Northern Lights Playhouse and Pinewood Dinner Theatre

Capture the breathtaking beauty of the bright reds, vivid yellows and warm oranges reflecting off the sparkling water of area lakes, arching over our three local state-certified rustic roads (58, 59 and 60) or along the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

Generally, peak colors can be seen between the last two weeks of September to the first two weeks of October. Make plans to stay at a Minocqua area resort while visiting the local Colorama celebrations, and you will be sure to experience the glory of the Northwoods in fall.

The Lakeland area’s 16 golf courses provide a challenging experience for all, from the novice to the most experienced golfer. Choose from 9-and 18-hole layouts, each varying in yardage, design and difficulty -- all offering scenery unmatched anywhere else.

Disc golf is also becoming an increasingly popular family activity in the Northwoods, where it is described as taking a hike in the scenic woods while enjoying a fun game.

Thus far, one world-class 22- to 27-hole course exists in Lac du Flambeau, and more area courses are planned. Call 1(888)588-3233 for more information about Lakeland-area disk golf, including scheduled Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) tournaments.

Most Minocqua-area resorts offer several different ways to enjoy the area’s abundant water resources. From canoeing and kayaking to pontoon boat rides, water skiing or a lazy afternoon floating on the tube, you can’t go wrong.

Ask the resort of your choice about local opportunities to rent watercrafts, or to experience guided boat, pontoon, canoe or kayak tours.

Whether you are a hard-core musky angler or an aspiring bass-master, a fly-fishing trout enthusiast or a parent taking the kids out for their first fishing adventure, the Minocqua area remains a premiere Midwest fishing destination.

Many resorts offer boat and motor rentals, as well as expert advice on how to have a great time fishing. Most of the lakes have public boat landings, and if they do not, the resort you are staying at may have its own landing or can make other arrangements to launch your fishing boat.

For accurate, up-to-date Lakeland fishing reports, visit Kurt’s Island Sport Shop or Tommy’s Fishing Adventures.

And, don’t forget to purchase a Wisconsin fishing license for your trip.

The Lakeland area is dream for hikers, bicyclists and birders, with endless miles of woodland trails that offer great walking or pedaling among the most spectacular scenery you can imagine. From the Bearskin’s 18 miles of smooth red granite surface to the Raven’s rugged hills that wind through dense forests near Inkpot and Clear Lakes, this area has the right trail for you.

To get you started on your next biking adventure, visit Trek the Northwoods Trails for information about trails in the Lakeland area. To purchase day or annual passes for state hiking and biking trails before your journey, visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources web site.

For ice skating fun, strap on your skates and head for an area lake or visit one of the following rinks:

Lakeland Ice Arena, indoor ice rink open to the public during scheduled times

Torpy Park, lighted outdoor public ice rink, near downtown Minocqua

Brandy Park, lighted outdoor public ice rink, located on Lemma Creek Road

Thanks to the hard work of local snowmobile clubs and volunteers, an extensive network of professionally groomed trails – more than 1600 miles – are maintained in the Lakeland area. With an annual average snow fall of 65 inches, you can take off in any direction on your sled and find plenty of well-marked Northwoods trails, as well as numerous welcoming trail-side pit stops.

On both skis and snowshoes, nature lovers revel in the silent monochromatic world of winter in the Northwoods. Thousands of people from all over the world come to the area to take advantage of our annual average 65-inch snow fall and the extensive network of groomed trails for cross-country skiing, both skating and striding, and snowshoeing.

Minocqua Winter Park offers 75 kilometers of trails, including three children’s loops, telemarking slopes, a chalet, a café, heated wax room and a Saturday babysitting service.

The North Lakeland Discovery Center also maintains 20 kilometers of trails and offers guided ski and snowshoe outings.

In addition, approximately ten separate trails are available in the Northern Highland - American Legion (NHAL) state forest. The trail lengths vary from the 2.9-mile Statehouse Lake trail to the 12.5-mile Lumberjack trail. The NHAL trails may be groomed or un-groomed and encompass a range of difficulties, from novice to expert. For more information about NHAL winter use trails, call (715) 385-2727.

Opportunities to experience culture, art and history are more plentiful in the Northwoods than you may have imagined.

For example, the area offers many ways to gain understanding of the Ojibwe culture in nearby Lac du Flambeau. Craft classes held at the George W. Brown Jr. Museum and Cultural Center allow you to try your hand at making traditional Ojibwe crafts, such as birch bark baskets, beadwork or making wooden fish decoys.

Or attend one of the traditional Indian Bowl pow wows held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in June, July and August at 7 p.m. Since 1951, tribal members have gathered each summer on the shore of Long Interlaken Lake to celebrate life, dance, sing, laugh and remember. As the sun sets, say, "Waswaaganing Indizhaa (I'm going to Lac du Flambeau).”

The following are just a sampling of other popular art and culture events offered in the Northwoods:

Minocqua's new Campanile Center for the Arts offers a variety of live performances and workshops in downtown Minocqua

Nicolet Technical College music and theatre performances in Rhinelander

Theatre productions at Northern Lights Playhouse in Hazelhurst

Concerts in Minocqua's Torpy Park on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. throughout the summer months

Live music and comedy performances at the Lake of the Torches Casino in Lac du Flambeau

History is also alive and well in the Northwoods. A variety of area museums will quickly familiarize you and your family with the Lakeland area’s rich and varied past, from re-created traditional Native American villages to in-depth studies of our logging history. Plan a visit to the following area museums:

Minocqua Museum
416 Chicago Avenue
Minocqua , WI 54548
(715) 356-7666

Dr. Kate Newcomb Museum
923 Second Avenue
Woodruff , WI 54568
(715) 356-6896

George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum Cultural Center
603 Peace Pipe
Lac du Flambeau , WI 54538
(715) 588-3333

Vilas County Historical Museum
217 Main Street
Sayner, WI 54560
(715) 542-3388

Waswagoning 
Re-created Ojibwe Indian Village
Hwy H
Lac du Flambeau , WI 54538
(715) 588-2241

If you enjoy shopping at small, personal shops instead of boring chain stores, the Northwoods is the place for you. Local galleries and unique specialty shops offer original gifts, clothing, artwork and crafts you won’t find elsewhere.

Enjoy the area’s fantastic restaurants. From upscale dining experiences to down-home family meals, your family is sure to find something to satisfy everyone’s palate.

And remember. Don’t head home without partaking in a popular Northwoods tradition – a Friday night fish fry at your favorite local joint.