The New Vacay: #lakelife
Elkhart Lake, WI
A lake vacation never crossed my mind when considering my next destination, which is why I was naïve to the whole idea. Now a distant memory after visiting Wisconsin’s Elkhart Lake, I feel like I could write a book on the numerous reasons a lake should be my next vacation destination. Elkhart Lake is one of those reminders of how the U.S. has so many best kept secrets of natural beauty that we fail to take advantage of when deciding where to take the annual family trip. The typical complaints come to mind when thinking of a lake vacation i.e. you might not be able to swim in the water, the water will be incredibly cold and/or you will not have sandy shores for the kids to play around. All myths that live in certain lakeside properties but for Elkhart, it felt like as much of a mini beach vacay as most I have experienced on the East Coast. As you can see, I am a fan and here are the main reasons why:
- Lakes are beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. No, not the clear water you might find in Florida but they offer their own qualities to the mix especially when the sun hits them during the sunset with the perfect shade of copper.
- Many lake communities are upping the ante with luxury resort properties versus the typical cabins we are all
One of the original advertisements of Osthoff Lake Resort at Elkhart Lake, WI.
used to seeing on the television. At Elkhart Lake, I stayed at the Siebken’s Resort and did a spa treatment at the Osthoff Lake Resort. You can get a little of that rustic appeal with your opulent spa treatment in the same trip.
- The food. I would be remiss if I did not talk about the fresh seafood. Elkhart’s Lola’s on the Lake, for example, regularly features the walleye fish on its restaurant menu because the fish is caught right there in the lake. Fresh does not even begin to define the experience.
- Outdoor activities. Lake communities tend to have plenty of opportunities to “become one with nature”. Hiking, fishing and ice fishing (*Elkhart has plenty of ice fishing opportunities during the winter months), if you happen to visit one in the winter, are activities that change up the typical vacation.
- Lake vacations are slowly but surely becoming the new travel trend. I recently perused an article about the growing lake vacation culture around Milan, Italy. Until then, I had only considered the Almalfi coast beaches on a trip to Italy. After Elkhart, I am curious to see what other hidden treasures are out there for me to explore.
After Elkhart, I changed my perspective on the “American vacation”. Beaches, Disney and/or the Miami/Vegas run can sit on ice, #lakelife is about to take over.
Category: Reviews, Travels, World Tour
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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