What To See, Eat, And Do In Elkhart Lake,Wisconsin

Sept 2022

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to travel to the legendary village of Elkhart Lake, WI. Since I had just been to Door County, WI, a few weeks prior, I was super excited to explore another part of Wisconsin and experience this beautiful lakeside resort area to be able to share a travel guide with you.

Elkhart Lake, WI is a small village located within the northwestern part of the county within the Town of Rhine. This unique destination draws in visitors from all over the world. Some come for the relaxing outdoors, others for motorsports, and many for family vacations and special events. What makes this village so magical, is it’s small town feel. It has a population of approx. 1000 people. And most of the people that live here also work here as well. With many owning businesses in town. Which gives it a wonderful sense of community and unity among its neighbors and business owners. They all are caring, giving, and supporting of each other.

How To Get To Elkhart Lake

Depending on where you live, you can drive into the village. You can also fly into the area. Appleton airport is about 45mins away and Green Bay airport is about an hour away. Those would be the best airports to fly into. There is also Milwaukee airport which is further out but may have more flight options. You will need to consider traffic as that may be something you may encounter from Milwaukee.

Where To Stay At Elkhart Lake, WI

Elkhart Lake is known for its blue-green waters. The lake is believed to have healing powers and is the clearest lake in the United States. It’s no wonder if you are heading

Osthoff Resort– This is a stunning and sprawling lakeside resort with beautiful accommodations. You literally can make a trip here and never have to leave the property. Everything you need is right there on site. Resort activities, dining, live music, 20,000 sq foot spa, and so much more. My absolute favorite was coming back to the resort after a day of exploring and relaxing at the Elkhart Lake Coffee and Cocktail Lounge by the gorgeous large stone fireplace. Be sure to try one of their signature cocktails and their appetizer and pizza menu.

Siebkens Resort– Is located next to the Osthoff Resort. The resort property is set up like a village within a village. Siebkens Resort is broken up into 3 separate accommodations The Siebkens Resort Condos were completed in 2008. Condos have 1, 2, or 3-bedroom open-floor concept units to choose from. The Elm Park Hotel is a two-story historic building and has 24 standard hotel rooms. Because the home is very old, there are no elevators. Something to consider since you may have to walk up 1 or 2 flights of stairs. The Lake Cottage is the third overnight accommodation option. It’s also historic and has 6 bedrooms. It overlooks the lake and has a wooden staircase that leads guests right down to the beach.

Shore Club Resort-The resort was purchased by its current owners in 2018. They wanted to give the resort a fresh and more modern look. The boutique hotel has newly renovated guest rooms and villas. The hotel has two pools, a jacuzzi, and 600 ft of pristine private beach area. When you open the front doors to the open field you will find a giant-sized chess game. You will also find the restaurant The Cottonwood Social on the property. Along with the local favorite Tiki Bar and the century-old theater.

Restaurants In Elkhart Lake, WI

Having visitors come to the area from all over the world helps to inspire the culinary scene in Elkhart Lake. It helps push the culinary teams to become more well-versed in culinary trends and implement them into their menus. I was able to visit several of the restaurants in the area and have included info on each one here.

Paddock Club–

This was my favorite restaurant. Highly recommend stopping here for a meal. Open in June 2007, they are known for its vegan and vegetarian options. And everything except their pasta is gluten-free. The restaurant seats about 150 people and I would describe the menu as farm-to-table with a European flair. Everything I ate here was fantastic and fresh! Great date night spot! Easy walk from area resorts. Reservations are highly recommended, call 920.876.3288.

Cottonwood Social–

If you want to find a restaurant where you can sit by the lake, this is the place for you. This was actually another favorite of mine. You can sit outdoors or if you prefer indoors you can sit by the windows or if you want something cozier to have a drink by the gorgeous fireplace. They are open for brunch and dinner. Their American cuisine menu is inspired by local ingredients. Sourcing local farmers for the highest quality foods. I had the best dining experience here as well. It’s located on the Shore Club Resort property. Preview the menu here.

Concourse Restaurant and Lounge–

This family friendly and casual restaurant is located on the Osthoff Resort property. It’s on the ground level and has indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy the pretty views of the lake while sitting on their patio area. Serving brunch and dinner. And also offering a kids menu as well. The menu offers items seafood, steaks, salads and sandwiches. Takeout is available and you can make reservations by calling 920.876.5840.

Ottos’ Restaurant

Is another restaurant located on the Osthoff resort property. Casual family-friendly dining with indoor and outdoor seating. Their menu consists of American and Continental cuisine. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had breakfast here and ordered the Otto’s omelet. It was a nice hearty breakfast to get my day going before exploring.

