For many people, California, Florida and Hawaii are the first places that come to mind for captivating waterfront venues or waterborne adventures in the U.S., but planners might be surprised to find that Wisconsin offers plenty of both. Incorporating water-related experiences for groups meeting in Wisconsin is a breeze, whether it’s a tour of 19th century mansions on an azure lake, sport fishing on Lake Michigan or learning how to surf at a waterpark.
Greater Milwaukee
With Milwaukee’s location adjacent to Lake Michigan, water is an integral part of the experience for groups meeting in the destination.
“Looking out at Lake Michigan is like being at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean,” says Denice Waldhuetter, vice president and co-owner of Professional Events and Consulting, a DMC based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., located just outside Milwaukee. “From its edge, it’s water as far as you can see. It’s a marvelous ambient factor for meetings.”
Experiencing the lake and the Milwaukee River, which runs through the city, is comfortable for groups from April to November.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is an unforgettable venue for groups looking to experience Lake Michigan’s beauty, since the facility is located right at the water’s edge.
Atop the museum is the Quadracci Pavilion, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The pavilion consists of Windover Hall, Calatrava’s postmodern nod to Gothic cathedrals, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake, and the wing-like Burke Brise Soleil, the building’s 90-ton, moveable sunscreen. Groups get the feeling they are inside some mammoth white alien ship. Waldhuetter’s company recently coordinated an event at the museum.
“We had these blue lights installed at different points, and it made it look like you were surrounded by blue rippled waves of water,” Waldhuetter recalls.
Another great waterfront venue in the city is Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, a technology and innovation museum overlooking the lake. The facility is also focused on Great Lakes education and conservation.
Planners can take the mundane out of the typical team-building experience and make it memorable with a day sail aboard the museum’s S/V Denis Sullivan, a fully functional sailing vessel modeled after a 19th century Great Lakes schooner. Groups of 50 or less learn to work together by performing various duties like manning the helm and raising the sail.
North of the Milwaukee Art Museum lies Veterans Park, an urban oasis along Lake Michigan. Waldhuetter says groups have a lot of flexibility if Veterans Park is a venue for receptions or other events.
“Tenting can be set up in a variety of ways,” she notes. “With the lake, you’ve got the atmosphere built right in. Planners can set up a variety of vignettes with the lake as a backdrop and plan a theme with what’s going on in Milwaukee at any given time.”
Planning an event around the annual German Fest is one option. A quick shuttle ride takes attendees south to the lakefront festival. When attendees return from the festival for an informal reception in Veterans Park, they can feast on bratwurst, for which the state is known.
A charming and all-new way to experience the Milwaukee River is to take a water taxi. Just this summer, water taxi service was launched from Memorial Day weekend through the second week of September. An all-day pass to cruise along the river and hop off to check out various downtown sites along the Riverwalk is only $10. More water taxi stops may be added to the route in the future.
For a classic Milwaukee experience, Waldhuetter recommends a brewery tour by pontoon boat.
If planners really want to think outside the box, an unforgettable activity for groups is scuba diving. Pirate’s Cove Diving takes groups into the depths of Lake Michigan to explore shipwrecks. Nineteen shipwrecks have been found in the waters of this Great Lake.
Other cruises, fishing charters, jet-ski and paddle boat rentals are among the other options for those seeking adventure on Milwaukee’s waters.
Groups should also check out Bradford Beach, located close to the art museum and downtown. This year, Bradford Beach was revamped by private companies and Milwaukee County. The Milwaukee portion of Lake Michigan includes five lifeguard-staffed beaches.
About 25 minutes west of Milwaukee are Waukesha and Pewaukee. Lake Pewaukee is known for its abundance of fish, and groups meeting in the area often take advantage of dinner cruises and boat tours of the lake.
Madison
“Lake, City, Lake.” That’s the tagline of Madison, the state’s progressive, laid-back capital. That’s because the city is located between Monona and Mendota lakes.
Planners should expect groups to be wowed by the city’s main venue for events, the Monona Terrace Convention Center, since the facility overlooks Lake Monona. Taking in the sounds of a swing band during a dinner or reception at sunset on the facility’s rooftop garden makes quite an impression on groups. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed facility also boasts outdoor promenades. Tours are available for groups to check out all the design features and green elements.
Tour companies offer excursions on both Monona and Mendota lakes, day and night, primarily from April through October. To burn a few more calories while taking in the lake scene, attendees can rent a bike and follow a trail along the water’s edge.
Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells was voted among Time Life Books’ “100 Dream Destinations” this year. The region is known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World,” with more than 200 water slides in a 19-square-mile area.
