Wisconsin From secluded to lively

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Book a bus, replica Conestoga wagon, gazebo, or yurt for a unique overnight at this 40-acre getaway with a priority to make kids happy (inflatables in the manmade swimming pond, miniature golf, giant shopping cart rides, and more). Expect electricity and running water; some choices have a bathroom, too. Dozens of campsites and traditional cabins are on the premises. smokeyhollowcampground.com

Nearby
Thirty miles north is Wisconsin Dells, awash with indoor/outdoor water parks in a beautiful area with sandstone cliffs that tour boats find along the Wisconsin River. Rock climbing, hiking, and swimming at Devil’s Lake State Park is 25 miles west.


Inside the lone, four-season and 20-foot-wide yurt are two beds, a futon, homey furnishings, electricity, and a wood burner. A well-kept outhouse is a few steps outside. Walk the outdoor labyrinth, hike, ski, golf a nine-hole chipping course, or rent a canoe to traverse Namekagon River from the property. End the day in a Finnish sauna, or book a massage (one owner is a certified masseuse). 715.635.2027

Nearby
Take a scenic ride on an historic Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad train in Spooner, eight miles south. The Hayward Musky Festival, 25 miles northeast, honors the muskellunge state fish from June 26–28. Stay for the Lumberjack World Championships, July 30–Aug. 1 to witness the Olympics of sawing, chopping, log rolling, and more.


Yurts have indoor and outdoor electricity and sets of bunk beds, but no indoor plumbing. The 75-acre resort has campsites, cabins, and travel-trailer rentals too. Use an outdoor fire ring to cook. Wooded sites are next to Mink River Estuary, a key location for fish spawning and bird migration; it’s accessible by canoe or kayak. wagontrailcampground.com

Nearby
Door County is Wisconsin’s answer to Cape Cod because of its waterfront parks, charming towns, boutiques, and indie-owned restaurants. Board a ferry to visit remote Washington Island, at the peninsula’s tip. The Door County Lighthouse Festival, June 12–14, pays attention to all 11 of the area’s historic beacons.

Photos courtesy Turner PR