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A Camper’s Guide to Winter at Wandawega

 

2 PERFECT DAYS EXPLORING AROUND CAMP WANDAWEGA

Whether you are looking for culinary, adventure, culture, or all 3: here is the local ‘must-see’ list – all nearby!

View the Brochure PDF or read on below.

Wilson Farm Meats

An Old Fashioned Meat Market – the Wilson family has been farming since the 1870′s. Scott, a fifth generation Wilson, established Wilson Farm Meats in 2004 in order to have a local retail and processing facility available to serve the local clientele. Scott Wilson’s farm, Wilson Prairie View Farms, is located in Walworth County Wisconsin where the pork is raised that is available for purchase at the Elkhorn store. They offer the finest quality fresh and frozen meats, custom cut to your liking, as well as bacon, ham, bratwurst, wieners, summer sausage, liver sausage, ring baloney, and much more, all smoked at the plant in Elkhorn. They also offer a selection of fine wines, premium beers, WI cheese and specialty groceries.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 6.5MI

 

The Hive Taproom

The Hive Taproom is Wisconsin’s newest craft brew taproom specializing in cold, dry, and carbonated honey wine as well as Jun kombucha, a naturally probiotic drink that approximates a sour beer. The Taproom features seasonal, small batch, and rotating taps made on site with locally sourced honey, hops, and organic produce. Stop in or visit the Taproom’s website for a calendar of food truck, live music, cycling & yoga events.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 8.5MI

 

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

“Our favorite way to explore the Institute is to simply take a guided tour of their beautiful facility in East Troy.” – Hamilton House Whitewater

A non-profit organization with the mission to nurture the ecological, social and economic resiliency of food and farming systems through education, research, policy, and market development. Founded in 1984, they envision an ever-creative cultural process in which farmers and consumers create agricultural landscapes with healthy regional systems of land use, food production and distribution. Attend a Community Whole Farm Workshop or two led by their professional Farmer Faculty.  Workshops provide a hands-on introduction and teach practical usage for everyday farm life skills and more!

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 8.5MI

 

2894 on Main

2894 on main will charm and satisfy.” – Milwaukee Magazine

This café in East Troy balances small-town magnetism and progressive thinking. The open floor plan combines a counter-service café with a little specialty market. The main counter is prime sink-it-all-in territory for the array of fresh-baked cookies, croissants, scones, squares, cupcakes and other sweets. There’s also a breakfast-lunch menu changing “randomly, driven by the [surrounding] farms,” chef Jonna Froelich says. The primary supplier is Rohrganics, a family farm that belongs to the café’s owner. Though the menu changes, there’s a daily quiche, rotating soups and a sandwich that might incorporate Rohrganics smoked ham or pork loin. Even on a smaller, café scale, Froelich’s affinity for bright flavors and seasonal inspiration are front-and-center, anything but “small town.”

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 9.5MI

 

Staller Estate Vineyard & Winery

“The Staller ice wine [is] a powerhouse contender.” – Wine Spectator

Staller Estate Vineyard and Winery located near Delavan and Lake Geneva has secluded, beautiful views that offers guests a chance to relax, enjoy the day, and experience some of the best wine in Wisconsin. They offer picnic platters, wine flights, and wine and chocolate pairings. Stop out and enjoy a unique wine experience (they offer complimentary wine tastings!) in their new facility overlooking the vineyard. It is a perfect place to relax and get away.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 11MI

 

Rushing Waters Trout Farm

“Fun fishing at Wisconsin’s Rushing Waters trout farm.” – Chicago Tribune

Rushing Waters, located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest, provides a pristine yet easily accessible setting for friends and family members of all ages to come together. Their tours engage visitors behind the scenes with hands on activities and a look at the action that makes Rushing Waters our country’s leading producer of quality Rainbow Trout. They have year-round trout fishing which is a fun and educational way for the entire family to relax and unwind. There’s no entrance fee or fishing license required and you only pay for the fish you catch. Dining in Rushing Waters tasting room, The Trout House, will complete your group’s activities, from farm to fork. Chef sources ingredients from the fishery as well as the regions bountiful farms, in a celebration of seasonal artisan delights.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 11MI

 

Supper Clubs

“Plays into every preconceived narrative of Wisconsin and Wisconsin-ness.” – Chicago Tribune

