We’re not nearly ready for summer to be winding down and we’re guessing you aren’t either. August in the Northwoods is a prime time to soak up the last days of summer and make family memories before the kids head back to school and the chaos of schedules, work, and activities set back in.  We’ve got your end-of-summer activity guide when sneaking in a last-minute vacation. Reservations aren’t required to take in these summer stops.

Ice Cream Shops:

We like summer served two scoops at a time, so if you are craving more days of sunshine, swing into some of our ice cream shops for the sweetest way to savor the end of summer. Celebrate the end of swimsuit season by really indulging in some sweet treats at Boardwalk Ice Cream Fudge & Gelato or Hoggie Doggies.

ice cream shop

Hiking: 

Whether you are looking for a quick day trip, weekend getaway, or a final week of vacation fun,  all trails lead to Minocqua, and hitting our trails when you get here is the perfect activity to cherish these summer days. Use these hiking treks to scope out your favorite trail to come back to in a few months to see the fall colors. 

 Hit the beach: 

Literally, soak up the last rays of summer at one of our many beaches. Beaches like Torpy Park and Brandy Park offer amenities like tennis courts and playgrounds beyond just swimming. Other popular swimming spots include Clear Lake and Crystal Lake. The tan lines will fade but the memories won’t. 

Kids swimming

Min-aqua bats:

If you didn’t quite master water skiing this summer, try watching some folks who have. The Min-Aqua Bats amateur water skiers perform every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 7 pm until the last Friday before Labor Day.

 Events:

While traffic might be slowing down in town, our events are not. August is filled with many fun happenings. From live music to the Annual Dragon Boat Festival, there are a lot of events this month to mark on the calendar. Check out our events calendar to see them all.