the festival. Learn more about this truly fun festival in my CMRF post here, and check the dates.
Location
Located in Grubville, Missouri, the Magic Land is
1 hour from St. Louis
1 hour 15 minutes from Hermann
2 hours from Columbia
4 hours from Kansas City
The four hour drive from Kansas City is worth it. My husband, Brad, and I downloaded a playlist of tunes and a bunch of stand-up comedy to make the miles fly by. We also had the delightful stops in Hermann each way to stretch our legs.
Links to learn more
Learn More and Book the Treehouse on the Magic Land on airbnb
My Facebook Reel of the Interior of the Treehouse
My post on Central MO Renaissance Festival
Restore your soul on the Magic Land
Hermann, MO
Hermann, MO: wine country and so much more!
Lindsay at Copper Mule Distillery overlooking Hermann countryside
Wine country…and so much more
Spend a weekend in Missouri's Rhineland full of German heritage and wineries.
Girls Getaways and Romantic Escapes
Hermann is the perfect place to grab a group of gal pals and hit the wineries or grab your special someone for a romantic weekend. My husband planned us a surprise, magical anniversary escape to Hermann in 2021. We had such a good time, we plan on going again soon for another anniversary. I just came back from a delightful girls weekend at the end of the summer. Hermann also is bachelorette party headquarters.
Tastings, Patios and Stunning Views
Orange, the cat made himself at home in my lap at Adam Puchta Winery
Fill your weekend with wine tastings at Hermann’s many wineries.
For cat lovers, don’t miss the Adam Puchta Winery. Founded in 1855, it’s the oldest, continuously owned family farm winery in the United States, but more importantly to me, it has cats you can pet while sitting outside enjoying a glass of wine (or wine slush) and live music. Enjoy a truly affordable wine tasting, too.
Head over to Stone Hill Winery for an in-depth tasting (choose your own 6 wines from their double sided list). Stone Hill prides itself on their wines that have won over 5,000 medals and awards.
Copper Mule Distillery has the most delicious bourbon slushes, a great balcony view, and gorgeous new inside event space with big wooden beams.
The view from the patio is spectacular at Oak Glenn Winery.
For a great outdoor spot downtown, check out the shared patio between G. Husmann Wine Company and Black Shire Distillery Tasting Room.
Fernweh means wanderlust
More Drinks, Slushes, Food, and Fun
Grab a delicious meal at Fernweh Distilling Co with delicious brisket and smoked pork. You’ll understand why I’m especially attracted to them. Fernweh: from the German meaning wanderlust or literally farsickness, the opposite of homesickness. “We raise our glass to those compelled to live life as the journey it is, who dare to stay curious, and who appreciate fine spirits. Cheers!”
Cool off at Doxie Slush with a flight of cocktail slushes and a dachshund mermaid mascot. I recommend the strawberry amaretto shortcake and the rye berry bramble. Doxie Slush is also one of the few places open late to eat, especially on Sundays when Hermann completely shuts down. Doxie Slush is open on Sundays until 9pm (check current times to be sure). The fish and chips are fabulous with the skinny fries!
Bachelorette Central at the Piano Bar
A visit to Hermann is incomplete without stopping at the Wurst House for a great German Food experience: sandwiches, bratwursts, and the traditional sides.
1837 Cellar Bar has a great atmosphere with patios, live music, and a beautiful historical cellar with a bar (hence the name).
Grab counter service breakfast at Stomp’n Grounds Espresso Bar which includes gluten free and vegetarian options.
For cocktails including coffee cocktails check out The Bank Bar and Bistro or Seek Coffee.
For a great time, arrive early for seats at the dueling Piano Bar or show up later for standing/dancing room.
Transportations
If you plan to drink, find a safe way to get around. Downtown is walkable, but there are some cool things to check out at a driving distance, too.
We had a great experience with Debbie at Lyft You Up Rides. She offers a flat rate for van rides anywhere around the area or an unlimited-ride daily rate. She operates later into the evening than the trolleys and we were able to fit our group, luggage, and a foldable wheelchair inside her van. She went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time. There are barely any (if any) Uber/Lyft options, so Debbie is a great way to get around.
Hermann has a fleet of red Trolleys that you can ride around the local winery and distilleries with a one-day or two-day pass.
