Minocqua

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Best Vacation Town in Wisconsin

A June 1985 trip to Minocqua by cworld26

The Thirsty WhaleMore Photos

Here is my guide to Minocqua. Good old UP NORTH! It's the best place to be in the summer, hands down!

  • 10 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 5 photos

Best Vacation Town in WisconsinBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Northern Wisconsin is amazing in the summertime--and Minocqua is hands down the place to be! The lakes are the center of the action--boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, swimming, windsurfing, I could go on and on. There are so many lakes it's unbelievable. And I am lucky enough to have grown up there, so my home was my cabin.

There are lots of 20-somethings in Minocqua in the summers because of all the summer camps in the area. The Minocqua bars on the weekend are a great time -- outdoor beer gardens, bars you can go to by boat, live music, and cheap drinks!

Quick Tips:

GO for the 4th of July! Well, really the two weeks before and the two weeks after the 4th are the prime time of the summer up north. The weather in Northern Wisconsin can get a little iffy, but in the middle of the summer, you can pretty much count on temperatures in the 70s and often 80s. There are some thunderstorms, but really the weather is usually pretty good. And when the weather gets hot, the lakes get really warm and awesome for swimming!

Best Way To Get Around:

Well, driving is the best way to get up there. Once you're there the most fun form of transportation is obviously the boat! And even though Minocqua is a small town, we now have taxi service, so you don't have to worry about drinking and driving! The fares are pretty reasonable too! It was the best thing to come to Minocqua in years! It's nice to walk around in the downtown area and there are also tons of pretty bike trails in the area, like the Bearskin Trail and the Boulder Junction Bike Trail.

Spang's Italian RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Spang's"

Well, I didn't know what to pick for "type of dining"--it's not really romantic, it's just a local Italian place. The food is decent. I've been going here for years. I recommend the ravioli and the pizza.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

Spang's Italian Restaurant
318 E Milwaukee St Minocqua, Wisconsin 54548
(715) 356-4401

Monical's PizzaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Monical's has the best pizza in the Lakeland area...it's awesome. You can get good meal deals too. Personally, their salad dressing is heaven on earth. Yes, it's just random French or ranch, but there is just something about it....yum! Expect to wait at least a half hour on busy summer nights. But it's worth it!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cworld26 on June 1, 2004

Monical's Pizza
360 Us Highway 51 N Minocqua, Wisconsin 54568
(715) 358-9959

T Murtaugh's PubBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Murtaugh's is great in the summer and winter. There are often live bands and always good times. There's foosball, pool, shuffleboard, and my sister's favorite, "Photo Hunt". Oh yeah, I suppose there's Golden Tee, too, if you're into that. Also, there's free peanuts and popcorn, which is great for when you get a little hungry.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

T Murtaugh's Pub
500 Oneida Street Minocqua, Wisconsin 54548
(715) 356-7712

Otto's BiergartenBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is the best bar to start at. It’s the best outdoor place to drink in Minocqua, a great beer garden. There’s great music in summer. It’s not as fun in the winter--go to Murtaugh's across the street instead. But in the summer, you "otto" be here. Did I mention that you can get yourself a pint of Wisconsin's finest, Miller Lite, for but $1.75. Every day. What a deal.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

Otto's Biergarten
Main Street Minocqua, Wisconsin

Lakeland CinemaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Well, it's a movie theater. It's gotten a lot better in recent years. They're even getting stadium seating and additional theaters. You're guaranteed to run into someone you don't want to see or maybe you do. It's easy to sneak in snacks.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

Lakeland Cinema
Highway 51 Minocqua, Wisconsin

WaterskiingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is a great place to ski. You can spend all day in the summer on the lake looking for calm water and dodging tourists who insist upon tubing in the calm water with their kiddies. The best time to go is in the early morning or after 6pm (unless your lake has a curfew, in which case, it sucks to be you).

Hit up BJ's Sportshop in Minocqua for equipment. They have the best stuff.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

Waterskiing
Lakes throughout Minocqua Minocqua, Wisconsin

Thirsty WhaleBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Thirsty Whale
Ah, the "Whale." It's always an experience. I don't recommend going here unless you're a little tipsy. It makes it easier to deal with the "crowd." A fun band called the Rhythm Kings plays here in the summer and there are other fun bands as well. People are always dancing on the weekends. ALso, it's great because it's right on the water, so you can sit outside or even drive the boat over from your house. You haven't been to Minocqua if you haven't been to the WHALE. . .
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 6, 2004

Thirsty Whale
453 Park Minocqua, Wisconsin 54548
(715) 356-7108

Yacht ClubBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Yacht Club"

The Yachtie is the most underrated bar in Minocqua! It is right on the water, very nice on the inside, and has lots of games, a good jukebox, and high ceilings. Since it's not right on the strip on the island, it's not as crowded -- more locals go here, it seems. I like the Yachtie and wish that my friends went here more often.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cworld26 on May 10, 2004

Yacht Club
8290 Us Highway 51 S Minocqua, Wisconsin 54548
(715) 356-1366

4th of July CelebrationsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "4th of July in Minocqua"

The 4th is SO great in Minocqua! What better place to spend the day? You go into town for the parade in the mid-afternoon. We always gather near Murtaugh's, so we can have drinks nearby. The parade is full of a bunch of floats, random bands, cars, etc. It’s a typical small town parade. But then, everyone goes and gets on their boats and this is when the real fun begins. You load up your pontoon boat with booze and food, everyone ties their boats together in chains, and you watch the waterski show from the lake, which is followed by the fireworks. There are hundreds of boats. And the best part is that you end up pulling right up to the Thirsty Whale so you can go right into town and keep on partying. Ah, this is the 4th of July in Minocqua. I'll be there every year. . .
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by cworld26 on June 1, 2004

4th of July Celebrations
Downtown Minocqua Minocqua, Wisconsin

Black River Harbor - 1.5 hours from MinocquaBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Black River Harbor
Black River Harbor is on Lake Superior. It's a little over an hour away from Minocqua and it is a scenic drive. There are pretty beaches at the harbor itself and lots of hiking along the river. The river had dramatic waterfalls. It's an easy hike to the various falls. After the hike, it's fun to relax on the beach. There is a small concessions/general store in the harbor. Many boats come in here from Lake Superior and even other Great Lakes.

Also nearby is Copper Peak Ski Flying Facility -- I think they still give tours. This is a one-of-a-kind facility that was out of use for some years, but is up-and-coming again. It is very dramatic -- you won't be able to believe that people willingly ski/fly off of this thing! Yikes!

About the Writer

cworld26
cworld26
Chicago, Illinois

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