tl;dr A gorgeous 8.8 acre park filled with history, giant shade trees, the gentle pleasant sound of…read morewater as it moves along in the Bark River, a crazy unique wooden playground themed after a fort, multiple war memorials, huge shade trees, and a bathroom with drinking fountain. The playground is titled 'Fort Cushing' and is an all wood structure, with primarily a mulch surface and a few minor spots with a rubber surface. Within the playground there are separated areas for the little kids side and the big kids side. The little kids side is fairly small, and consists of two slides, a sandpit, and a few swings. Safety note, the baby swings are crazy high off of the ground since the mulch has been worn down so much, so make sure your kiddo is secured as it would be a huge drop. The big kids side has a variety of slides, bridges, monkey bars, giant tires to climb through as well as a tire swing, and more. Note: The drop off of the covered twist slide also has a huge drop at the end from the worn down mulch. It's definitely a unique playground but if you have little kids you can't trust yet on their own you'll definitely have to be flexible and fast to get through it all. There is a huge open area filled with mature shade trees, a tall monument dedicated to the three Cushing Brothers, as well as an obelisk, and a few other memorials. The park is also situated along the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Oh, and dogs are allowed here! Plus, they have bags available for cleanup. If you're in the area, this park is definitely worth the stop!

Went here because it was listed as one of the best playgrounds in the MKE metro, and it is indeed…read morethat. All wood, and lots of twists and turns, but fenced in so you can't lose the kids too easily.good amount of parking, but nice bike/walking access through the Lake Country and Ice Age trails. Clean bathrooms. Nice view of the Bark River. Definitely worth a trip out here, plus Delafield is a cute town.

Beautiful state park with plenty of trails to hike on with different difficulties! I've been here…read moreplenty of times with the latest in mid December 2025 with winter conditions during mid day. We went cross country skiing with rentals from Nordic Specialists located in the Evergreen Shelter next to the Evergreen lodge. Entry is with a fee or free with your purchase annual WI State parks pass. Not too far from the city, this place has the solitude and nature getaway not too far from the city. Xski rentals were $30 for classic ski that came with shoes poles and skis for two hours. It's also nice in the summer for getting a hike in whether you want a short one or a challenging long hike. There's also an observatory tower you can hike up flights of stairs for a nice view! The evergreen lodge is new and spacious to stay warm during the winter or cool in the shade in the off-winter time.

What a perfect day for an autumn hike on the Ice Age Trail! We stumbled upon this trailhead while…read moreon our way to Holy Hill and the famous Skeletons site, and decided to stop to enjoy the fall colors. We stuck to the White Trail, which makes a nice loop back to the parking lot. The trail is easy to access, well-marked, and mostly gentle, making it a great option for a leisurely stroll or a family outing. The scenery was absolutely stunning--so many trees showing vibrant autumn colors, and plenty of spots to stop and take it all in. We especially appreciated how peaceful and quiet the trail was, even on a beautiful fall day. Perfect for a short hike if you're passing through the area, or for anyone looking to enjoy some seasonal nature without tackling anything too strenuous. Highly recommend checking it out if you're nearby!

Took the pups here to go paddle boarding…read more Arrived around 8am so still fairly early, it was a little confusing where to park for the beach. The beach parking is the same as the boat launch parking (large lot) there is then a path that will take you down to the beach about .25 mile walk. Not horrible but good to note! We asked the park staff and were informed if the pups are swimming they can be off leash on the sand to go in and out of the water but otherwise their leashes need to be on (which was no problem) Bathrooms located near the water and up by the parking nice and clean. Really only downfall was the labeling of parking for the beach and then access to get there, we only figured it out after driving in circles and finding a park staff member. However now we know! Also there is not an easy way to get into the water (walk in style) with a paddle board, since they only have docks to drop down from so a little challenging with the pups, but otherwise it might be easier if you are going with a kayak. They do also have kayak rentals located in the boat launch area. Will definitely return

It's really nice for 4th of July fireworks. You can bring a small grill or they have a few…read morepermanent ones if you get there early enough. There are also a number of picnic tables but they also are claimed quickly. The beach is small but never crowded and is a nice sandy beach. The swimming area is adequate, but very rocky. Therefore, I recommend bringing shoes if you are going to walk in the water. There used to be a lifeguard, but as of 2019, there wasn't one for the fireworks. They also have a playground area that is decent but I noticed there was a step that was cracked and I'm not sure how well it's managed. The bathrooms have been under some level of repair for the last 5 years, often a toilet, sink, shower, or urinal. Nothing major, but noticeably annoying. However, they are usually stocked though I've rarely seen staff here to restock. That said, there are showers to rinse and they have a second area in each stall to change or hold dry clothes.

