Having Fun with Hodags
Rhinelander may be small, but there is a lot to do in this northwoods town
For a good time…
Rhinelander offers a variety of activities and events, especially for those who love the outdoors. Here are some options for everyone.
Hodag Lanes (1843 N. Stevens St., Hwy 17 N., Rhinelander)is the perfect place to go to get your bowling fix, particularly your “cyber bowling” fix. While you are at it, you can snack on items from the full grill menu in the newly remodeled Musky Bar & Grill. Hodag Lanes opens at 11 a.m. seven days a week.
For more information:www.bowlcec.com
715-362-7115
Rhinelander Logging Museum Complex (Pioneer Park, Oneida Ave., Business US 8, Rhinelander) is where to go to get a greater appreciation for Rhinelander’s history. The complex boosts the Rhinelander Logging Museum, the Soo Line Depot (complete with an old train engine), and the Rhinelander School Museum (my personal favorite as a child). The complex is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to five p.m..
For more information: 715-369-5004
Hodag Country Festival takes place at the beginning of July each year and is super fun. Past performers include Leann Rimes, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Reba McEntire. You will not get more Wisconsin than this.
715-369-1300 or 800-762-3803
Rhinelander’s Oktoberfest celebrates German music, German dancers, German food and best of all, German beer. Held annually in downtown Rhinelander in October, Rhinelander’s Oktoberfest is the perfect place to celebrate your German heritage, or at least to pretend you have German heritage.
For more information:www.rhinelanderchamber.com
1-800-236-4FUN
Dining
You will be hungry in Rhinelander and though there are a variety of fast food ventures to choose from, you cannot go wrong with authentic Rhinelander cuisine.
Northwestern Lounge (119 S. Brown St., Rhinelander)screams “northwoods bar.” This little hole in the wall boosts the ugliest, yet most familiar of bar décor and the “best sandwiches” in town. The food is cheap (about seven dollars for a sandwich, chili and drink), filling and anything but fancy. I highly recommend the Mexican chili and the BBQ sandwich.
For more information: 715-362-5080
Pinewood Dinner Theatre (4660 Lakewood Rd., Harshaw) is perfect for the classier, more cultured diner. Located in the Pinewood Country Club Complex, the Pinewood Dinner Theatre allows you to dine in style as you enjoy professional entertainment, courtesy of the Northern Lights Playhouse.
For more information: www.pinewoodcc.com
715-282-5500 (Box office hours are 10 a.m. to four p.m. daily)
Accommodations
You will need a place to stay, and as an alternative to typical motels and hotels, I recommend having an experience closer to Rhinelander’s outdoors.
Lake George Campsite (4008 Bassett Rd., Rhinelander)is where you want to go for tenting or RVing it in Rhinelander’s famed pine forests. Located five miles east of Rhinelander, Lake George Campsite boosts 37 sites, for a daily rate of $16 for the “pines” sites and $18 for “lake” front sites. Special weekly and monthly rates are also available. The campsite boosts “spotless modern restrooms and showers,” nature trails, a camp store for all your camping goodies, a recreation room with pool tables, rental boats of all varieties and more. Snowmobiliers, you are out of luck. The campsite is only open from May to mid-October.
For more information:
715-362-6152 (May-October) or 239-283-4230 (off season)
Rhinelander’s Morning Sideis a step up from the typical camping experience, claiming to be a “premier resort area.” Here you can choose from 21 resorts and lodges to stay in on Clear Lake, Lake George and Lake Thompson. There are a variety of options to pick from, ranging from cottages to full service resorts. The website is a bit overwhelming, highlighting all the different options, but is very thorough in detailing each one, so you can pick and choose at your leisure. Rates are a bit steeper than those for sleeping in a tent, as they start off at $80 and increase substantially around peak season.
For more information:www.rhinelanders-morningside.com
Want more?
The Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce (450 W. Kemp St., Rhinelander) is your one-stop resource for all things Rhinelander.
For more information:www.rhinelanderchamber.com
info@rhinelanderchamber.com
1-800-236-4FUN
