Minocqua Guides & Things to Do
Guides, itineraries, and the occasional long read — the Wisconsin Northwoods, by people who live here.
entertainment · From the notebook
The Weekend Lineup: June 12-14
Up North Beerfest pours 25+ breweries in Eagle River Saturday, downtown Rhinelander stacks an art fair and a car show, and Corky Siegel plays Three Lakes Friday.
entertainment
Min-Aqua Bats: The Free Wisconsin Tradition That Quietly Invented Water Ski Showmanship
Free Wisconsin water ski show on Lake Minocqua. Performed by the volunteer club that quietly invented doubles and trio acts in the 1950s. June 10 opens 2026.
entertainment
The Weekend Lineup: June 5-7
It's Pride weekend in the Northwoods -- Wausau Pride and the Northwoods Pride Festival on Saturday, plus the June Bloom Art & Craft Fair at Torpy Park in Minocqua.
food-drink
Best Burgers in the Northwoods
A good burger is the great equalizer -- it works after a morning on the lake, mid-afternoon when the kids are restless, or late at night after the bars close...
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The Weekend Lineup: May 29-31
The Antigo Off-Road National kicks off this weekend at the Langlade County Fairgrounds -- three days of AMSOIL Championship Off-Road racing with high-speed...
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The Weekend Lineup: May 22-24
ArtStart's 15th anniversary party kicks off Friday night in Rhinelander -- free admission, live music, food, and drinks from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Sunday, the 3...
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The Weekend Lineup: May 15-17
The Hodag Heritage Festival takes over Rhinelander this weekend -- pancake breakfast, Hodag Calling Contest, cryptid speakers, live music, and a historical...
guides
Memorial Day Weekend in the Northwoods — Cabins Open, Towns Show Up
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The Weekend Lineup: May 8-10
The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band -- a Grammy-winning bluegrass supergroup -- hits the Campanile Center Saturday night, and RipcoFest brings free rock wall...
guides
The Cabin Renter's Guide to the Northwoods
Renting a cabin in the Northwoods is its own skill set. The listing photos rarely tell you whether the boat slip is included, where the nearest grocery store...
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The Weekend Lineup: May 1-3
Ann Marie's kicks off their summer season Friday and Saturday with free samples, and Tomahawk's Farm & Flea Market gets rolling early Saturday morning.
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The Weekend Lineup: April 24-26
Quiet but clean Northwoods weekend. Saturday morning has a cluster: Boulder Junction pancakes, Rhinelander pickleball, Manitowish Waters yoga.
guides
A Day in Minocqua, Wisconsin
Minocqua is a small island town that earns a full day without trying hard. The downtown is walkable, the lakefront is right there, and the surrounding area a...
things-to-do
Fall Color Guide: When & Where to See Peak Foliage
Peak color hits the Northwoods in late September through early October. Here's when to time your trip, which drives to take, and where to hike and paddle.
things-to-do
Your Winter Northwoods Bucket List
Snowmobiling 1,700 miles of trails, cross-country skiing at the top-ranked park in America, ice fishing, fat-tire biking, and skating through the woods on The Glide.
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The Weekend Lineup: April 17-19
Live theater in Ironwood, bluegrass in Tomahawk, a 5K through Nicolet National Forest, and art classes across the Northwoods this weekend.
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The Weekend Lineup: April 10-12
Daddy Daughter Dance in Minocqua, Maple Syrup Fest in Phelps, figure skating show, marine show in Tomahawk, and 38 events across the Northwoods.
things-to-do
Things to Do With Kids in the Northwoods
A zoo with giraffes, a lumberjack show, pirate ship cruises, and beaches with actual sand — the Northwoods has more family activities than you'd expect.
food-drink
The Northwoods Supper Club Trail: 8 Places Worth the Drive
Eight Northwoods supper clubs worth building an evening around — from lakeside legends in Minocqua to a 130-year-old lodge in Star Lake.