Lake Street Cafe

Super fun and eclectic cafe serving up California Bistro style fare in a fun and casual atmosphere. Try out their mouthwatering appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and an extensive wine list recognized by the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Open for lunch and dinner.

Amasa

This is going to be a new restaurant venture from the owner of Lake Street Cafe. The owner envisions bringing a Mexican Street market experience to Elkhart Lake. Stay tuned for more info and I will update this blog post when it opens.

Where To Sip In Elkhart Lake

Vintage Elkhart Lake

Wine and Fine foods shop. Cute place to shop olive oils, local cheeses, wine and so many more gourmet goodies. It’s also got a tasting room which is great with friends or a date night. The lounge has a wine-o-matic machine with 16 wines available to choose from.

SwitchGear Brewing

Opened in May 2017. The owner brought his passion for beer to the heart of Elkhart Lake. This industrial modern brewing company is located in downtown. It’s also where all the magic happens in creating beer flavors with high quality ingredients. Great place to grab a beer and watch the game. You can also purchase some of the beers to take home as well.

Tiki Bar

This famous waterfront Tiki Bar is known for its beautiful views, live music and good times. If you want something to eat while you take in the music and views of the lake you can order items like wings, burgers, and pizza. This is a local favorite spot too. Check out menu, here.

Things To Do In Elkhart Lake, WI

Aspira Spa

This spa is located in the Osthoff Resort. It’s about 20,000 sq feet of pure relaxation bliss. Which fits the name quite well. Aspira means to breathe in. And the spa is a place to infuse balance and calm for your mind, body, and spirit. The treatments at the spa incorporate indigenous inspired wisdom for well being. Spa offers a stunning lakeside views along with an indoor and outdoor whirlpool, sauna, meditation sanctuary and spa cafe.

Osthoff’s Watersports & Recreation Rentals

Offers a variety of different water sports rentals. Its located at The Osthoff Resort by the shore and you can call them to make reservations at 920.876.5862 or make an online reservation.

• Hydro-Bikes
• Swan Paddleboat
• Dragon Paddleboat
• Aqua Cycle
• Kayaks
• Two-Person Kayaks
• Kid’s Kayak
• Paddleboats
• Stand-Up Paddle Board
• Canoes
• Pantoon Rentals

Road America

When I would think of Road America I would think of fast cars racing on a track. And even though it is known for being the national park of speed, it’s so much more than that! On my visit here I learned that Road America is actually super family friendly. The property is made up of 640 acres with a 4 mile race track. The site offers camping for tents and rvs with some electrical spots. You can go karting, off roading and they even have a play area for kids. Check out their track days, motorcycle school and you can also use the track on certain days to bike, walk or run.

Throttle Shop

The Throttle Shop is such neat place if you are into cars and/or motorcycles. You can visit the museum or you can also look at their inventory online for cars and motorcycles that are for sale. With the rich history of the area starting with road racing this is a fun spot to visit to see cars you may not see anywhere else.

Guided Fishing

Jay Brickner is a Wisconsin-licensed guide who has been doing year round guided fishing trips on the lake since 1996. He took myself and two other journalists out on the water for some early morning fishing. He was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the lake, the types of fish and sharing some tips on fishing. Check out his website for more info.

Quit Qui Oc

This Elkhart Lake golf course has 27 holes of golf, 2 practice ranges, 2 putting greens and a well stocked pro-shop. They also have PGA & LPGA professional golf instruction available for anyone that is interested in learning to play or bettering their game. If you get hungry stop by their clubhouse for a bite to eat at their full service restaurant and bar. Try their award winning chili along with other items on the menus like salads, burgers, wraps and appetizers. Check out the golf clubhouse menu here.

Vintage Cruiser Bike Rentals

If you want to ride through the village to explore and shop, The Shore Club has retro bike cruiser rentals to take in the area while also getting some exercise. You can also take ride on some of the local trails. To rent a cruiser you can call 920. 876.3645

Hiking, Biking, or Running

The one thing that I absolutely loved during my visit was what was available to me for outdoor activities. I CRAVE the outdoors and as I get older I realize how important and VITAL it is to my health. I loved that Elkhart Lake had hiking trails that are easily accessible. I used to hike all the time growing up but now living in Houston makes it a bit more challenging to find hiking trails that are close by to where I live. This trip helped me feel rejuvenated and restored. It was exactly what my mind, body, and spirit needed.

You can also read my Door County, Wisconsin travel guide. That’s another area that is also an amazing getaway too.

Be sure to add Elkhart Lake to your list of places to visit. It is such a quaint little village. With so much history and a ton to do! I’d like to thank the tourism board at Elkhart Lake for this amazing opportunity to visit the area and hosting my trip. I am thankful and grateful to have experienced this special destination.