I stopped in for a quick visit on a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining, it was quiet and I…read morefelt perfectly at ease in this beautiful setting. I pulled in and got out of my car wondering what I was going to see. There was a cute round stone table with seating, tons of beautiful trees and a very well manicured walking path. Since the day was so lovely, I took my time and enjoyed the solitude. Being a weekday afternoon, I only saw one other couple going for a stroll. There is a map that lays out the walking trail. It consists of a nice big circle approximately a mile long. There is sun and shade on the trail. This was my first visit but I can imagine this trail being gorgeous in all four seasons. I highly recommend visiting here if you are looking for an easy hike that isn't too long or too steep. Next time I'll visit the adjoining Ten Chimneys when it is open.

Trails for all levels are plentiful at Lapham Peak. I hiked portions of Ice Age trail up to the…read moreobservation tower. The trial was well marked, with a mix of board walk, crushed stone and hard pack. Various intersecting trails allow you to spend any amount of time you'd like enjoying this beautiful park. Multiple restrooms are located at the various parking lots but be prepared.

Beautiful state park with plenty of trails to hike on with different difficulties! I've been here…read moreplenty of times with the latest in mid December 2025 with winter conditions during mid day. We went cross country skiing with rentals from Nordic Specialists located in the Evergreen Shelter next to the Evergreen lodge. Entry is with a fee or free with your purchase annual WI State parks pass. Not too far from the city, this place has the solitude and nature getaway not too far from the city. Xski rentals were $30 for classic ski that came with shoes poles and skis for two hours. It's also nice in the summer for getting a hike in whether you want a short one or a challenging long hike. There's also an observatory tower you can hike up flights of stairs for a nice view! The evergreen lodge is new and spacious to stay warm during the winter or cool in the shade in the off-winter time.

tl;dr A gorgeous 8.8 acre park filled with history, giant shade trees, the gentle pleasant sound of…read morewater as it moves along in the Bark River, a crazy unique wooden playground themed after a fort, multiple war memorials, huge shade trees, and a bathroom with drinking fountain. The playground is titled 'Fort Cushing' and is an all wood structure, with primarily a mulch surface and a few minor spots with a rubber surface. Within the playground there are separated areas for the little kids side and the big kids side. The little kids side is fairly small, and consists of two slides, a sandpit, and a few swings. Safety note, the baby swings are crazy high off of the ground since the mulch has been worn down so much, so make sure your kiddo is secured as it would be a huge drop. The big kids side has a variety of slides, bridges, monkey bars, giant tires to climb through as well as a tire swing, and more. Note: The drop off of the covered twist slide also has a huge drop at the end from the worn down mulch. It's definitely a unique playground but if you have little kids you can't trust yet on their own you'll definitely have to be flexible and fast to get through it all. There is a huge open area filled with mature shade trees, a tall monument dedicated to the three Cushing Brothers, as well as an obelisk, and a few other memorials. The park is also situated along the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Oh, and dogs are allowed here! Plus, they have bags available for cleanup. If you're in the area, this park is definitely worth the stop!

Went here because it was listed as one of the best playgrounds in the MKE metro, and it is indeed…read morethat. All wood, and lots of twists and turns, but fenced in so you can't lose the kids too easily.good amount of parking, but nice bike/walking access through the Lake Country and Ice Age trails. Clean bathrooms. Nice view of the Bark River. Definitely worth a trip out here, plus Delafield is a cute town.

Took the pups here to go paddle boarding…read more Arrived around 8am so still fairly early, it was a little confusing where to park for the beach. The beach parking is the same as the boat launch parking (large lot) there is then a path that will take you down to the beach about .25 mile walk. Not horrible but good to note! We asked the park staff and were informed if the pups are swimming they can be off leash on the sand to go in and out of the water but otherwise their leashes need to be on (which was no problem) Bathrooms located near the water and up by the parking nice and clean. Really only downfall was the labeling of parking for the beach and then access to get there, we only figured it out after driving in circles and finding a park staff member. However now we know! Also there is not an easy way to get into the water (walk in style) with a paddle board, since they only have docks to drop down from so a little challenging with the pups, but otherwise it might be easier if you are going with a kayak. They do also have kayak rentals located in the boat launch area. Will definitely return

