Where to cool off in Wisconsin this summer
Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down—Wisconsin is home to countless lakes, beaches, and waterparks where you can cool off and spend a day splashing or soaking. Here’s a region-by-region breakdown of a few places you should visit.
Northern Wisconsin
Oneida County and Vilas County in the Northwoods of Wisconsin are home to one of the largest concentrations of freshwater in the world, so it’s a great place to find a tree-lined lake where you can cool down and enjoy the scenery. Here are a few notable lakes & beaches in the Northwoods:
- Torpy Park on Lake Minocqua, Minocqua
- Nichols Lake, Boulder Junction
- Torch Lake Park & Beach, Conover
- Hodag Park on Boom Lake, Rhinelander
You can also dip your toes in a couple of Great Lakes in the northern half of the state. In Door County, head to Sister Bay Beach to find the county’s largest beach and beachfront park—it’s home to 1,900 linear feet of waterfront, including 600 feet of soft sand. Big Bay State Park in Bayfield has a 1.5-mile beach along Lake Superior, as well as a campground and 7 miles of hiking trails.
Central Wisconsin
A great place to cool off in Marshfield in northern Wood County is the Vandehey Waters Outdoor Aquatic Center, a state-of-the-art swimming pool and aquatic complex that boasts multiple waterslides, two diving boards, a current channel, and a lap pool. In nearby Wisconsin Rapids, Witter Park Aquatics Center features three pools, each with a variety of special features, from the tot pool’s lazy river to the tube waterslide at the leisure pool.
Head to the shores of Lake Michigan to find some great beaches, including Neshotah Beach in Two Rivers, a 50-acre sand beach that’s a popular destination for day trippers, and the sprawling beach area at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan. Sheboygan is also home to Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center, which includes waterslides, a lazy river, an outdoor pool, a surf simulator, and more
Obviously, no discussion of Wisconsin’s amazing aquatic attractions is complete without bringing up Wisconsin Dells—the Waterpark Capital of the World® is home to nearly two dozen indoor and outdoor waterparks. If you’re looking for thrilling waterslides, relaxing lazy rivers, or anything in between, you’ll find it at iconic spots like Noah’s Ark (America’s largest waterpark), Chula Vista Resort, Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Resort, and Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park.
Southern Wisconsin
The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is an iconic destination in Lake Geneva in southeastern Wisconsin, offering multiple golf courses, spas, and luxurious accommodations, but its properties also include the Moose Mountain Falls indoor and outdoor waterpark at Timber Ridge Lodge.
Southwestern Wisconsin isn’t known for its lakes, but you’ll find a great one at Yellowstone Lake State Park in Blanchardville. The park has a designated swimming beach on 450-acre Yellowstone Lake and is also a popular spot for camping, boating, fishing, and hiking. Blue Mound State Park in Blue Mounds sits atop the highest point in the state, and during the summer, visitors can take advantage of the park’s 2,000-square-foot swimming pool and outdoor splash pad.
