Hilltop is the backdrop to many an annual family vacation...35 years and counting for us!…read more Many of us remember the day when you could completely disconnect, enjoying nothing (and everything) but your screened porch, the dock, the lake, fishing, swimming, hiking, a night cap at the Rathskeller. These days, cell phones and wifi exist; will power is difficult but worth it here! Hilltop is close to many area activities: restaurants and bars, golf, mini-golf, horseback riding, go-carts, shopping and antiquing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, waterski team shows, the casino, and so much more. The cottages are quaint, rustic, but have just enough. Bedrooms, a small bathroom/shower, dining area, a basic (but full) kitchen, and a screened porch (grab a lakeside cottage!). What you get far exceeds stuffing a family in a hotel room (except for making your own bed)! So, the bad: If living the sandy lake-life isn't your thing you might reconsider. Especially if you have kids in and out of the cottage; I haven been or met one yet that knows how to stomp their feet! You might still have to cook or grill your meals. Rainy days are a bummer but great days for boardgames or books! There are mosquitos the size of airplanes. A rogue raccoon might (rarely) audition for the trash screen in The Great Outdoors! You're surrounded by a dark forest. You forgot to upgrade your complimentary row boat to one with a motor. It's mid-summer, there's no a/c, and you refuse to swim. The Rathskeller runs out of (root)beer or ice cream. Again, the experience of the Northwoods is what you make of it. We go for the things we enjoy, our family, and the friends we've made over decades. Hilltop is our perfect backdrop.

Don't go here unless you have lots of $ and lean heavily to the left! The cabins are old and musty…read more. Blacks cliff resort a few doors down is much nicer but they lean heavily to the left also!

Stayed in the Ist floor condos. All of the bedrooms are in the back as the front of the unit has…read morelake views. The problem you will find in the summer is the cars that park at night. The headlights shine right into the room even with dark out drapes. Poor design, the main building for pool, is way to far away. No wonder the owners try to rent them.

I love this place it is so fun to get away from home.I love the game room and other activitiesread more

We stayed in the Bluewater suite and it exceeded all our expectations!…read moreUpdated, modern, and very comfortable, with gorgeous views.

The room was very clean, service was friendly and helpful. There was a lovely view of the lake.read more

Very quaint condo, hotel, and resort, charming, Northwoods decor, and perfect location for hitting…read morethe snowmobile trails. Most of the rooms have a small balcony that in the summer would be perfect for cocktails overlooking the beautiful tree line lake in your backyard. In the winter time, there's a whirlpool tub in the bedroom to look out over the snow, covered trees and beautiful winter wonderland while you soak the stress away. Because it's condos almost all the rooms have a small full kitchen, though it's not well stocked. Small conveniences like a vase for flowers would be helpful.

We attended a family wedding at the Red Crown Lodge recently. It was a lovely affair in a beautiful…read moresetting. But there were a number of flaws that fall short of a five star rating. The biggest downside was the setting of the ceremony. The lake in the background was stunning, but the seating was all a tilt. Not a single seat was level and the seats in the rear were lower than the seats in front. It was also a difficult venue for the elderly and infirm. If the couple selected this location I would excuse the venue, but as I walked around the grounds I didn't see a better setting for the number of guests in attendance. At least the setting for the dinner was level. And it was a tasty dinner. I don't know if the Red Crown kitchen provides the food or if it is catered in. I'm assuming it was prepared by the Red Crown staff so I'll critique it in my review. The dinner was an up north "surf & turf." The steak was tender and well seasoned. The seasoned crumbs on the walleye filet worked taste wise but were not as crisp as they should be (however probably as crisp as they could be when serving over a hundred plates). The fish itself was not over cooked or under cooked and therefore it was moist and flaky. The sides (potato and veggies) were well cooked and properly seasoned. It was certainly one of the best wedding dinners I've had lately--but keep in mind that Wisconsin is the home of "broasted" chicken wedding reception meals (and as a retired preacher I've lost count of how many times I've eaten greasy fried chicken). The other Red Crown amenities were also very nice. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served an a stunning lodge constructed with north woods logs and timbers. The bartenders were capable and able to mix anything you asked for. The Red Crown offers several signature drinks including a unique "old fashioned" that my wife reports was "very good." I can be picky with my reviews and I'm stingy with my stars, but I have to conclude be saying that north of the 45° parallel in Wisconsin, the Red Crown is as good as it gets.

I went to Red Crown Lodge twice this month attending Wisconsin Badger functions. Absolutely the…read moremost pristine outdoor grounds and Northwoods accommodations I have experienced. Breathtaking easterly views of Trout Lake. Outstanding service staff...tough to find in the seasonal Northwoods. Excellent food & drinks on their outdoor patios and indoor rustic lounge. Highly recommended!

We have stayed at Tomah Ridge for many years. We have vacationed on Lake Tomahawk for over 50…read more years and this is the cleanest most caring resort that we. Have ever stayed at. Their first concern is always to make sure their guest are comfortable and enjoying themselves. Fishing is great even off of one of the piers.

