Packed into a thin strip of land surrounded by lake, downtown Minocqua has everything family vacationers crave -- the heady scent of fudge shops and hot cheesy popcorn, colorfully tempting toy and souvenir shops, big sandy beaches, the Bearskin Trail for biking, and a popular free water-ski show. You can easily fill a week with what's within walking distance.
Definitely give yourself a day or two to enjoy the happy bustle of vacationers in Minocqua, the epicenter of northern Wisconsin's lake country. Then get out and explore. The sheer variety of things to do within a 30-mile drive can be as daunting as the number of lakes: about 4,000 between Vilas and Oneida counties. And each of the lake towns -- Arbor Vitae, Woodruff, Manitowish Waters, Eagle River, St. Germain and Boulder Junction -- has its own personality.
For history and nostalgia lovers, enjoy sweet sipping at a soda-pop nirvana, dine in a historic supper club with bullet holes from a 1920's Prohibition shootout, visit a replicated Indian village, enjoy a favorite show at the summer stock theater, and watch entertaining lumberjacks swing into action. Younger children will love Northwoods Children's Museum, sugar-sand beach at Clear Lake, ice cream cones with sprinkles and candy eyes at Hoggie Doggie's, and the Wildwood Wildlife Park, a favorite destination for generations.
If you want to skip the hubbub completely, there are quiet resorts, hiking and biking trails, and undeveloped lakeshores tucked into the sprawling Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. And don't forget one of the biggest draws -- fishing! Kids can catch sunnies off city docks or families can choose from one of many guide services to learn about catching tasty walleyes or exhilarating muskies. Nothing makes a teen more can't-stop-grinning ecstatic than landing a better catch than a parent or grandparent.
And at the end of the day, multiple generations gather for the free water-ski show on Lake Minocqua or to simply enjoy the sunset from the dock while a campfire crackles nearby. Throw in a Friday night fish fry and deep-fried cheese curds, and you've got a quintessential "Up North" experience -- Wisconsin-style.
Minocqua, WI Family Vacations
Minocqua, WI Family Vacations
Families will love:
- The outdoor paradise of Wisconsin's lake country
- Hiking and biking trails, as well as lake shores and water sports
- The world's longest-running waterski show, the Min-Aqua Bats
Written by Lisa Meyers McClintick
Read more about Minocqua, WI Attractions
Best Minocqua, WI Family Hotels
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