The day before Taylor Swift wrapped up her Eras Tour, I saw Fearless (a Taylor Swift tribute band) perform at The Cabin by Bantr. The concert was a fun opportunity to sing and dance along to some Taylor Swift hits! Sure, it was a smaller-scale production than the official tour, but it still had plenty of glitter, lights, and energy for any Swiftie to enjoy.

I went to the show with my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. We made a weekend trip of it and spent Saturday through Sunday in Wausau. Here’s a recap of our adventure:

Exploring Downtown Wausau

We arrived in the Wausau area early afternoon, so we had some time to spend downtown before checking into our hotel and getting ready for the show.

Our first stop was The Pinery for coffee and lunch. I ordered the Douglas latte (it tasted like pecan pie – yum!) and The Forager sandwich (can’t go wrong with turkey and pesto).

Right next door to The Pinery was The Chocolate Cafe. They had so many gorgeous treats and truffles. Next time I visit, I may need to try The Chocolate Cafe’s signature cacao-latte!

While downtown, we spotted a Santa walking around. And, upon further exploration, we even got to see The Grinch (do you spot him in the image above?)! The Grinch served as the greeter at Magnolia Soap and Bath Co, so of course we had to go into the shop. They had lots of beautiful smelling items. If you’re a fan of bath bombs, this is the place for you.

Thrifting in Rib Mountain

When we were done shopping around downtown, we drove to the closest Goodwill. It wouldn’t be a true shopping day for me if I didn’t end up thrifting a bit.

I found a pair of Lucky Brand jeans that were just my size. This is a brand of denim that I’m always on the lookout for!

I also scored a cute new skirt and a fun graphic T-shirt. Thank you to whoever donated their Simple Life tee – you’ve added a new staple to my wardrobe!

Overall, it was a perfect little haul for less than $30.

Back at Bantr

We shopped till we nearly dropped, and then made our way to Bantr. If you’ve been a reader, you know that Bantr is one of my go-to weekend getaway spots. It’s a cozy hotel with a cabin aesthetic, and concerts/events frequently happen on-site.

The Swiftie show was getting set up in the lobby when we arrived. We checked in, settled in, and walked over to The Bar for dinner. It’s nice that there are a few options for food close by. Going to The Bar almost felt like we were right at home (we have locations in Green Bay, too)!

Post-dinner, we spent some time in the hotel room chatting and getting ready.

Time for Taylor

A quick walk away from our hotel room, the party was getting started. We struck poses at the disco wall, grabbed drinks at the Bantr bar, and then found our spot in the crowd.

As you already know from my intro to this blog post, the show was great! I loved the energy, and it was fun to see unique Taylor Swift-inspired outfits from fellow attendees. We all danced the night away.

Good Morning from The Cabin

In the morning, I headed straight to the lobby for coffee. Bantr has some lovely lounge spaces that add to the cozy cabin vibes.

Who wouldn’t want to sip coffee and chat in this space?!

Sunday Brunch

Before hitting the road home, we wanted to grab breakfast (and more coffee, of course). Era has become one of my favorite spots during my Wausau weekend trips, so I was excited to share it with the girls.

I always get the caramel macchiato to drink at Era. For my meal, I ordered the avocado toast. It was a delicious finale to our weekend getaway.

Did you go to the Eras Tour, or have you been to a tribute show? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

For Valentine’s weekend, my fiancé and I enjoyed a cozy getaway at Bantr. We’ve been in the greater Wausau area a few times now and have continued to find new-to-us spots to explore. I like to challenge us to find new restaurants, coffee shops, and mini adventures on each of our weekend trips.

We got into town on Saturday around lunchtime. Hungry for a bite to eat, we went to La Taqueria. We both ended up getting the big burritos, so maybe we were hungry for more than just a bite…But, our meal was delicious! I went for chicken, and Ryan opted for chorizo. Whichever is your preference, I believe you’ll enjoy it!