Both of these transportation options take cash or Venmo.
Tips
Bring cash or Venmo for transportation. It’s always a good idea to travel with cash for tips and avoid any atm fees.
Hermann has an open container law, so don’t wander outside designated patios with open alcohol.
Plan your activities around the fact that most things close early in Hermann, especially on Sunday. Check the current hours of operation for the places you want to visit and plan accordingly.
Pace yourself and hydrate if you don’t want to feel sick from over-indulgence. Naps are great as long as you don’t miss all the fun.
Hermann has many great seasonal festivals like Oktoberfest, Christmastime, Wurstfest, and Maifest. If you want to stay during those times, book early as things fill up fast.
The weather will make a big impact on whether you can enjoy the many outdoor spaces, so keep that in mind. Remember your umbrella, sunhat, bug spray, waling shoes, water bottle, and sunscreen.
For those with limited mobility be aware, many of the small town shops have a step up to get inside and most of the tastings are held at standing height bars without chairs. The downtown is mostly flat which does make things easier.
There is a clock tower in town that chimes out the hours. If you are a light sleeper, you may not want to book housing near it.
Accommodations
Check out tons of bed and breakfasts, Inns and Airbnb’s for groups of all sizes.
Location
Right on the Missouri River, Hermann is a three hour drive or four hour Amtrak train ride East of Kansas City. Located a one and a half hour drive West of St. Louis.
Links to learn more
“Little Germany” in Missouri.
Epic Nerd Camp
Epic Nerd Camp: “Geek Summer Camp for Grownups”
Lindsay and her husband doing combat archery
As an adult, do you wish you could go to summer camp? Now you can! There are now a variety of summer camps for adults with different themes. Epic Nerd Camp is a chance for adults to spend a long weekend doing nerdy activities at camp.
I heard about Epic Nerd Camp years ago and was intrigued. Unfortunately, for several years my schedule didn’t align, and then there was a pandemic. My husband and I finally got to go in August 2022.
Epic Nerd Camp is 5 days and 4 nights jam-packed with nerdy activities.
Activities
Before camp, you get to register for all the activities you want to try. I filled up my whole schedule with a variety of activities. My husband signed up for some of the physical activities and also left lots of open times to nap, relax, swim, and play games.
Epic Nerd Camp has a huge host of activities. 2022 Activities included:
Physical Activities: combat archery (foam tip archery tag), boffer (foam sword) games, swimming (including mermaids and water Quidditch), longswords, lightsabers, axe throwing, LARP (Live Action Role Play with costumes called Encaros). Don’t worry about your level of physical fitness. Even if you haven’t been hitting the gym, you’ll be fine.
Lindsay’s feet overlooking the pool during Cosplay Karaoke
Crafts: Fimo clay, leather, shrinky dinks, chain mail
Team Mental Activities: escape room, spaceship bridge simulator, board game room, water balloon battleship
Evening Group activities: cosplay karaoke by the pool, house cup competition, dance, and trivia.
My favorite activities were combat archery, the board game room, all the crafts (how did I not know how amazing shrinky dinks are? I have found my new hobby), and Cosplay Karaoke. My group completely failed at the spaceship bridge simulator, but that was still fun and would be more fun if I’d played a few more times.
My husband and I signed up for some of the same activities and did some on our own.
Dining and Drinking
We were impressed with the quality of the cafeteria-style food. Camp includes three meals a day. They also can accommodate a variety of dietary needs.
The self-serve fountain drinks, coffee, tea, water, and ice are all accessible throughout the day.
Epic Nerd Camp (ENC) is only for those age 21 or older, so you are welcome to bring your own alcohol to share and to drink (and the fountain drinks are convenient mixers).
Map of Epic Nerd Camp (from the Epic Nerd Camp Website)
Housing
Housing is authentic summer camp-style. You can stay in the group cabins or bring your own tent. Bathrooms and showers are indoors per cabin and there’s no a/c. Electric outlets are available in the rooms and camp-style cubbies for your stuff. Bring your own sheets and towels. It’s several steps up from camping which is another available option (bring your own tent). The community feel of camp means cabin doors don’t lock and people can leave their possessions in their cubbies. Typically you share cabins with other campers. You can request to stay together with friends/spouse.