It's really nice for 4th of July fireworks. You can bring a small grill or they have a few…read morepermanent ones if you get there early enough. There are also a number of picnic tables but they also are claimed quickly. The beach is small but never crowded and is a nice sandy beach. The swimming area is adequate, but very rocky. Therefore, I recommend bringing shoes if you are going to walk in the water. There used to be a lifeguard, but as of 2019, there wasn't one for the fireworks. They also have a playground area that is decent but I noticed there was a step that was cracked and I'm not sure how well it's managed. The bathrooms have been under some level of repair for the last 5 years, often a toilet, sink, shower, or urinal. Nothing major, but noticeably annoying. However, they are usually stocked though I've rarely seen staff here to restock. That said, there are showers to rinse and they have a second area in each stall to change or hold dry clothes.

Easy access from Road ZZ, Dousman, WI. $8 parking fee (Wisconsin residents) or $11 (non-residents)…read more Annual passes also available ($28 residents; $38 non-residents). Plentiful parking. Clean restroom with pit toilets. Picnic tables. Benches. We enjoyed a 3.2 mile hike here. The "red loop" is a 2.3 mile loop to/from the parking lot. We wanted to cover a bit more distance -- so we added a portion of the green loop and the lollipop loop to the observation overlook. (Total distance was 3.2 miles with the amended route). The red loop is the park service as "short and narrow with steep terrain. You'll pass through pine plantations and hardwood forest." We particularly liked this segment, shaded and with the scent of pine. It also appears that some recent work has been done to clear underbrush. The segment of the "green loop" that we did is described as "a roller coaster of hills that you won't soon forget." We found this to be accurate. The trails are well-maintained, with excellent signage along the way. There are regular signs that identify where you are on maps, as well as regular blazes. There are regular benches if you want to stop for a snack. Much of these trails are at least partially shaded with only limited segments and times (noon!) that are in full sun. We saw a fair number of other hikers, perhaps a total of 10-12, even on a Wednesday morning. We also saw a bit of wildlife -- a very fat turkey, butterflies, and bumblebees. (there are also supposed to be ticks, so be careful). Two thing prevent me from giving a 5-star rating. (1) park policy allows pets on the hiking trails if they're on a leash. However, all SIX dogs that we saw were off-leash until the owner saw us. In one case, a large dog came running towards us (with no owner in sight) while we were eating our lunches. Thankfully, he obeyed when my husband told him to sit. (Full disclosure. I'm rather afraid of dogs after having been bit). (2) the park also allows hunting, and suggestions to wear bright clothing and to inquire about hunting seasons. However, no park personnel were on-site and, signage suggested that there's a long-g-g hunting season (Sept 1 to end of May). (May 10, 2023).

A great trail close to the Milwaukee area. Scuppernong has three different trails, intermediate…read moreand advanced levels. My husband & I really enjoyed it. The area is very clean, and very well kept. I highly recommend to check the Ice Age Trail website before visiting. They have great resources to prepare you for your visit, and even suggestions on where to go in the area depending on your type of visit.m, as well. This is a trail for active people, who are looking to be out in natural trails. Come early, and you'll feel like you have the place to explore all to yourself.

I've been on the hunt for solid paddle boarding spots that aren't too far from Milwaukee…read more We tried the pond at Veterans Park on the lakefront in Milwaukee, but I was so worried about falling in the water (it's not clean...at all) that I didn't enjoy it. We tried Pewaukee Lake, but there was a bit too much motor boat action to enjoy paddle boarding. I was flummoxed, until I spoke to someone who lives in Delafield. She recommended Lower Nemahbin Lake. Yahtzee! With free parking and easy access to a kayak/paddle board dedicated dock, Lower Nemahbin Lake is the perfect lake for us! Clean lake water flanked by lush green without too much motor boat activity (it isn't a wake-free lake but boaters are respectful and aren't abundant), we couldn't ask for a better location for paddle boarding. It has an anchored dock in the middle of the lake that we love paddling out to for an afternoon picnic on the lake (and to let the kiddo get some dock jumping/swimming in). It's also kinda fun to paddle under the overpass. Last time we went through, we were able to see a birds nest with peeping baby birds. All in all, a great spot to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Get to it!

