Vilas County in the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods is the ideal family vacation destination, offering enticing attractions, great options for outdoor recreation, and much more. Here’s a look at a few things you shouldn’t miss on your next getaway with the kids.
Trails & natural areas
Vilas County offers abundant opportunities for families to discover the Northwoods, including nearly 100 multi-use trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other activities and sprawling state forests that are home to scenic campgrounds and hundreds of lakes.
The Heart of Vilas County Paved Bike Trail System spans more than 50 miles and connects the communities of St. Germain, Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland, Boulder Junction, and Manitowish Waters. Each community has its own easily accessible segment that’s suitable for all ages, so it’s a great place to get out and explore the Northwoods with the family.
The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest covers 232,000 acres in three counties in northern Wisconsin (including Vilas County) and has hundreds of campsites, the highest concentration of lakes in the state, and nearly 90 miles of all-season, multi-use trails. Looking for a short trail to tackle with the kids? Try the Tom Roberts Trail (0.55 miles), the North Trout Lake Trail (1 mile), or the Star Lake Trail (2.5 miles), all of which offer amazing views of Vilas County’s natural beauty. Head to the Crystal Lake Visitor Station on County Highway N between Boulder Junction and Sayner to find the forest’s nature center, which is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and features educational exhibits and nature programs.
Learn more about Vilas County’s trails here.
Museums & other attractions
Speaking of nature, the North Lakeland Discovery Center is an educational community center in Manitowish Waters that offers a bevy of recreational opportunities and educational programs for visitors. It’s home to a nature center, classrooms, meeting spaces, and a 12-mile trail system that’s open to hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
The Northwoods Children’s Museum in downtown Eagle River features 26 interactive exhibits, including an art studio, a grocery store, a fishing pond, and a bubble station. The WPS Energy Exhibition includes a giant neon peg board and a wind tunnel to teach kids about how electricity and other kinds of energy work.
Find more Vilas County attractions here.
Four seasons of fun
Want to discover a one-of-a-kind winter attraction in Vilas County? Check out The Glide at Boulder Junction Winter Park, an approximately one-mile ice skating ribbon that encircles the park and passes through the beautiful scenery of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. The park also features a sledding hill, a lighted ice rink, and a warming hut.
Vilas County is home to more than 1,300 lakes, so it’s the perfect place to take a dip during the summer months. Popular swimming beaches to visit in Vilas County include Brandy Park and Beach in Arbor Vitae, Lac Vieux Desert National Forest Campground in Phelps, and Crystal Lake Park & Beach in Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland. Many lakeside lodging properties in Vilas County also offer easy access to swimming beaches.
Find more Vilas County beaches here.