Camp Wandawega is a flawlessly re-created 1950′s summer camp. At $250 a night (plus a $60 airbnb…read moreservice fee), you can step back in time. Located in Elkhorn, WI about 90 minutes from where I currently live, on the way there, I drove by the place I used to camp as a kid and by towns I have met my parents in to go antiquing. Where many of the sites on the way were well-known to me, pulling into the camp site was familiar because it was like driving to the set of Moonrise Kingdom. Really, it was like plopping into any Wes Anderson movie. I could very clearly imagine children with their names emblazoned on sleeping bags and wooden tennis rackets being used as swords by campers. When I first arrived, I was early (although the reservation said there was a flexible check-in time). The cleaning lady was arriving in two hours, so I read outside for a while of (what would be) my cabin. The breeze was nice and my book was distracting, but then I started paying attention to a couple who were dipping their feet into the lake at the end of the dock while eating oranges AND drinking orange juice (?!?). That is commitment to Vitamin C, if I ever saw one. Once I moved past my internal giggle at the scurvy-free couple, I glanced at my phone and saw that time had slowed to a crawl. How can a morning at home go so fast and an hour at camp go so slowly? It is like that scene in The Jerk where he says the first day seemed like a week. Camp Wandawega is quite quiet, except for the crazy chipmunks. Sometimes, you can hear the muted, but distinctive click of the flagpole outside. Often, I caught myself looking to see if the crinkle of leaves or branch breaking was a person, but it was almost always a chipmunk (or, not to be out done, squirrels). If the chipmunks weren't there or if flags didn't move, I would have thought I was frozen by some witch's autumn spell. Overall, it seemed like it shouldn't all be there- the details. It felt like it all should have been swept away in a flood or be permanently planted in someone's dream, not surviving as well-preserved as it all is. There is no internet that I could connect to. I didn't need air conditioning or heat, but they are a window cooling unit and a floor heater respectively; nothing major to protect you from the elements. You are here to be (at least, a little) outside. There is a rope swing and open-air showers. There are old bikes and bird houses. The traditional camp colors of burnt red, forest green, and stark white are everywhere. Uneven stairs and rocky hills force your attention even while you walk casually around. The camp was at one point a brothel. Well, it was a speak easy, a distribution center for organized crime, a brothel, a lake resort and a church camp before the current owners bought it and renovated it to its current state. While at Camp Wandawega, what I felt was a constant pang of that very specific camp feeling. The anxiety before arriving your first time. The waiting of ONE MORE YEAR before your next camp experience always seeming like forever. The addiction in the autonomy and the freedom of no parents or siblings. You just being who you are. Someone good at archery. Someone who loves sitting on a dock. Someone who swings in a hammock. Someone who naps. Someone who hikes. While there, I got invited to a fire on the beach by one couple. At another point, a couple taking engagement photos came by to use the canoes. Untroubled people came and went. Some times a fish would come up to ripple the water in their hunger. The lily pads provided a little buffer from the reflection of the sun. There was the constant smell of a fire burning somewhere. What I recommend doing while at Camp Wandawega: -Eat PB&J. You can go into town for food, but why bother? -Sneak iced coffee or coffee grounds and a French press into the communal kitchen. -You don't really have to sneak, but sneaking around seems very camp-y. -Take a nap. Or several. -Read the books at the end of the bed (A Very Modest Cottage and Found, Free & Flea) by Tereasa Surratt. They will provide more information on the renovation of the property and the care of one of the cottages specifically. -Go on a walk around the whole site. You will find tipis (or teepees) and other fun finds. Just bring your hiking boots. -Canoe. (Language side note: canoe is a noun and a verb. English is so quirky.) -Sit with the liquor of your choice by a fire or just sit by the lake for a while. -Go on a bike ride. -Take pictures. You can't really take a bad one. During my time here, the bees were about. Flies and ants, too. Twice, a spider dropped down (seemingly from the sky) onto the book I was reading. Also, I am 99.9% sure there was a raccoon outside of my cabin door one night. Camp Wandawega is a natural and authentic place which makes it an ultimate place to reflect and assess. Yes, you have to constantly check your wine for bugs, but that is part of the magic of being fully present, isn't it?

