Hotel at a Glance: Little Pond Lodge

The log cabins at Little Pond Lodge offer a feeling of seclusion, clustered around the property’s namesake pond in the thick forest. Have a cookout using the fire pit and charcoal grill, then watch the sun set behind the trees from your covered porch. Inside, you’ll find a full kitchen and spacious bedrooms with rustic charm—the living room, for example, is warmed by a gas wood stove.

• Kick back in the hammock on your cabin’s property.
• Warm greeting: Sample Raven’s Brew Coffee’s shade-grown, organic, and naturally processed beverages at check-in.
• Dogs are welcome with an additional fee; they even get free treats.
• Winter sports: Go snowmobiling on the Juneau County Snowmobile Trail, which cuts behind the lodge, or go cross-country skiing in the surrounding countryside.
• Head to Wisconsin Dells; it’s about a 30-minute drive southeast.

New Lisbon, Wisconsin: Scenic Small Town near Wisconsin Dells

Perched on the banks of the winding Lemonwier River, New Lisbon is perhaps best experienced outside. Between the river and the town’s proximity to Castle Rock Lake, fishing and boating are among the most popular summer activities. You can also bike the nearby Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the Omaha Trail, which cuts through rolling countryside and scenic bluffs. In the winter, take to the land on a snowmobile or cross-country skis.

About 30 miles southeast is Wisconsin Dells, which likely has more water slides per capita than any other spot on the planet. The fun doesn’t stop in the cooler months, either, thanks to a slew of indoor aquatic centers, many of which are nearly as elaborate as their outdoor rivals. You can still spot the bluffs—or dells—that gave this area its name from the mini-golf courses and go-kart tracks downtown.

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