It’s possible to incorporate everything on the agenda without leaving the waterpark. For an interesting twist, a reception or awards dinner can usually be held in the park after the regular guests have left. Kalahari Resort & Convention Center and Chula Vista Resort & Conference Center are two of the destination’s large waterpark resorts catering to groups.
However, more water can be found beyond the parks. Plan to make room on the agenda to explore the region’s namesake dells, ancient sandstone cliffs propped up above the Wisconsin River. Taking a walk along the dells or enjoying a dinner cruise on the river is a relaxing option after meetings adjourn.
Sheboygan County
Sheboygan County is located between Milwaukee and Green Bay, while Sheboygan proper is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Sheboygan River. The area is not only one of the leading golf destinations in the country, but it also offers several water-oriented experiences for groups.
“We have great riverfront restaurants as well as windsurfing and kayaking,” says Denny Moyer, manager of the Sheboygan County CVB. “Plus, we have some of the best fishing around.”
Groups can choose from full- and half-day charters, as well as three-hour mini-charters. The colorfully named Sea Dog Sportfishing Charters, Dead Reckon Charters and Dumper Dan’s Charter Fishing Fleet are the top outfits in Sheboygan offering adventurous fishing trips.
Sheboygan boasts a top group property with water at its core: Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center, located along Lake Michigan. No matter what time of year you visit the more than 43,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, it’s always 84 degrees.
Attendees can soak up breathtaking waterfront views along with their golf game at Whistling Straits in Kohler, which offers two golf courses. The Straits course is an open, rugged layout sculpted into two miles of Lake Michigan. The Irish course is located just inland, with four streams that wind around tranquil grasslands and dunes.
Arguably one of the most luxurious and healing ways to get those molecules of hydrogen and oxygen is to check out the Kohler Waters Spa next to The American Club, the state’s only AAA Five Diamond hotel. Depending on the treatment, colored lights accompany therapeutic baths, and stones from the Great Lakes are heated and used to release tension and promote well-being.
Inn on Woodlake in Kohler is another unique destination that caters to groups looking for serenity. It sits on the 11-acre, spring-fed Wood Lake.
Farther west on the shores of Elkhart Lake is The Osthoff Resort, a landmark property that offers an elegant waterfront ambience for gatherings, complemented by lake cruises and other waterborne activities.
Door County/Green Bay
Door County, set on a peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan, with Green Bay to its west, is a rural area that packs a punch; Money magazine called it one of the top 10 destinations in the country. The list of things to do along the county’s 300 miles of shoreline is exhaustive, with sport fishing, cruises, beach-hopping, parasailing, kayaking and scuba diving among the options. (Aside from the waters around Milwaukee, more haunting shipwrecks lie off the coast of Door County.)
“There’s been a big trend with the silent water activities for groups,” says Jon Jarosh, marketing director for the Door County Visitor Bureau. “Paddle boating and kayaking are becoming more and more popular. We have a couple of inland lakes that are very calm and perfect for groups that want to kayak or are interested in learning how to kayak.”
Door County Kayak Tours takes groups on three- to four-hour kayak programs. Planners can appease both larks and night owls with kayak tours during different times of the day and evening or select yoga as part of the kayak tour. Door County Living Classrooms provide eco-tours and various canoe and kayak excursions. Several resorts offer packages or discounts on kayak lessons and tours.
To get a feel for what lies beneath Lake Michigan without getting wet, several kiosks are set up around Door County that describe the various shipwrecks, according to Jarosh.
The county is also home to 10 lighthouses, the second-highest number in the U.S. Several outfits feature lighthouse and lighthouse museum tours, primarily from May to October. The CVB offers a map of all the lighthouses and provides detailed information for groups interested in self-guided lighthouse tours.
In addition to the activities, groups may want to check out the popular fish boil that is available from May to October. A number of restaurants host fish boils, in which local fish is cooked outside in a big iron kettle along with potatoes and onions. That doesn’t sound very exciting until you find out that the oils from the fish rise up and the “boilmaster” sets the steam on fire.
“It’s quite an impressive fireball,” Jarosh says. “The food is eaten with plenty of Wisconsin butter, followed by some cherry pie.”
The cherries are harvested from the region’s thousands of acres of cherry orchards.
Farther southwest, Green Bay’s namesake community is well known for its Packers football team and lively fandom, but the destination has a variety of other diversions to entertain attendees. Recreational activities such as fishing, ice-fishing, boating and water-skiing are popular with visitors, as well as river excursions aboard the Foxy Lady, which groups can charter for meals, receptions and other events.