AMAZING. This is an awesome place with rich history dating back nearly 100 years ago. The tree…read morehouse is soooo cool, there are many options as far as areas you can stay in. Teepees, old Army tents, the old "dormitories," and small cabins. We were here for a wedding over the weekend (which is rare from what I hear), and the place was recently renovated (in the last 5-7 years or so). This is a very rustic place with a historical feel. In the 1920's during the prohibition years, it was a speakeasy (my favorite part of their history), but there is much more. To learn more about the history check out, www.wandawega.com. This place is also a very well kept secret. I grew up less than 10 miles away from Wandawega, but had only heard of the lake not the "Camp" or "Resort." This place is meticulously decorated, clean, historical, rustic and all-around awesome.

What a wonderful place! It was so peaceful looking out over the lake while relaxing in the…read morebeautifully decorated rooms. And the bedding was top notch. We'll definitely rent here again:)

From the owner: Escape to this new construction, open concept five-bedroom, four-bath vacation rental just 75 feet…read morefrom the waters of Lake Como. Nestled in a tranquil neighborhood, the Lake Como Love Shack home delivers a serene lakeside experience while remaining just a short drive from downtown Lake Geneva.

My husband & I rented one of these historic cabins originally built in the 1920's for a orphanage…read more These cabins are amazingly rich with history as soon as you walk in the door you feel like you have been transported back in time. This was exactly the experience we were hoping for! Cabins come with mini fridge outside grill, firepit, beds, couches, and tv with cable. The park itself has WiFi. We brought our two dogs and they are having a blast. The lake is a short walk down the hill and perfect place to take a little swim with the pups! If the cabin wasn't rented out for the weekend we would of stayed the entire week. We might even come back after this weekends renter is out. This place is absolutely amazing if your looking for a rustic romantic get a away! Bring bug spray!

From the owner: These rustic cabins rentals from the 1920's were part of the St. Amelian's Orphanage which is now…read moreknown as Glacier Hills County Park. These cabins are being restored over the fall and winter of 2018 and will be ready for overnight rentals starting May 1, 2019. Each open cabin is about 400 square feet consisting of bunk beds, a full size bed, pull-out couch and kitchen table. Each cabin has electricity, however there is no plumbing. Fear not, there is a hand pump well and seasonal restroom centrally located between the 4 cabins as well as showers and flush restrooms just up at the hall for your use. The cabins are right on Friess Lake too which is 121 acre lake with a maximum depth of 48 feet. It's a perfect lake for fishing, swimming, and paddling a kayak, canoe, or paddle board (rentals onsite)! Glacier Hills is located just 2.5 miles from Holy Hill in the beautifully Kettle Moraine! Make sure to checkout all the amazing golf and recreational opportunities as well as all the local amazing restaurants/bars too!

Reviving this gem on the Chain of Lakes! For more information, please check us out on Facebook and…read moreInstagram.

Convenient location, huge room and adorable. We stayed in the Martini Suite and will definitely be…read morebooking our stay here again in the future. We appreciated the parking space as well! Thank you for an amazing stay!

We did not stay at the INN so can't speak to the overnight experience. We did attempt to try their…read morecafe. The two staff members behind the counter did not respond kindly to questions and one was quite rude. my husband and I decided to grab a meal elsewhere.

Beautiful, comfortable cabin on a peaceful lake, perfect for kayaking! A great place to relax after…read morea day biking the nearby Sugar River Trail. Cabin has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Lots to see and do nearby. Highly recommend!!!!

Great fish fry Friday night. Soup was a no name soup with ham, bacon, peas, corn, beans, tomatoes,…read morenoodles and some amazing stock. Complimented each other perfectly. Will definitely be back!!!!

My Son and I stayed at Ol Pine Lodge in September. The pictures of the rooms/cabins were really…read morenice but they were even better than we expected. The beds were so comfortable and everything was clean and fresh. We sat at the lakefront fire pit and had a wonderful time. Fishing off the dock was fun, and the only disappointment was that some huge fish broke my line and took my lure...I thought the pole might break. We wanted to take the kayaks out but ran out of time. Highly recommended.

From the owner: We are a family owned vacation rental lakefront/beach property. The vibe at Ol Pine Lodge is…read morefamily friendly, relaxing and will be a great place to kick back and relax at the lakefront. Bring a boat and dock it at our piers. We have kayaks available upon request to allow you to escape early as the sun rises on the lake.

This is a beautiful home like setting perfect for crafters retreat or just to relax and get away…read more Has outdoor swimming pool, and hot tub on premise and a beautiful view of the countryside. Sleeps 14 comfortably. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!