The Badger State isn’t all beer and brats. That said, kicking back with both is an unimpeachable way to spend a summer weekend.
But you don’t have to dig a fire pit and drag out the cooler to to enjoy a little R&R Wisconsin style — at least not at Destination Kohler’s new Red Fox cabin. The 2,600-square-foot retreat features a chef’s kitchen (you can’t grill brats every night), five fireplaces and a rec room complete with pool and poker tables.
When it’s time to get moving, take a hike, saddle up, cast a line or hit the Sport Core Health & Racquet Club, a component of Destination Kohler’s Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort-hotel. (For Red Fox reservations, call 800-344-2838, or visit DestinationKohler.com. Rates, based on four people, start at $1,484 May – October. The property can sleep up to six.)
Clearly, going rustic up North no longer requires you to tap into your inner Bear Grylls. Below, find a few other Wisconsin getaways where leaving the city behind is a snap.
Stouts Island Lodge: Once a lumber baron’s vacation compound, this Northwestern Wisconsin retreat recalls the Gilded Age summer camps of the Adirondacks. Think canoeing, croquet, fishing, golf, badminton — and maybe a nice trout with a glass of Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc. $189-$425 per night; call 715.354.3646 or visit stoutsislandlodge.com
Candlewood: The toughest decision you’ll have to make here is which of the five smartly designed digs you’ll want to call yours. Spread across 80 acres, each offers loads of privacy plus easy access to Taliesen, American Players Theater and that great Richland County oddity, The House on the Rock. $125-$245 per night. Call 608.647.5720 or visit candlewoodcabins.com
Photo by Kit Hogan
Seth Peterson Cottage: Although just down the road from the raucous, family-friendly water resorts of the Wisconsin Dells, this Frank L Wright-designed cabin is a real oasis, with a sunlit living room, snug bedroom, hefty hearth and patio overlooking Mirror Lake. $325 per night, two night minimum. Call 608.647.5720 or 800.822.7768 or visit sethpeterson.org
Canoe Bay: Wisconsin’s only Relais & Châteaux property (a jacket at dinner is appreciated), Canoe Bay is 300 acres of adults-only bliss. Spend the day with a licensed fishing guide, explore miles of wooded trails or disappear on your own in a kayak. Book an in-room massage and top off the day with a selection from their Wine Spectator Award of Excellence cellar. $195-$999 per night. Call 715.924.4594 or visit canoebay.com
Main photo courtesy of Kohler Co., others via their respective entities except where noted
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