When planning a Midwestern vacation, no state offers families a more impressive selection of lake geneva family resorts than Wisconsin. Boasting over 16,000 lakes and 13,500 miles of navigable streams and rivers, Wisconsin provides the best of both worlds. Its 34.7 million acres of forests are complemented by 405,000 hectares of lakes. This equates to 3% of the total land area of the state being covered in breathtaking lakes that are nestled in the middle of equally impressive forests. Adeline’s House of Cool is the best Wisconsin lake resort cottage for families, the best vacation spot you don’t want to miss!
When it comes to experiencing the best of Wisconsin in the winter, there are no other Wisconsin resorts that can compete with Adeline’s.
A fascinating story to tell during your Wisconsin family resort vacation!
This stunning amount of lakes is the product of Wisconsin’s prehistoric past. As the glaciers started retreating after the Ice Age, the entire area was inundated in a shocking amount of water. On top of creating thousands of lakes, the melting glaciers formed vast wetlands that covered 1 third of prehistoric Wisconsin. As the 10 million acres of wetlands slowly dried up, a staggering amount of water pooled up beneath the surface. Right now Wisconsin has 1.2 billion gallons of water stored underground that if introduced to the surface would submerge the entire state in 100 feet of water.
Between Wisconsin Dells and Wisconsin’s epic quantity of lakes, the legacy of the melted glaciers is still enjoyed to this day. Last year 112 million tourists visited Wisconsin, and the main attraction was the state’s spectacular amount of nature. From the lakes to the forests, Wisconsin’s tourism industry is fueled by a nearly limitless deposit of freshwater. This abundant access to lakes translates to big business. In Door County alone, the value of lakeshore property is $2 billion. Wisconsin’s 12 active harbors on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior receive $7 billion worth in commodities each year. These figures are literally the tip of the ice-burg, since the entire state is filled with lake resorts that collectively seduce millions of tourists.
To truly understand the impact, exploring Wisconsin’s biggest lakes is essential. Spanning an impressive 137,700 acres, Lake Winnebago is the largest lake in Wisconsin. It’s the remnant of the Glacial Lake Oshkosh, a 12,000 year old body of water that was conserved by ice blockages. Despite covering a massive area of 30 by 10 miles and enjoying 88 miles of shoreline, this lake only has an average depth of 15.5 feet. This shallow water level made it ideal for fishing, and the lake became home to multiple native tribes.
When the French discovered the lake in 1634, the land stretching up to it was inhabited by the Ho-Chunk tribe. The neighboring Algonquian natives called the Ho-Chunk “Winnebago”, which translated to “people of the filthy water”. This crude nickname was inspired by the strong fish odor that radiated from the lake during the summer. Despite being technically incorrect, this monicker stuck. The French named it Lake Winnebago, and the lake maintains this hidden legacy to this day. Thanks to two recently installed dams, the lake level has risen three feet. This extra water allows visitors to indulge in various boating and leisure activities.
Even though Lake Winnebago steals the show with its size, no natural lake can compete with Green Lake’s depth. Clocking in at 239 feet, this is the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin. It boasts 27 miles of shoreline, and this prime real estate has made it a hidden attraction for savvy visitors. Thanks to its prime position in East Central Wisconsin, Green Lake became home to the first generation of Amish settlers. While the actual town is modern, the Old Order Amish set up settlements that can still be seen in the neighboring area. This rare blend of two opposite worlds synchronizes effortlessly with the natural beauty of the lake. What a story of Green Lake you can tell to families while vacationing at the best lake resort cabin for families in Wisconsin.