While we did plan on exploring another restaurant in the area for dinner, *spoiler alert* we didn’t. We were full and very satisfied with our meal at La Taqueria throughout the rest of the day, so we just had a few snacks for dinner. The next time we visit, I’d love to try Tine & Cellar or The Velveteen Plum for a meal.

After lunch, we stopped by a coffee shop that has been on my list to try: Tucknee Coffee Company. I really enjoyed the look and feel of the cafe. And, they made a perfect London fog latte. It’s definitely the type of coffee shop that I could get comfy and sit for hours in.

It was just about time to check into our hotel room once we got done with our sips, so we made our way to Bantr. Our room was complete with a whirlpool tub and fireplace. Plus, a cute little rubber duck?!

Mr. Coolio caught my eye as we were getting settled in. He’s one of the Bantr ducks that you may find during your stay, and you can redeem him for a drink at the hotel bar. After taking some time to relax, we took up Mr. Coolio’s offer.

When we got to the bar, we saw speed daters chatting around tables. In the theme with Bantr’s event, there were two fun drink specials: Royal Blush and Nervous First Date. We grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered. Royal Blush was my favorite! I may need to put my skills to the test and try to make it at home.

Later in the evening, we enjoyed some live music and eventually ventured to the pool/hot tub. The hot tub is always one of the best things about staying at Bantr.

The next morning, we got packed up and checked out. Before really hitting the road, we wanted to grab breakfast. Breakfast Bear had been on my radar since I saw Visit Wausau post about the restaurant, so we decided to try it! I’m very happy we did.

It was admittedly packed when we got there, but we snagged a spot at the bar for 0 wait time. I got a vanilla iced latte and a classic breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and toast that hit the spot. Ryan got the most delicious-looking breakfast burrito and a macchiato.

Breakfast Bear or Era Pancakes and Cafe are both amazing brunch spots in the area with nice aesthetics and quality coffee drinks. You can’t go wrong with either!

Cheers to our sweet Valentine’s getaway! I’m looking forward to the next adventure.

Where is your favorite weekend getaway destination? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

This year, I enjoyed a couple of mini getaways in Wausau, and I’m planning another soon! It’s the perfect distance away from my home in Green Bay to feel like a getaway while being a short and sweet road trip. On my Wausau adventures, I’ve discovered unique places to explore, eat, and grab drinks. Read on for some of my favorites!

A Cozy Stay

Bantr has been a lovely host in the Wausau area. The hotel has a log cabin style and cozy feel. I’ve had a great time at events they host. The NEW Dueling Pianos performed at the hotel bar over Halloweekend – it was a blast. Also, Bantr has the best hot tub, so pack a swimsuit when you visit!

Things To Do

On my first trip to the area, I saw the Monk Botanical Gardens. This was the perfect place to get a relaxing walk in. I’d love to visit again when the gardens are in bloom!

On another trip, I went to Wisconsin’s oldest bookstore, Janke. I highly recommend this shop to all book lovers. There are so many used and new books to look at as well as other items like craft supplies, journals, and more.

If you’re a night owl, The Garage is a fun bar to check out. They are true to the theme with creative decor like cars mounted on the walls.

Delicious Bites & Sips

I always love trying local food spots! During my first time visiting the Wausau area, I grabbed dinner at Red Eye Brewing. Their Forager pizza was delicious (and vegetarian-friendly!). The next time, I had dinner at Sconni’s – if fried brussel sprouts are your thing, you need to go there for the apps.

On future trips, I’m looking forward to exploring more of the local coffee shops, but I’ve enjoyed Clean Slate Coffeehouse. The playful and eclectic aesthetic of the place is very cool!

For brunch, Era Pancakes and Cafe is the spot! The look and feel of the place is very pretty and open. Also, the food and hand-crafted coffee drinks are amazing! Treat yourself, and order the Caramel Macchiato if you visit.

Have you been to Wausau? What local spots do you love? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!