One Big Water Playground: Wisconsin’s aquatic adventures
River Tubing: Go with the Flow
To borrow on classic song lyrics, those “hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer” could be well spent with a lazy loat down a river. Tiny Somerset in the state’s northwest quadrant bills itself as the “tubing capitol of the world,” referencing the allure of the Apple River. Floats on the Wolf River are a tradition for lots of families and friends groups. Then there’s the Namekagon River, a northwest destination where you can loat through the wilderness area christened the St. Croix National
Scenic Riverway. Brian Keown is a fourth generation owner at Jack’s Canoe and Tube Rental in Trego, which opened in 1967. He said his father, Jack, still pitches in with the shuttle, and that grandparents who went tubing there are now bringing their grandchildren. “It’s a gentle low, so it’s great for kids, with lots of opportunities for swimming,” said Keown. “The resource preservation is really important to us too, we want it to be like it was 100 years ago, and our customers feel the same way about keeping this river clean,” Keown added. Whitewater Rafting: Mild to Wild No need to travel out west for whitewater rafting thrills. Just head to northeast Wisconsin, where the Menominee is overlowing with adrenaline-boosting opportunities. Tracy Giordano is one of the owners of Wildman Adventure Resort in Athelstane, which opened 30 years ago to give rafting enthusiasts a run for their money. As Giordano explained it, the Menominee is dam-controlled, with the dams opening nearly every day, allowing for consistent whitewater. “There are Class 3 and 4 rapids all summer long,” said Giordana. The highest classiication you can achieve is a 5. If you’re just getting your feet wet with rafting, Giordana suggests a summer excursion on the Peshtigo, one of the longest stretches of whitewater in the Midwest. “We offer a full training session, provide all the gear and a guide, so you’re comfortable and ready to go,” explained Giordano. While the Menominee trips use multi-person rafts, Peshtigo River rafting is done in
individual inlatable kayaks. Giordano’s husband is hands-on with the business and her two children pitch in as guides as well. “We’re all outdoorsy,” said Giordano. “I like the adrenaline rush and the unpredictability of
rafting.” She added another reason customers like rafting. “People are trying to get away from hectic lifestyles, and parents are actually happy the Internet can be spotty and kids have to put away their cell phones.”
Wakeboarding: The New Waterskiing
Used to be that water skiing was the favorite way to be pulled behind a boat. Now it’s wakeboarding, with the new up-and-comer being suring the wake after dropping the tow rope. Gordy’s in Lake Geneva, established in 1955, provides instruction for all three. Kelley Lynne, one of the managers there, said they offer daily and weekly camps. “Most of our instructors have been with us a long time and perform on ski teams as well, and they’ll get kids as young as four or ive skiing,” said Lynne. In Elkhart Lake, learn how to water ski through Watersports on Elkhart Lake, located on the shore just below Victorian Village Resort.
Paddle: A Little Maneuvering
If a winding river that calls for a little maneuvering calls to you, then try kayaking or canoeing the Kickapoo River in the southwest area of the state known as the Driftless Region. Shaun Budde, who was bitten by the paddling bug when he worked at a canoe rental in high school, started Kickapoo Wild Adventures in 2010, and has seen his reservations soar every year since. “Every person is looking for something different,” said Budde. “Some like ishing, others the scenery and seeing the wildlife, others the camaraderie, and we get people from all walks of life.” Even though he’s been on the river hundreds of times, he said it’s never the same, with corners changing and sand bars shifting. He did put in a plug for one creature comfort. “We’re famous for the back rests on the canoe seats.” For canoe camping on northwoods waterways, there’s Hawk’s Nest Canoe Outitters in Eagle River. In the central part of the state, Wisconsin Canoe Company offers overnight canoe trips on the Wisconsin River where you’ll camp on sandbars. Pets are welcome on these overnights. New for 2017, they’re offering self-guided kayak rentals on the Baraboo River.
Windsuring: Patience Required
If you possess qualities of patience and perseverance and have good balance, then you may want to give windsuring or kiteboarding a whirl. Wind Power Windsuring and Kiting Center on Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac has been around for 30+ years, taking advantage of two of the lake’s distinct qualities – it’s shallow so the water warms up more quickly, and the topography of the Niagara Escarpment limestone ledge in the area provides plenty of wind. Ben Herdrich manages the shop. He’s sailed all over the world and professionally windsurfed too, so his advice is golden. “Get off on the right foot by scheduling a lesson or two irst,” said Herdrich. He added a note of reassurance. “These are physical sports but appear more physical than they are sometimes, so don’t let that stop you from trying.”
SUP: Yoga Challenge
It didn’t take long for stand up paddleboarding, SUP for short, to cross over from trend to hereto-stay water activity in Wisconsin. Learn to SUP with a class offered by Rutabaga Paddlesports
in Madison. Slow no-wake
Mirror Lake in central Wisconsin is an ideal place to get used to falling off and getting back on the board, with sandstone bluffs providing a pretty backdrop for any pratfalls. Rent boards through Mirror Lake Boat Rentals. On Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior in the northern tip of the state, check out DogPaddle Kayaks, where you’ll SUP past caves and coves. Once you get your sea legs, try SUP yoga. At Floating Bliss Yoga in Eau Claire, owner Sandy LaValley is starting her irst full season of SUP yoga instruction. She uses inlatable boards that work just as well for beginners as those with a dedicated yoga practice, and chooses quiet coves to enhance the experience. “You’ll come back relaxed, feeling on top of the world,” said LaValley. “Kids love the challenge too, and they also like falling in the water.”
Outdoor Waterparks: What Goes Up Must Come Down
Can’t leave out the manmade water fun, not when the state is home to the “waterpark capital of the world,” also known as Wisconsin Dells. There are more than 200 waterslides to try in the community, including the newest at Kalahari Resort called The Smoke That Thunders. Nic Huebing, waterpark director for the resort, said this four-person raft ride is three times the size of their other tube slides, which are already huge. “It will be the irst thing you see when you pull in to the Dells from the interstate,” said Huebing. This hybrid bowl and funnel waterslide is the irst of its kind in Wisconsin Dells, according to Huebing. “You’re sucked through a vortex, and keep speeding up into a wave wall with a zero gravity moment, and then drop down at almost vertical.” While in Wisconsin Dells, don’t miss spending a day at Noah’s Ark Waterpark, the country’s largest outdoor waterpark. Other places with outdoor waterparks include Three Bears Resort in Warrens and Harbour Village in Door County.