Along the way to our Minneapolis destination, my friends and I made a sidetrip to do some white-water rafting at Wildman Ranch in northern Wisconsin, about a five-hour drive from Chicago. The fun takes place on the Peshtigo River, which features the longest continuous stretch of rapids in the Midwest.

Our adventure started when 11 of us and the guide waded into the water to climb onto the raft. Our guide gave us some tips before pitting the left side against the right side in a balance contest. The left side lost when they fell into the lake. I should have been part of that, but I managed to fall into the raft instead.

With the water test done, it was time for some real fun. We paddled under the instruction of our guide, doing our best to row in sync. Soon we were at the first rapids. The four-foot drop was a nice appetizer for what was to come. We bounced around a bit, paddled strongly and got a little wet; but we stayed afloat and paddled onward.

After another short stretch, we beached the raft and hiked to check out the big rapids. Although a bit nervous, I suppose it was better to see a preview of what awaited us. The 10-plus-foot-drop looked a bit menacing. We hiked back to the boat and paddled toward the challenge, everyone filled with nervous energy and adrenaline.

The guide shouted a last preparatory warning as we hit the rapids. We bounced around but sailed through it all quite uneventfully, except for a couple of refreshing splashes. We beached the raft again, hiked back a bit and prepared for one last run at the big rapids. This time, the river was a bit more agitated. About midway through, our raft started sliding sideways. At this point, I really thought there was a good chance we would capsize. Several huge splashes and some strong rowing later, we sailed into calmer waters, having conquered the rapids again. The whole experience lasted about three hours.

Upon reaching dry land, we had some Cokes and snacks at the lodge, where we also watched a picture stream of our recent adventure. This was an awesome experience. The Wildman guide was helpful, funny and assuring throughout the afternoon. He did a great job keeping us alert while letting us enjoy the experience. We always felt safe yet infused with just enough apprehension to make it exciting. The rest of the Wildman staff (pre- and post-rafting) were also great. It was simply a fantastic time.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist