Explore the Minocqua Area

Explore the Minocqua Area
The fresh air, hospitality and great food are important, but let’s
face it ... we come for the water. To be in it, on it or see it. The Minocqua area has the highest concentration of lakes in the world.
Everywhere you turn, people are out enjoying the fun.
That’s why, when we visit Minocqua for a long weekend, we begin
with the water. Where we stay, the toys we bring, the gear we rent,
where we dine — everything centers around the cool blue stuff. A
day spent frolicking in sun, sand and water creates the perfect line
of demarcation from the hustle of the work-a-day world.
Lodging on the water runs the gamut from hotel room to condo to cottage to lodge. Most places offer some form of water
recreation, whether it’s a rowboat or kayak, a pontoon or a personal watercraft. Or you can find them for rent at several places
throughout town.
Our perfect first day calls for checking into our lodgings, unpacking swim suits and racing for the lake. An hour of swimming, sand castles and soaking up the rays, and we’re famished.
Minocqua has tons of options. Will we stick with main street
classics, venture out to a lakeside bar and grill or choose a downtown spot on the water? Greek specialties or Mexican? Burgers
or fish sandwiches at a lakefront bar and grill setting? Coffee
shops abound with great lunch menus, and there’s no shortage
of pizza. For dessert, we’ll have to make perhaps the toughest
decision: the deliciously difficult choice between goods from a
homemade candy shop or from a specialty ice cream parlour, or
maybe we’ll just have both.
Next stop: the World’s Largest Penny and the Dr. Kate Museum
in Woodruff. Dr. Kate was a legendary Northwoods doctor in the
first half of the 20th century. She made house calls any way possible, arriving by canoe, snowshoe or snowmobile. Her dream of
having an area hospital came true when local children launched
a million-penny campaign to raise $10,000 to build the hospital.
The Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1954 — and
Woodruff got the World’s Largest Penny.
As afternoon gives way to evening, we enjoy a fish fry overlooking the water and then stroll down the street to catch the MinAqua Bats water ski show.
On Day Two, the early risers sneak out for a quick dip before we
pile into the car for the short drive to Wildwood Wildlife Park.
NATURE’S
Kids love being up close and personal with the animals, and there
are enough activities to keep them happy for days — a paddle
boat adventure, safari train, nature trail boardwalk and more.
In the afternoon we rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks,
and paddle through glittering sun diamonds dancing across Minocqua Lake.
Clouds gather on Day Three as we head into town for a hearty
breakfast. We seize the grayish day for shopping at our favorite
boutiques. Downtown Minocqua offers shopping for just about
anything … from antiques to home décor, to beautiful jewelry,
and both casual and upscale fashion.
After lunch the skies clear and we rent bikes and then hit the Bearskin Trail. This old railroad bed is now part of Wisconsin’s Aldo
Leopold Legacy Trail System. It starts in Minocqua and follows the
Bearskin Creek some 18 miles south, crossing so much water that
there are 13 trestles along its length. A state trail pass is required
for bikers over 16 (dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/trailpass.html).
Over a leisurely meal and a brew, we use a napkin to make the
inevitable “Wish we had time for …” list for our next visit.
WHEN THE SNOW FLIES
The Northwoods is laced with mile after mile of trails penetrating deep into forests and skirting lakes and streams. They’re
beautiful any time of year, and especially so in winter. The quiet
feels inviolate, and pristine snow under blue sky seems to glow
with radiance. The flash of a blue jay or the bass tap-tap of a
pileated woodpecker only deepens the romance of the winter
landscape.
Miles of state forest and parkland trails invite a variety of winter
pursuits. An average annual snowfall of 65 inches ensures great
snowmobiling on the area’s more than 1,600 miles of public and
private trails. Minocqua Winter Park has 45 miles of groomed
ski trails, nearly eight miles of snowshoe trails, and a tubing hill,
complete with lift equipment. There’s even an ice skating pond
reminiscent of Currier & Ives. After the fun, warm up and get a
bite to eat at Rick’s Hardwax Café in the park’s chalet. For fees,
activities and equipment rental, visit minocquawinterpark.org.
Get a comprehensive look at winter recreation in the Minocqua area,
including trail activities, ice fishing, indoor ice skating and tubing
at minocqua.org/northwoods-winter-activities. —Molly Rose Teuke
Original WATER PARK™
AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ARBOR VITAE ~ LAKE TOMAHAWK ~ WOODRUFF
For more information, please stop at our 24-hour visitor information
center, located just before the bridge as you drive into Minocqua.
www.minocqua.org • 800-44-NORTH