Sometimes, we like our lake vacations mild—boats, books, and hiking boots. Other times, we crave a lively lake getaway with good restaurants, music, street festivals, and bars. Either way, Elkhart Lake in eastern Wisconsin, about two and a half hours from Chicago, delivers a next-level lake vacation full of surprises.
The village, with a population of fewer than 1,000, immediately charmed us. The spring-fed, 229-acre lake carved by glaciers shines an iridescent blue, and tall spruce, pines, and cedars line the shore. Hills surround the lake, and the manicured green lawn of the Osthoff Resort sweeps down to the water. The small downtown retains the Victorian-era train depot (trains no longer arrive), and the former feed mill houses SwitchGear Brewing Co., a brewery and taproom. Don’t miss Vintage Elkhart Lake for wines from around the world, Throttlestop for vintage cars and motorcycles, and Gessert’s for ice cream.