Lake Winnebago
The cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac lie along the shores of Wisconsin’s largest lake, so plenty of activities center on the water.
But you don’t have to get in a boat to enjoy the ambience. Attendees can take in the waterfront views at the Oshkosh Convention Center. The complex is undergoing major renovations that are slated for completion in February 2009, says Arlene Schmul, tourism project manager for the Oshkosh CVB.
“The convention center and the amphitheater next door would be great flexible space for groups,” Schmul says. “The amphitheater is also on the waterfront.”
Another great option for groups on the Oshkosh waterfront is The Waters, a special events facility that opened in May along Lake Winnebago. The original building was constructed in 1903 by famous local architect William Waters and is now open for groups.
“The developer kept most of the original elements of the building—the old-time fireplace, the antique light fixtures,” Schmul says. “Everything is functional, though. It's like Rachael Ray's refrigerator; it’s antique, but it’s practical.”
In Fond du Lac, one of the most popular waterborne experiences is aboard the Lakeside Spirit, a 49-passenger dinner cruiser that operates on Lake Winnebago.
At the north end of Lake Winnebago is a cluster of roughly 18 communities known as the Fox Cities, so named because they sit along the Fox River. The towns of Appleton and Neenah are two top choices for groups.
Incorporating the water into agendas is easy here. Neenah is located on Lake Winnebago, and its shore is peppered with 19th century mansions, while nearby High Cliff State Park, set on the other side of the lake, offers cross-country skiing in the winter and golfing during warmer months, complete with views of Lake Winnebago.
West of Lake Winnebago, Heidel House Resort offers groups respite on Green Lake. Evensong Spa awaits attendees who have spent the day on the resort’s Escapade yacht.
Lake Geneva
Let’s get it straight: Lake Geneva is the city, and the lake on which it’s located is Geneva Lake. While Geneva Lake anchors the region, nearby are other bodies of water, including Delavan Lake and Lake Como.
When the railroad from Chicago to Lake Geneva was built in the late 1880s, a beer tycoon built Black Point, a lavish estate on a bluff overlooking the south shore of Geneva Lake. A number of fancy mansions were summarily constructed, and the area eventually earned the nickname “The Hamptons of the Midwest.”
The lake’s 22-mile shoreline offers plenty of options for groups, says George Hennerley, executive vice president of the Lake Geneva Area CVB.
“One of the most interesting and memorable ways to experience the lake is to take a cruise and see those mansions built in the early 19th century,” he recommends.
Lake Geneva Cruise Line provides plenty of options for planners who want to get groups out on the water. One idea is a boat excursion complete with a cocktail reception for up to 225 people while on the way to a tour of the estate at Black Point.
Sailing, kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing and fishing are also on the recreational agenda, in addition to golfing. The area is known for its scenic and challenging layouts, with several golf courses boasting panoramic views of the water.
Many of the region’s properties feature lakeside settings or views of the water. Popular group options include The Abbey Resort & Spa, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Geneva Inn, Lake Lawn Resort and the Lodge at Geneva Ridge.
La Crosse and Central Wisconsin
La Crosse, located along the Mississippi River in the western part of Wisconsin, and Stevens Point and Wausau, both situated along the Wisconsin River in the central portion of the state, offer plenty of options for water-related experiences. In addition to its main rivers, both regions are also filled with several smaller waterways and lakes.
Planners can easily include a number of interesting off-site activities, such as river kayaking and river excursions on a paddle wheeler.
For More Info
Brookfield CVB 262.789.0220 www.brookfieldcvb.com
Door County Visitor Bureau 920.743.4456 www.doorcountymeetings.com
Fond du Lac Area CVB 920.923.3010 www.fdl.com
Fox Cities CVB 920.734.3358 www.foxcities.org
Greater Green Bay CVB 920.494.9507 www.greenbay.com
Greater Madison CVB 608.255.2537 www.visitmadison.com
La Crosse Area CVB 608.782.2366 www.explorelacrosse.com
Lake Geneva Area CVB 262.248.4416 www.lakegenevawi.com
Oshkosh CVB 920.303.9200 www.oshkoshcvb.org
Sheboygan County CVB 920.457.9491 www.sheboygan.org
Stevens Point Area CVB 715.344.2556 www.stevenspointarea.com
Visit Milwaukee 414.273.3950 www.milwaukee.org
Waukesha and Pewaukee Area CVB 262.542.0330 www.visitwaukesha.org
Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB 715.355.8788 www.letsmeetinwausau.com
Wisconsin Association of CVBs 608.837.6693 www.thinkwisconsin.com
Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau 608.254.8088 www.wisdells.com
