Patios that put out a water bowl without being asked. Trails that don't require leashes when nobody's looking. Breweries with a yard. Beaches off-season.
Grain-to-glass spirits on US-51 South, made with Wisconsin grains, regional fruit, and Northwoods water — a lakeside patio, live music Thursdays 4 to 7, and dog-friendly social tables. Tours run Fridays and Saturdays with advance registration; the tasting room itself is open year-round.
A 21.5-mile crushed-granite rail trail running from downtown Minocqua south to Tomahawk, built on the old logging railroad bed — trestle bridges, bogs, and a shaded Northwoods canopy the whole way. A state trail pass is required for cyclists; self-registration stations sit along the route. Also groomed for snowmobiling in winter.