Nixon Park is what small-town living is all about. The local families appreciate all it offers…read moreover 14.5 acres: a huge playground, splash pad, picnic tables, outdoor music, snack bar (open at times), stage entertainment, tennis courts, and this is just the start! A handicapped-accessible pathway invites everyone in. We watched some young boys fishing and they caught 23" northern pikes- repeatedly! There is lots of room for kids to run and play, traffic is far away, and there are wonderful events regularly scheduled throughout the seasons. We just visited the Healing Wall, and have also enjoyed several stage programs. All free! Whether you have young children or are empty nesters, this park is peaceful and fun for all ages. Dogs are welcome also. After having fun at the park grab dinner down the street; there are many restaurants to choose from. Hartland is a small town that offers lots for everyone to enjoy!

This is a nice little unique park that Hartland has at the heart of its downtown center, and every…read moreresident can find something to do here that will allow them to have both relaxing summer evenings or chilly but fun winter nights. The layout is simple--there's a stage and pavilion for bands, movie nights, performances, etc., a baseball diamond, some large open fields/areas, a space for a beer garden during the warmer months, and a playground and picnic pavilion. An ice rink is also installed during the winter months, so if you have your own ice skates or want to pay a few bucks to rent a pair, head down here for some fun night-skating under the bright lights. I've personally spent time at the beer garden in the summer, which is run by Pat Endter, the owner of nearby Endter's Sports Grill, and it's a great little treat to have for the area--the staff is always super nice, the beer is always ice cold, and the selection is great throughout the different months it's open. There are more than enough umbrella-covered picnic tables to accommodate a large crowd, and the fact that we can bring our dog with us to have a beer outside is awesome. The pavilion/stage is also a unique draw for the park--I've seen movies, comedy shows, and bands perform on the stage there, and the events are always free for the public. There have also been instances of major sports games shown on the inflatable projector screen the Village of Hartland owns and uses at the park, and this allows for a cool sort of community camaraderie when the weather is warm enough to allow for such activities, especially with the food and beer from the beer garden. Probably the coolest part of the park though is the mere fact that it's on the Ice Age Trail, one of Wisconsin's big claims-to-fame. For those who don't know, the Ice Age Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails, and it runs solely through the state of Wisconsin, meaning it's locally maintained and managed for the most part. There are only a few municipalities throughout the state of Wisconsin who can say that the Ice Age Trail runs through the heart of their communities, and the fact that this park features a segment of the IAT itself is pretty cool and a fact to brag about to neighboring communities.

Great playground with 2 sections for different ages (2-5 and 5+). A good amount of parking and very…read morescenic with the lake nearby and ample number of trees. We had a lovely fall morning here with our toddler

While going to the sausage hause I noticed a cool looking park over looking a frozen lake right…read moreacross the street so I had to check it out. This was a pretty nice looking park and I thought that this would make for a nice place to cook out or a picnic. There is a play area and a covered space with tables and rest rooms. There is built in fire pits with chimneys on the roof so you might be able to grill in them. There is plenty of Green space over looking the lake with two parking lots. This is a popular place because plenty of people were around walking the dogs or just walking around. The locals seem to gravitate here and I can see why because it's a nice place. I don't usually review public spaces but I thought I would let people know that this is a cool place out of the Milwaukee area as a destination for a family cook out or what ever. I actually spent about 25 minutes just taking in the winter beauty and I can only imagine how nice it is when everything is green again.

Retzer has a planetarium that shows the most amazing programs. We saw Astronomica, the 3rd in the…read moreseries by James Hood. It was fantastic, and I was actually buzzing physically at the end. We also learned about the all upcoming presentations and we plan to attend as often as possible. This is a little theater that is so unique and should not be dismissed. The entire nature center and grounds are beautiful, and hiking the woods is always a pleasure. The downside is that dogs are not allowed, but that is understandable since they protect nature as much as possible. Please take a look at their website and do yourself a favor by attending an event or two. It really is a great way to spend an evening or hike for the day. The entire area is 483 acres, and is open at 6:00 am until 10:00 pm. There is no charge for parking or entering the park. Only the events have a fee, and it is not expensive. And everything inside is easily accessible for anyone with mobility issues.

We love this center and park grounds, though are always bummed to not be able to bring a dog. The…read moretrails are well groomed or over and there's a lot for little ones to find.

