Get Up. Get Out. Get Moving! Unique & Fun Attractions in the Northwoods

Add a dash of adventure and thrills to your next Northwoods trip this summer. In this selection, we’ll take you to soaring heights, bring you back to terra firma, and finally take you underground. Listed is a sample of the many attractions that will get the adrenaline flowing.

Up in the Clouds

Capture the magnificent landscapes that only the Upper Peninsula of Michigan can provide with a trip to the International Copper Peak Ski Flying Hill and Recreation Complex, northeast of Ironwood. The mammoth structure rises some 241 feet above the crest of Chippewa Hill. Thousands of visitors each year enjoy riding the chairlift 819 feet to the crest of the hill. Then the 18-story elevator ride takes about 55 seconds to reach the observation deck. Climbing the final 60 feet of stairs to the top starting gate allows the visitor to “experience” the feelings of the ski flyer about to launch himself down the 469-foot inrun. The view overlooking Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park is truly impressive.

Ziplines

Not quite up in the clouds but nor on earth are the ziplines we all love.

Northwoods Zip Line, Aerial Trek, Argo ATV, and Kayak River Adventure Tours in Minocqua has an extensive zip line canopy tour, aerial trekking tour, kids zip line tour, Argo ATV tour, kayak river tour, wilderness group dynamics, and more. All tours are guided. They have a total of 13 zip lines, 14 aerial trekking obstacles, 4 adventure bridges, 2 zips that go over a lake, side-by-side dual race zip, and more.

Trollhaugen’s Adventure Park in Dresser has an aerial challenge course and zip line park tour. The park provides the thrill of playing on a giant, floating playground. Imagine climbing trees, hanging from tires, and swinging on ropes just like when you were a kid, but on a far bigger scale and creative environment. The aerial challenge course offers 7 different circuits and 5 levels of difficulty. The zip line tour offers 6 ziplines across multiple platforms, and also features a dual-zip for tandem thrills with a friend.

Drivers, Start your Engines!

Go-karting is one sport in which kids can outrace their parents. And they don’t need a driver’s license.

Rock their world by taking them to Holiday Acres Recreational Park in Minocqua. Holiday Acres boasts three excellent tracks, including the original Super Track. Each track has different features where the Mario Andretti set – young and older — can zoom around hairpin curves, carve a path up the hills and zip across bridges as they race friends and family.

Rocking W Stable and Kartway theme park in Eagle River give families the most fun together this summer. Kartway offers go-kart racing, Naskart racing, slick track (they also have a zip line). Big Track is their most competitive track, a circle-8 with varying karts suited for both double and single riders. Ride the Slick Track and you’ll be a pro at drifting before you know it. Head over to the oval track if you’re a real speed demon or a NASCAR-wannabe. Mini-“Jeeps” suit those not quite ready for full size go-karts.

Tubing & Paddling Adventures

You’ve seen them sliding down a hill in the winter. Now see them in the summer! We’re speaking of inner tubes, and they’re an essential part of floating down the river. But that’s the mild side of fun; wild is when you hit the whitewater.

In Vilas County, Hawks Nest Outfitters will rent you a tube, kayak or raft. They will also take you to the launch point on the Wisconsin River and pick you up at the takeout.

A paddle on the scenic Namekagon River can be found at Jack’s Canoe & Tube Rental in Trego. In addition to rentals, including kayaks, they provide full shuttle service to all of the Namekagon and most of the St. Croix River landings. Jack’s offers delivery and pickup service to most local lakes.

Step it up a notch by riding the whitewater roller-coaster, including the rapids on the Peshtigo and Menominee rivers in Marinette County. Among outfitters offering a canoe, raft or kayak ride are Kosir’s Rapid Rafts, Thornton’s Rafting Resort ad Campground, and Wildman Adventure Resort. Another suggestion is Wausau Whitewater Park in Wausau where a dam provides a constant flow of water regardless of weather. 

You and a team of 20 friends and family can also take part in the annual Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival races set for Aug. 20.

Down, Down, Down We Go

Lastly, we take you underground to experience what it’s like to be in a once-working mine shaft.

At Adventure Mine near Greenland in the U.P. you can experience copper mining as it was in the 1800s. You will traverse underground wearing a hardhat with headlamp. Four guided tours are offered: a 45-minute underground walk, an 80-minute underground hike, a three-hour underground tour that includes rappelling down an 80-foot shaft, and a six-hour long excursion to the second level of the mine. See large stopes and in-place copper specimens, as well as other features and mining remnants.