8 of Wisconsin s best state parks to visit in winter Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Winter brings a different kind of beauty to Wisconsin landscapes, including state parks. The popular swimming and sunbathing beaches at parks like Kohler-Andrae, Peninsula and Devil s Lake turn into on-ramps for ice fishermen and winter walkers. Bike trails become cross-country ski routes. Bare trees and exposed rock formations get a coat of snow and ice formations.
Embrace the season and check out these eight state parks that are particularly great in winter.
Rib Mountain State Park, Wausau
Rib Mountain is home to Granite Peak, a ski area with the state s biggest vertical drop 700 feet. The mountain has 75 runs, four terrain parks and five chair lifts (including two high-speed lifts).
Recharge in Wisconsin’s Winter Wonderland – Picturesque Door County
Whether it’s a snowshoe getaway, romantic escape, or desire for winter activities, a visit to Door County, Wisconsin, is the perfect antidote for changing your attitude by simply changing your latitude.
Door County is truly a slice of heaven, and less than an hour’s drive north of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Visitors will discover miles of snowshoeing solitude, small villages that resemble Cape Cod, a plethora of intimate dining options, and classy historic inns. What better way to spend a day or long weekend during the quiet months of winter?
The polished stones lay glistening from the subtle but steady waves that break across the rocky shore near Sister Bay. I stooped to pick up a small, flat, smooth-edged specimen of the type my father had shown me so many, many autumns ago.
Holding the projectile between thumb and forefinger, I slung it side-arm with a slight downward spin. Iâm rewarded with three hops across the waterâs surface before it disappears beneath the waves. Itâs nowhere near my best but a satisfying moment as I stood alone with my wife on the empty beach.
In the era of COVID-19, co-mingling with crowds, let alone long-distance travel, has not been high on many lists. Seclusion in oneâs own backyard has been the norm. However, backyard fatigue sets in and isolation needs a new view.