Nashotah Park is in the Waukesha County Park system. Get your yearly parking pass for next to…read morenothing and enjoy this gem all year long. That parking pass is then good for all the Waukesha County parks. I have used the large and small dog off-leash areas, the open field, the rest areas, but mostly the wonderful trails all through the woods. Today, my sister and our two dogs did the long hike all around the area, a nice way to stretch our legs with easy and slightly harder terrain. Nothing to worry about, but in the end, we put on a few miles and enjoyed a full drink of water at the end. There are drinking fountains for both human and animal use (separate spigots.) The restrooms are clean and well-maintained, not port-a-potties. Park your car in one of the two parking lots, take a look at the map and find the colored trail(s) you want to hike and set out. The trails are never really crowded, and you will meet other people and pets along the way. Dogs are to be on leash at all times, and be sure to take poop bags with you; there are some available at each parking area in case you forget your own. There are few garbage cans along the trails so prepare to carry it out with you. We trek here all year long and enjoy the changing seasons as well as the quiet even with roads all around us. This is a nice place to just get away. There are areas marked as environmentally sensitive, so stay on the trails and you will have a wonderful time out in nature.

Loved this park! We headed here for the dog park. They have separate areas for large and small…read moredogs. The large dog area was huge. Lots of room to run and play catch. There were a nice amount of dogs to hang with. We did a couple of laps around the outside then headed to the trails. The yellow trail is just over 3 miles. It's about half shade and half sun. The shade parts through the woods were covered with mulch. The nature area had grass and tons of wild flowers. The trails were nice and wide for easy passing. There are some lakes along the way but they are hard to see through the foliage. We bought a day pass which required a whole process of setting up an account and such. There really should be a quick option to just be a guest for the day. There isn't great reception but my husband was able to get it to work scanning the QR code. Would definitely come back here. Very nice park.

I've been on the hunt for solid paddle boarding spots that aren't too far from Milwaukee…read more We tried the pond at Veterans Park on the lakefront in Milwaukee, but I was so worried about falling in the water (it's not clean...at all) that I didn't enjoy it. We tried Pewaukee Lake, but there was a bit too much motor boat action to enjoy paddle boarding. I was flummoxed, until I spoke to someone who lives in Delafield. She recommended Lower Nemahbin Lake. Yahtzee! With free parking and easy access to a kayak/paddle board dedicated dock, Lower Nemahbin Lake is the perfect lake for us! Clean lake water flanked by lush green without too much motor boat activity (it isn't a wake-free lake but boaters are respectful and aren't abundant), we couldn't ask for a better location for paddle boarding. It has an anchored dock in the middle of the lake that we love paddling out to for an afternoon picnic on the lake (and to let the kiddo get some dock jumping/swimming in). It's also kinda fun to paddle under the overpass. Last time we went through, we were able to see a birds nest with peeping baby birds. All in all, a great spot to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Get to it!

Easy access: ***** Boat traffic: ***** (not a lot)…read moreWater quality: ***** Free access: ***** Lower Nemahbin Lake is located in Waukesha County in the Village of Summit. This review is for the lake in general for kayaking or paddle boarding. We have been kayaking and paddle boarding for three years now and been to 6 different lakes. I've lived on Okauchee Lake and grew up boating on many of these lake. The public access is down Sugar Island Road just off of I94 provides quick and easy access to the lake which is a bonus. Parking is limited but many cars don't seem to follow the signs which limits 10 cars to the parking lot. Without DNR manning and charging people this will happen. Still plenty of room to unload your gear and a short 100 feet walk or so to the kayak launch area with a short 20 feet pier. There is a public launch for boats but is for small fishing boats as it is a shallow launch and very shallow water for a long way past the island. The shallow water way has a sandy bottom so very little to no weeds and warmer water. Lower Nemahbin Lake is a 239 acre lake located in Waukesha County. It has a maximum depth of 36 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Overall a Great Lake to kayak, canoe or paddle boarding.

Dousman's Cory Park is just the right size for all families. Check out their Annual Easter Egg hunt…read moreand Dousman Derby Days too. Good small town fun!

An absolutely lovely park with a beautiful gazebo and running/biking trails nearby. It's right off…read moreof Main Street in Dousman and very close to local shops. It has quite a few benches, a beautiful creek and it well maintained. It was such a refreshing stop after my horribly hot Ragnar Relay leg. I would have loved to have spent many more hours lounging around, but I'm glad I was able to stop here briefly and take in the beauty.