  1. Mars: Come out and enjoy a classic Wisconsin Supper Club experience. Mars has been around since the 1920’s – it’s dark and dated but filled with charm and fun. Enjoy a cocktail at the beautiful new backlit bar while taking in a wonderful panoramic view of Lake Como or sit at the piano and sing your favorite songs.
    DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 15MI
  2.  Village Supper Club: Village Supper Club, Delavan Lake’s only restaurant, offers a taste of American and Italian cuisine made from scratch and prepared using the freshest ingredients. Their Italian recipes have been in the family for many years, and they also offer a unique “relish bar”. The’ve have been family owned and operated for 37 years and strive to make your dining experience outstanding.
    DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 12MI
  3. Duck Inn: The Duck Inn, an historic Supper Club, gets its name from the prohibition era when the Duck Inn was a speakeasy – patrons were to secretly “duck in” for a drink. The Duck Inn features an inviting atmosphere with casual fine dining in an elegant country setting – an historical duck theme, festive holiday decorations and a friendly accommodating staff accompany the fine food & cocktails.
    DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 11.5MI

 

Elegant Farmer

As featured in Gourmet Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Food Network

The Elegant Farmer is where you will find all the goodness of homemade, fresh-picked and delicious offerings in their Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market. Home of the award-winning Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag, The Elegant Farmer is noted as having “the best pie in America.” The Elegant Farmer hosts a full calendar of family fun events. Hungry? Bring your friends for lunch at The Elegant Farmer. Ready for a wonderful shopping experience? The Elegant Farmer’s Market offers signature private label products and the best gourmet sauces, jams & jellies, honey, syrups, spices, mixes, soups and more. The Elegant Farmer is open year round for your shopping pleasure.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 14.5MI

 

LaGrange General Store

Whether you enjoy mountain biking, road biking or winter fat biking, the LaGrange General Store is the best place to start your adventure. You’ll be coming to the right place after all, nestled right in the heart of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. They offer everything you need to make your outdoor adventure an experience of a lifetime. They have bike and ski equipment rentals, new and used sales, accessories, clothing, gifts and a cafe/deli all in one cool hangout.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 7MI

 

Snowmobiling

The White River Bike Trail in Elkhorn is a 12.6 mile railway corridor that was transformed into a bike trail. In the winter months, it is a favorite local snowmobiling trail. The Elkhorn trailhead is located off of Highway H, and runs from Elkhorn to Burlington. Trail passes are available at the County Highway Department, the Walworth County Visitors Bureau’s Visitors Center (in Delavan), and the Elkhorn Chamber office. For information on more trails throughout Walworth County stop by the Visitors Bureau to pick up a Trail Map. Don’t have a snowmobile? Check out Power Sports Rental Network which offers fun and reliable snowmobile rentals in the Lake Geneva area.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 8MI

 

Skiing

Downhill Skiing: Get your adrenaline pumping with some fast slopes in Walworth County. Alpine Valley Resort has over 90 skiable acres with 20 Runs, a vertical drop of 388 feet, and the longest run being 3,000 feet. The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort is also one of Wisconsin’s premier ski destinations. Whether you’re a first-timer or an avid enthusiast, you will find a great skiing experience. Their 18 exciting runs go up to a quarter mile in length, and are suitable for skiers of every ability level. Rentals are available if you need them!

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 9-16MI

Cross Country Skiing:

A hot commodity for cross country ski fanatics.-” Best Things WI

There are many trails and parks throughout the county ready for cross country skiers. Local trails and parks that are groomed for cross country skiing include the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Eagle, the Duck Pond Recreation Area in Fontana, Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva, and White River County Park, also in Lake Geneva. A few local resorts also have scenic acres to accommodate cross country skiers. Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Geneva National in Lake Geneva, and Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva each have beautiful properties to cross country ski on, and offer rentals for on-property use. Need to rent equipment before skiing some of the local trails and parks? Clear Water Outdoor and Backyard Bikes can both hook you up with everything you need before you hit the trails.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 15MI

 

Ziplining/Ropes Course

This course is exceptional!” – The Journal Times

Experience the beauty of Lake Geneva through a fun and beautiful aerial adventure at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours! Featuring 9 unique ziplines give you a birds-eye view of Lake Como, 5 sky bridges take you from tree to tree, 3 spiral staircases to help you reach your launch points, plus a 1,200-foot racing zipline that lets you race a friend. All zipline tours check in at The Lodge, where your guides will “gear you up.” From there, you’ll head over to Ground School, where you’ll get comfortable with the basics of ziplining. Then it’s off to the forest for 2+ hours of Wisconsin ziplining adventure!

