Romantic Weekends
Nourishing our marriage and celebrating our love is not a new trend for us. We have made a concentrated effort to focus on our relationship for years. As demonstrated by our various romantic getaways.  Take a walk with me down memory lane. If you are looking to invigorate your love life, look no further.  We have the perfect destinations for a romantic weekend getaway in Wisconsin.  Read on for our top five Wisconsin resorts for romance.
Top Five Resorts for a romantic weekend in Wisconsin
#5 The Delton Grand
Wisconsin Dells, WI
This is one of our oldest rendezvous locations. For our 4th anniversary, we rented the Italian Renaissance Suite.  We were young lovers, thus this one is a bit easier on the wallet.  I recently stayed in the penthouse with a group of girlfriends. (The penthouse is sweet.  If you’re booking a group, this might be your spot.  It has lake views and plenty of big bedrooms.) This resort is a well-kept secret in the heart of it all. The condos are a perfect alternative to pricey hotel rooms in the kid-focused waterpark capital. You can experience the Wisconsin Dells from an adult perspective and still bring out the playful kid in you!
What we love about this romantic destination:
- The unique décor of the renewal suites.  We have rented the Vegas Baby, Spa Retreat, and Italian Renaissance.
- Alternatively, the 2 bedroom condos are also lush with awesome showers. Â No themes just nice amenities.
- Romance is expensive, nonetheless, this one is the most budget-friendly option.
- Great location to outlet malls, yummy dining, and numerous attractions.
- Hang out at the indoor/outdoor pool or the little beach.
How to Romance it up:
- Shop together at Outlets at the dells.
- Ride the Ducks.
- Go to a waterpark, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the Tiki bars and lazy river.
- Try horseback riding at Canyon Creek.
- Get a couple’s massage at Sundara. They also have a spa onsite have not tried it but I bet it will save you some cash.
- Have a scrumptious dinner at the Del Bar.
- Rent a movie and order in Italian from Sarentos.
- Watch the game and have a burger at b-luxe.
 #4 The Heidel House
Green Lake, WI
This resort is situated directly on Green Lake. Our weekend getaway was a gift to me from the hubby for Christmas. We took our vacation in late January/ early February of 2015. Being that it was the middle of winter we didn’t get to take advantage of the amenities they offer in the warmer months.  With that said, we had a relaxing stay. Due to James picking the non-peak season for our getaway, I am sure he saved on this romantic weekend. Of all the locations the rooms here are the most dated and least impressive. However, the spa is top-notch and we found so many cute places in town that we think the trip worthy of a visit.
What we love about this romantic destination:
- Every dining location we tried had excellent customer service.
- The lake view was tranquil even in the winter.
- There are activities for everyone; Â sit in the hot tub, go ice skating, snowshoeing. Â My mom stayed with her church group and took a cooking class. Â There is something for everyone.
How to Romance it up:
- Eat a hearty breakfast at Little Corporal.
- Try a latte at Sassafras a family-owned warm coffee shop.
- Have a spa day at Evensong.  We had a couple’s massage.  The massages we chose were the warm bamboo massages.  They were amazing!  Notice a trend? Yes, I’m a big advocate of wellness and massage therapy.
- Take a shot of tequila at the bar, aka liquid courage.  Then go ice skating.  That’s what we did, these are only suggestions.
- Dress up and have a fancy steak dinner. Â We ate at 680 North but the first night we had fish fry at Norton’s. Â The fish fry made a bigger impression. Â James enjoyed his old fashioned, I had the Walleye, Â it was tasty.
- Chill at the Piano Bar. Â Randomly, we ran into a couple of old friends. Â We enjoyed martinis and great conversation. Staying out a bit later than what we planned on a romantic weekend!
#3 The Osthoff Resort
Elkhart Lake, WI
We first discovered this lakeside resort on a visit for our 6-year anniversary, back in 2011.  Look how fresh we look in the pictures. Our oldest daughter must have been 1 years old at the time.  I was still rocking bikinis. We have since returned with both our kids and had an equally awesome family vacation. Units are a mix of condo rentals and permanent second homes.  The Osthoff has a beachfront classic resort vibe.  It has a timeless charm. The furnishing is very old money, traditional but does not feel dated. This could make a great romantic weekend, even if you must bring the kids with you.
What we love about this romantic destination:
- Multiple pools indoors and outdoors.
- Nice beach with all types of water sports options.
- Beachside bar and snacks.
- The cute town within walking and biking distance.
- Family-friendly and nice spacious condos.
- Full kitchen and lakeside grills fully equipped for guests’ use. You don’t have to eat out for every meal. We brought polish sausage and grilled them.
How to Romance it up:
- Lounge on the beach, sip summer drinks and read side by side.
- Challenge each other on the golf course.
- Rent Bikes, they even have Burleys so the kids can tag along.