Don’t Panic and Bring a Towel: What to Bring to Camp
Bring a reusable drink container with a lid (open containers are not allowed in the game room). I brought a water bottle and a hot tea thermos which also doubled for making mixed drinks.
Hand soap to leave in the bathroom. Sunglasses. Sunscreen, bug spray, and sanitizer.
Bring your own twin sheets, pillow, blanket, and towel (2 if you can fit them). Bring shower shoes and something to hold your shower items into the shower.
You may want to bring a wallet/small bag or another way to carry your essential items if there’s anything you don’t want to leave in your communal room.
Bring some plastic bags of various sizes (ziptop, grocery, and trash). This is especially useful for wet swimwear/towels or muddy clothes/shoes if it rains.
Crafts: make your own chainmail d20 keychain
It is always appropriate to wear nerdy t-shirts or random “garb” or costumes around camp, so pack a few flexible costume items. Check out the all-camp evening activities if you want to be able to dress to match. If you do the LARP “Encaros,” people typically dress for their characters across multiple days.
“Swaps:” if you’d like to trade some little items (typically handmade pins, keychains, etc) that represent your favorite nerdom, bring them with you to camp.
See the link at the bottom of this post for more suggestions on what to bring from ENC website.
Tips
Registration: Register as soon as you know you can attend because registration is cheaper the earlier you register with the first price increase at the end of December.
Activity Registration: Keep an eye out for the activity registration date. There are a few activities that have a max number of participants for a specific time slot.
When planning your alcohol, you want to bring a cooler (ice is available) or drinks you can drink warm, serve on ice, or mix with the fountain drinks. There isn’t refrigerator access. Glass isn’t allowed around campus, especially the pool, so something like box wine or pouring mixed drinks into other serving containers is a must.
Join the Team: If you want to get more involved or are looking for a more affordable option, you can teach an activity or help in other ways.
Internet: Mobile data coverage varies across the campus. Wifi is available, but you have to pay for it (it didn’t cover my cabin but was available in the main areas).
Location
Camp Ramblewood
2564 Silver Rd, Darlington, MD 21034
A former summer camp turned event venue.
Travel
You will need to plan the legs of your travel (unless you are close enough to drive). Epic Nerd Camp is 1 hour from Baltimore or Philadelphia. Looking at the train schedules with the BWI Airport, we decided to rent a car because the return trains didn’t match our flight schedule. It’s always a little frustrating to rent a car that just sits for several days, but it was worth it for us. If you do take the train from the airport, you still need to take an Uber or Lyft or another ride the last of the way.
Links to learn more
Epic Nerd Camp: "Geek Summer Camp For Grownups"
YMCA of the Rockies and Estes Park
YMCA of the Rockies: “Colorado's Affordable Family Resort with more activities than anywhere else!”
Lindsay on the Aerial Tramway
The rugged beauty of Estes Park, Colorado makes an excellent setting for a wedding.
YMCA of the Rockies
YMCA of the Rockies is a sprawling camp surrounded by the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Similar to Silver Bay YMCA already featured, this is not your local YMCA limited to a swimming pool and some fitness classes. The YMCA of the Rockies has all the fun activities you expect from a traditional camp setting. Activities included in your stay include: roller skating, indoor pool, mini golf, dog parks, basketball, hiking and biking trails, disc golf and more. Activities that have additional fees and require registration include: archery, axe throwing, arts and crafts, escape room, horseback riding, and dog sledding. Day camp is available for youth ages 5-17.
The campus is large enough that it was a lot easier for people who had a rental car to move between the various cabins. For those who are not used to the higher elevation, a hike to a cabin with all your luggage can be a little taxing. Staying hydrated is essential.
It was the perfect setting for an August wedding. I came in on a Thursday and went home on a Sunday. I wish I’d been there longer to enjoy more of the activities, but I didn’t have enough PTO left from work.
Estes Park Activities
There is a free shuttle that will take you to activities in nearby Estes Park. We had an amazing time riding the Aerial Tramway up to the top of the mountain for stunning views and chipmunk feeding. (Check that it is operating during your visit using the link below). We did a little shopping and ate lunch next to a lovely little river in the town. Uber is not available in Estes Park. I was fortunate to get the phone number of the local rideshare: (970)682-9985 to get a ride to dinner for the bachelorette party at The View Restaurant at Historic Crags Lodge. Otherwise, I would have been hard-pressed to get there without a car. Cell service and mobile data can be spotty.