They also offer a High Ropes Excursion at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours –  a two hour guided excursion featuring an array of 16 unique obstacles eighteen to thirty-two feet above the ground on the 100 acre property We recommend this course for those seeking more of a challenge mentally and physically, age 7 and above. You’ll draw upon your own inner strength (with help from their guides) to conquer your fears and build self-confidence.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 14MI

 

Hiking: Kettle Moraine State Park

The Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit is a refuge in southeastern Wisconsin, a popular getaway destination for people in Madison, Milwaukee, and the Chicago area. This segment of the Ice Age Trail comprehensively explores this entire region, giving an excellent glimpse of the many kettles, lakes, and wetlands, along with the numerous moraines, which give this trail a lot of rolling hills to cover. The vegetation is a mixture of thick forests, including thick stands of pines that are stunning, and also wide open prairies. It is an excellent place to hike or run, in sections, or as a whole. This is one of Wisconsin’s finest trails and varies in length and difficulty. Bring sturdy shoes, as the terrain is pretty rocky.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 15MI

 

Horseback Riding

Dan Patch Stables is a family owned business that has been operating on the Grand Geneva property for many years.  Dan Patch Stables prides itself in creating a fun, safe, equine experience for young and old. From pony rides for the kids, to peaceful carriage rides for couples, they are dedicated to providing an experience you’ll remember for years to come. During the 45-minute guided trail ride, you’ll get a scenic view of hundreds of acres of beautiful Grand Geneva property. In addition to the guided trail rides, Dan Patch also offers pony rides, a petting farm, and even winter sleigh rides! The cozy  horse-drawn sleigh ride takes you through some of the most beautiful areas on the Grand Geneva property.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 15MI

 

Ice Skating

With 11 skating rinks right in Walworth County, you’re sure to find a rink close enough to home. If you have your own skates, one of the many local park rinks will be a great option. Park rinks in the area include: Devor Park and Echo Veteran’s Memorial Park in Burlington, Wildwood Park in Darien, Veteran’s Memorial Park in Delavan, Library Park in Lake Geneva, Rotary Park in Walworth, and the Skating Rink at Pier 290 in Williams Bay. If you are in need of skate rentals, we recommend skating at one of the local resorts. Local resorts with skating rinks and rentals include Lake Lawn Resort, The Abbey Resort, The Ridge Hotel, and Grand Geneva Resort.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 12-16MI

 

Snowshoeing

With so much stunning scenery in Walworth County, snowshoeing is a favorite winter activity in the area! If you have your own snowshoes, there are a variety of parks and trails that have scenic paths for snowshoeing. Should you need a rental, there are plenty of options throughout the county to rent a pair before you hit the trails. Rental facilities include Backyard Bike & Ski Shop, Clear Water Outdoor, and Fontana Paddle Company. If you like to be social when you snowshoe, then you might want to sign up for one of Clear Water Outdoor’s Snowshoe Socials, hosted every second and fourth Saturday of the month at Big Foot Beach State Park.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 18MI

 

Old World Wisconsin

“The world’s largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life.”

Travel back in time and experience rural Wisconsin century ago and more when waves of immigrants flocked to America’s heartland. Explore eight ethnic farms and an 1880s village filled with fun hands-on activities for all ages! At Old World Wisconsin your day will be engaging, enriching, authentic, relevant, and fun. This means letting you encounter history by exploring sensory rich spaces, stories, and hands on exploration. Old World Wisconsin features 600 acres of history waiting to be explored through over 50 immersive spaces that bring the stories of Wisconsin’s rich immigrant past to life.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 11MI

 

Belfrey Music Theater

“[The Belfrey] has a rich history of cultivating world class actors.” -Best of Lake Geneva

The Belfry Music Theatre continues its legacy to engage, inspire and entertain the community by presenting professional productions for the entire family that enrich and have a meaningful impact in their lives to build memories throughout the generations. They offer a highly varied program of musical theatre, drama, comedy, children’s theatre and art exhibits in their renovated historic facility utilizing state of the art lighting and sound to enhance the shared experience of live performances.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 12MI

 

Antiquing: Delavan 

Visit downtown Delavan for an afternoon of antiquing within walking distance of each other. You’ll find JMJ Antiques & Trading, Remember When Antiques & Collectibles, Lauren’s Antiques & Art Center, and Pac-Ratz Resale, Consignment & Antiques all located on the same strip. Lauren’s is one of Delavan’s favorite vintage/antique shops with over 150 dealers, while Remember When is the largest Cookie Jar Store in the midwest (& probably the country) including the National Cookie Jar Museum (upper level).