- Get active, play volleyball in the sand.
- Stop at the Vintage Wine Shop and pick up a bottle.
- Have Ice Cream on the Lake Deck.
- Try a couple’s massage at Aspira Spa, Duh!
- Listen to live music down on the beach in the evening.
- Sit by the bonfire.
- We had an amazing steak dinner at the Paddock Club.
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#2 Â The Baker House
Lake Geneva, WI
  
  
I don’t consider myself a history buff by any means but this area has a rich past. This was another anniversary trip back in 2014.  It was our 9th anniversary. We rented the Champagne room. Have you ever slept in a mansion? The resort goes all out with the ultimate vintage glam décor. There is so much luxe detail, everywhere you look. It sets you back in time.  I loved hearing about the Great Chicago Fire.  The Baker House Mansion had a hat party the night we stayed.  Hence the pictures of us having fun trying on hats. Eventually, we retreated to the private parlor area upstairs.  Finally ending the night, enjoying laughs playing cards and toasting drinks with dessert.
What we love about this romantic destination:
- The walls are covered in silky blush fabric, sexy.
- Who said there is no sex in the Champagne room?
- Cheeky signs for you to place on the door for room service or privacy.
- Naughty tucked away feeling meanwhile a full-blown party/event is just downstairs. Â A velvet rope preventing none guest from wandering up.
- Private sitting parlors outside the room for dessert and aperitifs.
- Butler service, we asked for an iron and they, in turn, ironed my silk shorts for me! Alright, I could get used to this.
How to Romance it up:
- Take the mail boat tour.
- Listen to free music in the park
- Have dinner at the Chophouse in the Grand Geneva. Â It was the original Playboy Hotel. Â Hot enough yet?
- They have an annual wine festival in the fall, so visit during that time for that event.
- Hold hands and stroll the town.
- Rent a boat and get out on the lake.
Romantic Travel Tip:
Baker House comes with a price tag but it is worth the experience. Stay one night at the mansion and then head over to Seven Oaks and stay for less. This quaint boutique hotel is nearby and is comprised of 9 private villas.  Its owned by a European couple and while the price tag is lower, the amenities are plentiful.  A cheese and wine pairing upon arrival, for example, is just one of their special touches.  Units are spacious, have comfy beds, a living room area, and a deck. Seven Oaks is still within walking distance to the main strip and can be rented for a lower price than the mansion. No wonder my husband preferred it. Cannot go wrong with either of these options.
Finally #1 Destination. Â Drum roll, please…..
Our most favorite destination for a romantic weekend in Wisconsin is Canoe Bay.
#1 Canoe Bay
Chetek, WI
If you’re an active couple who likes the combination of adventure and relaxation Canoe Bay makes a perfect escape. The resort is laid out on 400 acres of lush landscape. Little lakes are nestled in between tall trees in the wooded forest. Several hiking paths weave through. The resort provides you with bottles of DEET bug spray and you will need it.  Pack your gym shoes and get out and breathe the freshest air.  I admit this is not for everyone but if you can appreciate the beauty of nature, you will find out why Canoe Bay is enchanting. It is in a remote location. You can lose yourself in each other.  With no other choice, let go of your to-do list and unwind. We had a very weak cell phone signal here, so unplug, disconnect from the world and reconnect with your love!!
What we love about this romantic destination:
- The resort serves a single selection 3-course dinner for the entire restaurant. It was delectable. Â Fresh cuisine is prepared with ingredients coming from a garden on the property.
- Breakfast is delivered to your cabin. Â Nothing is more romantic than breakfast in bed.
- Lush robes are provided.
- Cabins are situated to create privacy we stayed in a lookout cottage.
- There is abundant wildlife, we saw deer, frogs, and a small bear. Â One evening we canoed right next to a beaver, which was super dope.
- Each day we went on a long hike. We also took a canoe ride daily.
- Adventure makes your adrenaline rush.
How to Romance it up:
- Hike the trails, count the number of animals you can spot.
- Canoe on the beautiful lake.
- Sit in the Adirondack chairs and watch time float by.
- Enjoy an amazing dinner at the restaurant, check the menu ahead of time as they only serve one entrée per night.
- The wine list is expansive, enjoy a bottle.
- One fancy dinner is enough, enjoy the cottage. Â We went into town for lunch one day and ate by the water while listening to live music at Gilligans.
- On the way, back to the cottage we picked up a pizza from the Caddy Shack and talked to an old-timer from the area while we waited. Â The pizza lived up to the hype.
Read about our 12th Anniversary Trip to Colorado here.  We will visit Kohler, WI this spring.  I can’t wait to see how it ranks.
Cassandra Wilson
October 24, 2021 8:10 pmJust wanted to say you have a BEAUTIFUL family!
Dione Laufenberg
October 24, 2021 8:20 pmThank you!