Stayed at the Pointe for 3 nights. The room originally assigned to us was too close to traffic, so…read morewe were given a different, and much nicer room as far from traffic as you can get. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our unit faced the lake and all we heard were the rustling of the leaves. Peaceful and quiet. Just what we wanted! The furniture including mattress was very comfortable. Everything was clean. The breakfast was a very nice amenity. This resort is also very convenient for visiting other towns nearby. Over all, we really liked this place. Would definitely stay there again.

Wonderful place to stay during the summer if you want to spend time boating and shopping…read more Conveniently located within walking distance to downtown Minocqua yet quiet enough to enjoy the view from the rooms looking out over Minocqua Lake. Receptionist and staff were very welcoming. Continental Breakfast was ok for those liking the convenience. Indoor pool and hot tub are shared with the condo owners. All in all 4 stars.

An old Best Western in need of some TLC. The linens are clean, but the rooms smell like stinky…read morefeet (probably from all the snowmobile boots outside rooms). It is an okay place to stay for a night passing through on a snowmobile, but not for long durations. The bar offers pizzas and air-fryer frozen chicken tenders (nothing to write home about), and you see the pool/jacuzzi from the entry. With that in mind, I will say that the breakfast in the morning is good with eggs, sausages, and waffles you can make yourself.

So this is a perfect hotel for a visit to Minocqua. Rooms have been updated and the location is…read morefantastic. You can walk to town in less than a few minutes. Right across the street you have a small beach, playground, tennis courts. Full breakfast included includes waffle maker, eggs, sausage, yogurt, cereal- something for everyone. Beds are comfortable and clean. Will definitely stay here again!!!

Got the chance to visit Black's Cliff Resort due to a friend who vacations up there regularly. We…read morewent for the winter time + over NYE. It was such a fun, unique and refreshing trip to take in the winter. It truly seemed like we were in a real life snowglobe. The resort itself seemed to be about 13 cabins. We were in one that comfortably slept 6 grown adults. We also were able to bring our little pug up with us (For a small additionally fee). The family that runs the resort is as sweet as can be. Very hospitable & has a great resort dog that we saw running around during our time there. The snow had fallen fresh, making it a bit difficult to get out of the drive way but it was plowed in record time. I would of loved to enjoy the back deck of the cabin more (that had an awesome hanging bed!) or been able to have my dog use the dog park - but sadly he was sinking in the snow. The cabin came pretty fully stocked in the kitchen - which was helpful for the meals we were planning. The bathroom/shower was great and had plenty of hot water. Fire wood was abundant for the fireplace within the cabin. And the lake was great to see all snow covered. I hope I get the chance to enjoy this part of the Northwoods in the summer!

"I need a mini-getaway or I'm going to pull my freaking hair out!" Yes, that was me about two weeks…read moreago, frantic and stressed at work and needing a break from the monotony of life and the depressing winter blues. My knight in shining armor came to my rescue, looking up cabins in search for a weekend escape, but somewhere nearby a good ski place. Hello, Black's Cliff. It was about a 5 hour drive from the Chicagoland area. Thanks to some bad driving weather, it was nighttime by the time we arrived. The winding road up to the cabins was scary, especially since it's so secluded that there are no street lights. We finally got there and then were scared because the office was closed. Turns out, the people in charge live right across from the office, so we just called them and they came out and showed us where our cabin was. There is no key, so make sure you leave it unlocked, though you could ask about that if you don't feel comfortable. The cabin was beautiful. Small, but it was just the two of us so we didn't need a ton of space. There are larger cabins for families and two other ones this size (See pics for Wildflower layout). There was a full kitchen with a stove, microwave, dishes, glasses, pots, and pans. All you really need to bring are toiletries, food, and towels. Everything else is supplied. There's a great fireplace in the living room, with wood outside so you can make your fire whenever you please. There is also a neat porch area with a swinging bed, tables, chairs, games, etc that looks out onto the great view of trees and the lake. It was too cold to enjoy it, but it would be great in the warmer months. Be warned, the TV is very small, so you'll have to get closer if you want to watch a movie, or you might be better off watching it on your laptop. Also, there are not a lot of channels, so don't expect that. Though, how much TV will you really be watching when you have the greatness of nature around you? Same goes for the wifi. Our cabin was the furthest from the office, so there was no signal. I did need to send an email while I was away, so I sat on the porch to do it where I got a better, but still weak signal. If you want to use the Internet, you can go into their office where they have a stronger signal, or into town. Our stay was completely relaxing and just what I needed. Downtown Minocqua is not that far away, so you can go in to town when you need something. I'd advise doing your research on places to eat, though, because even though they have a binder of places in town and stuff to do, you really need to figure out what you like ahead of time. Before leaving, you need to clean up after yourself, which isn't hard to do. Sweep, do dishes, pick up your mess, the usual. Dogs are allowed, but there is a small fee and you have to make sure they don't leave any hair behind. I think the offseason price was $120 a night, which seems pretty good considering your view and all the space you get. Just think about the crappy hotels in cities where you don't get nearly the same experience. Last tip: they only take cash and check. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely consider coming back in the warmer months. What a find!