If you want to get off the main drag, you can visit Everything Homespun in a 5000 sq ft old dairy barn, just 3.5 miles south of downtown Delavan, WI. Everything Homespun calls all lovers of country, primitive, rustic, shabby, farmhouse and vintage.  From the minute you exit your vehicle, you’ll feel the call to mosey on in and enjoy all the scents and must-haves of a time gone by . . . a time when life was simpler and folks cared about each other.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 12-21MI

 

Northwind Perennial Farm

“Northwind beckons with native plants and architectural salvage.” -Midwest Living

Northwind Perennial Farm is located just north of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on an early 1900s farmstead. In 1991, a trio of friends and business partners, Steve Coster, Colleen Garrigan and Roy Diblik discovered the 10-acre farmstead tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Wisconsin. They specialize in growing regionally hardy perennials, offer landscape design services, and their unique garden shop is filled with art, garden accents and home décor. Visit Northwind and explore the lush serene display gardens, benefit from their cutting edge plant knowledge and leave with flourishing plants and rare finds.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 14MI

 

Delavan Wisconsin Historical Society

Since 2003, the Delavan Historical Society’s focus has been to educate and preserve and create awareness for Delavan’s unique and storied past. With the recent opening of the Delavan Historical Society Exhibit and Resource Center, they are able to provide the community with a place to collect, preserve and keep safe documents and items that reflect the history of the City and Town of Delavan. Displays involving local artifacts and stories of local significance change four times a year, and the Resource Center continues to grow as they research and collect documents and memorabilia from the public.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 14MI

 

Geneva Lake Museum of History

“Learn about the area’s famous residents.” – Family Vacation Critic

Geneva Lake Museum discovers and preserves the rich history that hides throughout Geneva Lake and the surrounding communities. The exhibits within the walls are time capsules that capture every essence of Geneva Lake and its people; people with amazing stories that unravel with every scene and every word led by our knowledgeable guides.  Come to Main Street and see turn of the century architectural styles. Go beyond Main Street and learn about the boats and yachts of Geneva Lake, Chicago & North Western Railway, the private mansions, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hotel Geneva, the legendary cartoon character Andy Gump, and don’t miss the new Woodland People and Crane Windows exhibits.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 15MI

 

Ice Castles

“Magical … Twinkling and sense-defying and straight out of fairy tales.”— Oprah.com

Since 2011, Ice Castles has been dedicated to creating an experience that will live on long after the ice melts. Bringing joy to others has been the mission since the company’s inception. Founder, Brent Christensen, crafted his first icy creation in the front yard of his home to bring happiness and joy to his children. He built an ice cave in his yard to get his kids out of the house – and out of his hair. His stroke of genius worked! The kids affectionately called this winter playground an “ice castle”. And that is exactly what it today. Although Ice Castles has grown significantly since then, their mission remains the same – to create happiness, laughter, and unforgettable winter memories.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 16MI

 

Ten Chimneys

“Incredible one-of-a-kind oddity.” – New York Times

Ten Chimneys is the estate lovingly created by Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Those who visit, like guests of the Lunts, are welcomed into the Lunts’ extraordinary home without the fuss of ropes or barriers. Tours of Ten Chimneys not only celebrate the one-of-a-kind collection the Lunts amassed during their lifetimes, but also honor the values found in every corner of the Lunts’ lives, both on the stage and in the house they called home for more than half a century. Sure, Ten Chimneys is beautiful, but why is it “more than a great museum”?  They also offer: Estate Tours, Free Exhibitions, Play Readings at Ten Chimneys, Conversations at Ten Chimneys, and Music in the Drawing Room.

DISTANCE FROM CAMP: 22MI