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The Northwoods Live Music & Events Scene
Summer concerts at Torpy Park, the Hodag Country Festival, lakeside open mics, and Thursday night sets at a distillery — here's where to find live music in the Northwoods.
food-drink
The Northwoods Craft Beer Guide
From Eagle River's folklore-inspired lagers to Rhinelander's 1882 brewing legacy, a guide to the Northwoods craft beer scene.
guides
The Cabin Renter's Guide to the Northwoods
Lake access, boat slips, grocery runs, cell coverage, and the real differences between cabins and resorts in Northern Wisconsin.
food-drink
The Brandy Old Fashioned & Other Northwoods Drinks
Wisconsin's unofficial state cocktail, the Grasshopper, the Pink Squirrel, and the supper club drink culture that keeps the Northwoods buzzing.
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Snowmobile Season: Routes, Rules & Where to Ride
Trail systems, corridor routes, fuel stops, and what out-of-staters need to know before riding the Northwoods snowmobile network.
things-to-do
Hidden Gems of the Northwoods
The quiet lakes, unmarked trailheads, roadside stops, and local favorites that don't show up in the brochures — your insider guide to the Northwoods.
food-drink
Friday Fish Fry: The Definitive Northwoods Guide
The sacred Wisconsin tradition of Friday night fish fry, from Minocqua supper clubs to Rhinelander log cabins.
things-to-do
Free Things to Do in the Northwoods This Summer
The best free things to do in Wisconsin's Northwoods this summer — water ski shows, concerts, beaches, hiking trails, farmers markets, and festivals.
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Exploring Lac du Flambeau & Ojibwe Culture
Lac du Flambeau is the cultural and community heart of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, and there's more to do here than most visi...
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Date Night in the Northwoods
Supper club cocktails, sunset pontoon rides, stargazing spots, and the most romantic tables in the Northwoods — your guide to date night done right.
food-drink
Beyond the Supper Club: New Northwoods Restaurants Worth a Drive
The Northwoods dining scene is evolving. Farm-to-table menus, craft cocktails, and chefs doing creative things with local ingredients — here's where to eat now.
food-drink
Best Ice Cream & Sweet Stops in the Northwoods
Soft serve, hand-scooped, homemade fudge, and the summer treat trail across the Northwoods — every sweet stop worth knowing about.
things-to-do
Best Hikes & Bike Trails in the Northwoods
From the Bearskin Trail to the Heart of Vilas County, these are the best routes for hiking and biking through Northern Wisconsin's pine forests and lakeshores.
food-drink
Best Breakfast & Coffee in the Northwoods
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Arts & Culture in the Northwoods
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Active Living in the Northwoods
Trail running, open-water swimming, paddling circuits, snowshoeing, and year-round ways to stay active in Northern Wisconsin.
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A First-Timer's Guide to Fishing the Northwoods
Northern Wisconsin has thousands of lakes, a legendary mix of fish species, and a culture built around time on the water. If you've never fished the Northwoo...
guides
A Day in Rhinelander: Home of the Hodag
Rhinelander is the largest city in the Northwoods and one of the few places in Wisconsin where a hoax from 1893 still drives tourism, names the high school m...
guides
A Day in Manitowish Waters
Manitowish Waters is one of those Northwoods towns that regulars keep quiet about -- and for good reason. The chain of 10 lakes, the Manitowish River, and a...
guides
A Day in Land O' Lakes & Phelps
Land O'Lakes and Phelps sit about as far north as Wisconsin goes before you hit the Michigan border. That geography is the whole point -- fewer crowds, more...
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A Day in Eagle River, Wisconsin
Eagle River earns a full day without padding the itinerary. The world's largest chain of freshwater lakes wraps around a walkable downtown, a hometown brewer...
guides
A Day in Boulder Junction: Musky Capital
Boulder Junction carries a title it has earned: the Musky Capital of the World. With nearly 200 lakes within a 10-mile radius and the sprawling Northern High...
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