Lindsay on the Front Porch overlooking the YMCA Campus
Lodging
YMCA of the Rockies has a variety of housing options including private cabins, lodge rooms, camping, and even yurts. I stayed one night in a hotel-style lodge with the traditional basics including a private bathroom and bunk beds. Then I moved into the wedding cabin. It was one of several large reunion cabin spaces equipped with many rooms and a common living area, kitchen, and shared bathrooms.
There is a sister campus at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado.
Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available to buy in the dining hall. Food is buffet style. There is also a counter service cafe-style option with extended hours. If you have a cabin, the kitchen allows you to prepare your own meals.
YMCA of the Rockies Location
2515 Tunnel Rd, Estes Park, CO 80511. It’s about a two-hour shuttle ride from the Denver Airport through the dramatic Rocky Moutain Landscape. I took the Estes Park Schedule booked in advance (info below) to the YMCA and rode back to the airport with a local.
Links to learn more
https://www.facebook.com/ymcarockies
Weddings at YMCA of the Rockies
https://www.estesparkshuttle.com/
https://www.visitestespark.com/
The View Restaurant at Historic Crags Lodge
YMCA of the Rockies: “Colorado's Affordable Family Resort with more activities than anywhere else!”
Silver Bay YMCA, a Conference and Family Retreat Center
Silver Bay “A Place to Make Memories!”
Lindsay at Slim Point Beach at Silver Bay
I’ve spent a week every summer of the last 30+ years at Silver Bay with my parents (excluding 2020 for obvious reasons). It is our happy place. My dad first attended as a young boy, and our family started going when I was about 5. It’s a chance to recharge, reset, and reconnect. At Silver Bay, you can be still and soak up the awe-inspring scenery of Lake George overlooking the Adirondack mountains or you can pack in activities from sunrise until past sunset. The beauty of nature and the slower pace allows you to breathe.
Activities
Silver Bay has several weeks of Family camp towards the end of summer catering to large and small families. Silver Bay is also a wonderful location for life’s big moments including weddings and celebrations of life. They also host conferences for corporate and religious groups. Silver Bay would also be a wonderful place for a solo retreat. They also offer cancer, military, and pastoral respite services.
Lindsay at Archery
This is not your local YMCA limited to a swimming pool and some fitness classes. Silver Bay has all the fun activities you expect from a traditional camp setting: archery, tennis, hiking, boating, a sand beach, crafts, nature center, and fitness plus available spiritual life activities that come from being a YMCA. When we sing at church “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place,” you can feel in the very air that it is true. Yet Silver Bay is a welcoming place that non-Christians would feel comfortable enjoying.
Silver Bay is the perfect setting for multigenerational gatherings with supervised children’s programming, lectures, and musical entertainment. You can plan your activities together or go your own separate ways. Our family likes to end each night together in the Ice Cream Store. We enjoy catching up with another family that has also been coming for years.
The Historic Inn, a nice place to stay & great rocking chairs for reading on the porch
Lodging
Silver Bay has the newly built Boyd center complete with air conditioning, a historic Inn with wrap around porch full of rocking chairs, accommodations with private or shared bathrooms, and individual cottages. The focus is on connecting to the present, so don’t expect TVs or room phones, although in the last decade the cell service and WIFI have caught up to allow you to connect if you choose. Silver Bay is popular and the top lodging books well in advance. A year out is not too soon to start looking especially if you need special accommodations like a walk-in shower or want to overlook the lake.
Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available with your stay (those in cottages often opt to cook their own meals). Food is buffet style with salad and fruit readily available as well as plenty of meat and potatoes. As a picky eater, I can always find something to eat.
Location
87 Silver Bay Rd, Silver Bay, NY 12874. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Albany Airport by rental car through the beautiful Adirondack mountains along Lake George. Beyond the more touristy area, Silver Bay is in the heart of nature overlooking the bay where the mountain land across the lake is all forest preserve.
Links to learn more
https://www.facebook.com/SilverBayYMCA
Silver Bay: “Where you come to make Memories”
