I grew up vacationing “Up North,” and ever since I was a kid, I’ve associated the Northwoods with a sense of escape. It’s been so much fun creating new memories with Hayden and exploring deeper into the northwoods, but Up North still gives me feelings of nostalgia. We recently got to spend 3 nights at a cozy cabin on Lower Gresham Lake, and we were reminded why we love returning to this part of Wisconsin. Here’s our Northwoods Travel Guide for Minocqua & Beyond.
This blog is brought to you in part by Lakeland Rental Management, but all opinions are my own.
If you’re looking to explore the Northwoods with your furry friends, check out our free Dog-Friendly Google Map for all our recommendations!
Where to stay
What could be better than a lakefront cabin in the Northwoods?! We stayed at Gresham Shores, a resort with several cabins on Lower Gresham Lake and an on site restaurant. We were in cabin #6, Smiling Moose. This 3 bedroom cabin was perfect for our long weekend getaway! We loved the cozy old school vibes– It was the nostalgic Northwoods feel that I love so much. Not only can you comfortably sleep 6 guests, but it’s also dog-friendly! There’s a large screen porch for bug-free outdoor dining and board games, full kitchen, large living area, nice fire pit, dock, and rowboat, as well as lake access.
We definitely bounced around and ate and drank our way through the local establishments, but we also made plenty of time to enjoy this great property. One morning, I woke up to the sounds of the birds, made a cup of hot chocolate, and made my way down to the dock to watch the sunrise. I was blown away by a beautiful orange sunrise over the treeline! After that, I made my way to our screen porch to enjoy a slow morning reading while Hayden got to sleep in. Being so cozy made it so easy to be unplugged and just be present–something I can struggle with outside of our Up North stays.
Smiling Moose is just one of Lakeland Rental Managements' many rentals! They have beautiful rentals all over the Northwoods ready for your vacations.
Where to eat
There is no shortage of yummy restaurants scattered throughout all of the amazing Northwoods communities. This was our first trip to the area together without our dogs in tow, so we used this time to check out some spots that were not dog-friendly and had been on our list for a long time, and we also found some cool new dog-friendly spots as well.
The first restaurant we couldn’t wait to check out was Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters. This iconic supper club has a fascinating history that I could not wait to experience! The lodge still has bullet holes in the windows from the shootout between the FBI and John Dillinger that unfolded over 80 years ago. A supper club and a history lesson? How cool! Above the supper club/restaurant, there’s a museum where you can get all the details on the shootout, but it’s only open for an hour before the restaurant opens for dinner. I would recommend calling ahead to be sure you can visit. Not only is the atmosphere of the supper club so unique, but the food was also fabulous. We both enjoyed some soup, then I loved the Shrimp de Jonghe and Hayden devoured the Chicken Parmesan. Dessert was remarkable and is still living rent-free in my head–an awesome cheesecake with oreo crust and raspberries mixed in. Safe to say that that will not be our last visit to Little Bohemia Lodge!
We really enjoyed breakfast from Dixie Coffee House in Manitowish Waters! They have a good selection of tasty panini sandwiches. There are a few seats inside, but I highly recommend grabbing a seat out on their dog-friendly patio, deck, or yard overlooking the water.
If you’re looking for a casual spot with good food, stop by Slo’s! This was a great pit stop for us before heading out for a round of golf. I enjoyed a super yummy (and massive) cocktail special, and Hayden opted for the $2 bottles of High Life. We shared the duck wonton appetizer and a super yummy fish taco wrap that was served with mini potato pancakes. Slo’s also has a dog-friendly patio and boat-up access from Big Arbor Vitae Lake.
Another spot that had been on our list for a while was Aberdeen Restaurant. We were very impressed with our yummy dinner there, and it’s always so fun when new-to-us-spots are worth the wait! The dining room has beautiful floor to ceiling windows so you can take in views of the Manitowish Chain of Lakes. Hayden raved about the Hungarian Mushroom soup, so I highly recommend giving that a try!
Where to drink
On your way into town, kick off the trip at Minocqua Yacht Club. This newly renovated bar/restaurant has a rooftop patio in addition to their dog-friendly lakeside one. There is boat-up access from Minocqua Lake, great snacks and cocktails, and fun vibes on the rooftop!
Every town needs a really good dive bar, and Minocqua has the Little Brown Jug. With its great vibes, marked up dollar bills covering the walls, and cheap drinks…it’s the dive bar of my dreams! They have a dog-friendly patio and are a great spot for a day drink or night out.
In Woodruff, you’ll find one of my favorite breweries, Rocky Reef. The taproom is dog-friendly and so is the patio. I really liked their selection of sours, and Hayden recommends the Musky Bite. They don’t serve food, but you are welcome to bring in your own. Pack a snack or stop at Minocqua Popcorn and pick one up on your way!
We really enjoyed the Lower Unit Bar & Grill at Greer’s Pier Marina. They have an awesome cocktail menu (try a channel runner!), and this might be Hayden’s new favorite spot in the Northwoods. The bar is located on a beautiful chain of lakes and gets a lot of customers via boat, but we just drove up. This fun outdoor bar is perfect for a nice day!
The Bottled Bean is a super cool new coffee and cocktail lounge in Minocqua. We were there in the late afternoon and both got fabulous cocktails–a very yummy s’more cocktail for me and an espresso martini for Hayden. Grab your beverage and relax on their dog-friendly patio!
What to do
If you’re looking for a place to stretch your legs, I think the Bearskin Trail is the best spot! There’s a fee for this state trail, but the $5 day pass is totally worth it. It’s a beautiful, wide trail that takes you between pines and along the water. It’s 21.5 miles long in total (43 miles out and back), so go as far out and back as you and your pups choose to walk, or rent a bike and do the whole thing. No matter how far you go, the views will be great!
Downtown Minocqua is very charming and full of awesome local businesses. There are so many places to shop, but a few of our faves are Northern Nest for the candles, Dan’s Fudge for a sweet treat, Earth Goods for artsy gifts, and Sallets Northwoods Outfitters for Minocqua merch and gifts.
If you’re looking to bring your golf game to the Northwoods, we recommend St. Germain Golf Club. The course was beautiful, challenging, and in great condition. This course is public, relatively affordable, and operated by the city. The clubhouse also shares the building with Whitetail Inn, so we stopped in for some yummy cheese curds after our round.
There is so much to see and do in the Northwoods, but it’s also the perfect place to just relax! Whether you like to cram in as many adventures as possible, or lounge by the lake, the Northwoods has something for everything.