Lakeside Resort with Outdoor Recreation in a Country Setting

Nestled in Northwoods Wisconsin, the 700 acres where Heartwood Conference Center & Retreat sits is a backcountry paradise. On nearby Hoinville Lake and the Namekagon River, groups stop to go tubing or kayaking on the river or casting out for northern pike or bluegill. Constructed from locally harvested white pine, the Scandinavian-style lodgings at Heartwood Conference Center & Retreat seem to blend seamlessly with the woodsy setting.

Perched on the banks of Hoinville Lake, Heartwood’s Eagle Lodge Hotel features private, furnished decks where you can take in views of the lake. Right off Lake Julia beach, the Pine Village duplexes sleep up to 14 guests in four spacious bedrooms. A large river-rock gas fireplace is the focal point of the living room, and an outside grill is on hand if you want to cook out or ignite a disco inferno.

If barbecuing isn't your forte, the Pine Lodge Restaurant rolls house-made pastas such as shrimp limoncello ($15.95) and serves Black Angus rib eye with lobster mac 'n' cheese ($18.95; a $20 dining credit is available if you purchase a Friday–Saturday Getaway).

Outside, several trails wend through the landscape, and the resort has mountain bikes on hand for guests to rent. There's also plenty of entertainment onsite for the younger crowd. In fall, it’s popular to take a hayride; when it warms up, kids can launch off a water trampoline in their own special section of the beach.

Northwest Wisconsin: Remote Lakes with Outdoor Activities

Tucked deep into the woods in the northwest corner of Wisconsin, Heartwood Conference Center and Retreat is about 30 minutes north of the village of Trego. About a half-hour drive to the east of the resort is Hayward, which offers eclectic seasonal festivals, such as the popular Musky Festival Locals and vacationers gather at this fest—slated for Fathers' Day weekend—to enjoy live music, street dancing, and fishing contests.

Crisscrossed with scenic walking routes, horseback-riding trails, and snowmobile paths, the Chequamegon National Forest on the outskirts of town is a microcosm of Midwest wilderness. White-tailed deer dart through the more than 1.5 million-acre forest; sea otters frolic at the shore; and eagles jet overhead decorating treetops with two-bedroom nests.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.