Easy access: ***** Boat traffic: ***** (not a lot)…read moreWater quality: ***** Free access: ***** Lower Nemahbin Lake is located in Waukesha County in the Village of Summit. This review is for the lake in general for kayaking or paddle boarding. We have been kayaking and paddle boarding for three years now and been to 6 different lakes. I've lived on Okauchee Lake and grew up boating on many of these lake. The public access is down Sugar Island Road just off of I94 provides quick and easy access to the lake which is a bonus. Parking is limited but many cars don't seem to follow the signs which limits 10 cars to the parking lot. Without DNR manning and charging people this will happen. Still plenty of room to unload your gear and a short 100 feet walk or so to the kayak launch area with a short 20 feet pier. There is a public launch for boats but is for small fishing boats as it is a shallow launch and very shallow water for a long way past the island. The shallow water way has a sandy bottom so very little to no weeds and warmer water. Lower Nemahbin Lake is a 239 acre lake located in Waukesha County. It has a maximum depth of 36 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Overall a Great Lake to kayak, canoe or paddle boarding.

Our family loves to camp a few times a year, and most recently we tried Ottawa for the first time…read more Overall I think it was a lovely campground! It's Situated conveniently between Milwaukee and Madison, serving as more than just a campsite, but a great spot to hike, fish, and swim. It's a really big park (literally 100 sites!) so there is plenty of peaceful outdoor space to enjoy. We were lucky enough to snag an electric site, which comes in handy for our RV. Beyond the RV we had two tents, and everything fit comfortably. This site in particular was tucked back close to the lake, but I can see how the outskirt sites closer to the highway might be not as well enjoyed. This campground is fairly wooded with plenty of shade which we appreciated. All of the grounds are well-kept, including the paved pathways throughout. We loved the various playgrounds for our kiddos too. The lake itself has a fishing pier, solid sand area for swimming/hanging in the warmer months, a boat launch, adjacent restrooms that are clean, and lots of walking paths surrounded. All in all, it was a goodie and we had an enjoyable time.

We were there 5 days and still couldn't find our way around. Exit signs would really help and…read morealthough this is a carry out what you carry in I don't like carrying dog poop for an entire 2 mile walk. There were 6 attendants in the park office when I asked where I could dispose of dog poop. NO HELP I was there in August and their ice cream machine was practically empty because it was near the end of the season!!! and they didn't want to keep ice cream over the winter! I negotiated with suppliers when I was 12 years old. I never found an area where I could take my dog swimming. The beach was off limits for pets. The camp hosts were extremely nice and the campsites were clean.

Didn't know this park was here and that there was actually live music that evening! Took away in…read morethe beautiful downtown Delafield. Beautiful scenery, and vibe.

Such a fun night at the DockHounds!…read more The Lake Country DockHounds are in Oconomowoc and are part of the American Association of Professional Baseball. It's just a fun, more laid-back baseball experience and feels warmer and way more reasonable for families than going to a major league game. Parking was only $5 and not far to walk at all. We were in the club seats, which were supplier sponsored for us, and they were sweet! Honestly, I don't think there's a bad seat in the house and the regular tickets are priced very reasonably. The buffet was really good -- chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and yummy mashed potatoes. Got a hat, watched some good baseball and of course had to cheer on the Leinenkugel's and Miller Lite can race Miller Lite won, which meant $4 beers for the rest of the game! The DockHounds didn't get the win, but we still had a great time and finished the night with some really nice fireworks. Good food, good beer, fun atmosphere and just a really fun night out. Definitely recommend checking out a DockHounds game!

I had a great experience at my first Lake Country Dockhounds game in Oconomowoc today! I was…read moreinvited to join a group in the new Dive Bar section in left field. There are chairs with counter tops, your own bar with bartender, and servers to take food orders from the nearby taco stand. There are plenty of food options at the Wisconsin Brewing Company stadium, and a kids area with basketball court and bounce houses. After the game, the kids can run around the diamond (it's a version of artificial turf, so no dirt in the kids), and the players sign autographs. Three pitchers were signed to major league team systems this year, so far! There are also multiple seating and group outing options, starting at just $10. I enjoyed a smoked brisket sandwich and loaded tater tots with cheese sauce, pulled pork, BBQ sauce and scallions. In the 6th inning they run a $1 popcorn promo for the inning, and they also have a 50/50 raffle and beer can race (like the sausage race). This is another great option for affordable family-friendly fun! I will be back, and I recommend this experience!