Lakeside Resort with Seasonal Recreations in a Country Setting

Nestled in Northwoods Wisconsin, the 700 acres where Heartwood Conference Center and Retreat sits is a backcountry paradise. During the summer, blue and green kayaks glide across the sparkling waters of the nationally protected Namekagon River. In the winter, Nordic skis track across miles of tree-trimmed paths. Constructed from locally harvested white pine and reminiscent of a Scandinavian lodge, Heartwood Conference Center and Resort rises above this idyllic wilderness.

When there are a few inches of fresh snow on the ground, Heartwood staff issues complimentary sleds and snow tubes to barrel down the neighboring hills. Come evening, an outdoor skating rink hosts broomball tournaments and luge relay races under the lights. In the warmer months, a water trampoline hovers in the kids' section of Lake Julia, and complimentary mountain bikes kick up dust along a web of well-marked trails in the forest.

Perched on the banks of Hoinville Lake, Heartwood’s Eagle Lodge Hotel features private, furnished decks where one can take in views of the lake. Stationed next to the Lake Julia beach, Heartwood’s Pine Village Duplexes used to be former Boy Scout cabins, with 12 bunk beds and one queen bed filling four bedrooms. A large river-rock gas fireplace anchors the living room, and an outside grill chars cookout feasts. Offering a diverse spread of contemporary cuisine, the Pine Lodge Restaurant rolls house-made pastas such as shrimp limoncello ($15.95) and pairs herbed pork tenderloin ($16.95) with white-bean puree (a $20 dining credit is available to those who purchase a Friday-Saturday Getaway).

Northwest Wisconsin: Remote Lakes with Outdoor Activities and Relaxing Opportunities

Tucked deep into the woods of northwest corner of Wisconsin, Heartwood Conference Center and Retreat is roughly 15 minutes southwest of Minong and about 30 minutes north of the village of Trego. About 30 minutes to the east is Hayward, where eclectic seasonal festivals as well as the Birkebeiner Cross Country Race in February. 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.