Whole Life Magazine

October/November 2013

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Photos: Abigail Lewis (top right, bottom left); Elkhart Lake Tourism (bottom above) The original building has a delightful vintage lake-cottage ambience with antiques, aged hardwood floors and creaky stairs. There are also three-bedroom units with kitchen and front patio—a great family option, and newer timeshare units (as at all the resorts here) to let by the night. And on the other side of Siebkens, family friendly Victorian Village boasts in- and outdoor pools, one right by the outdoor Tiki Bar overlooking the beach—the perfect place for a sunset swim and cocktail. PLACES TO EAT, THINGS TO DO In a town this quiet—at 10:30 on a mild June evening, this strolling writer encountered not one other person on any of the "downtown" streets—you might expect nothing more than a bar and a coffee shop. But the family-run Paddock Club—Cheri Han manages, sister Lynn Chisholm chefs, another sister does the marketing and their brother restored and renovated the historic building—is all brick and dark neutrals with a menu that combines seasonal ingredients and a European culinary tradition, readily adapted to vegan requests. Pastas and breads are produced in house, and they even make their own cocktail bitters. Be sure to ask if the ramps are in season! Nearby, Lake Street Café offers sophisticated bistro dining, again local and sustainably sourced. Their menu notes dishes that are gluten free and includes such delicacies as Escargot Cassoulet and Pan-seared Wild Alaskan Halibut with shaved asparagus salad. Proprietors Lynn and John will happily advise on an accompanying wine from their Wine Spectator Award-winning list. Although all of the resorts offer dining options, two are particularly noteworthy. Lola's at the Osthoff serves pastured beef, greens from the organic hotel garden, and wild-caught fish, and is happy to cater to any dietary needs; and Siebkens' historic Cocktail Bar, located off the Main Dining Room, has been a renowned watering hole for racecar drivers for decades. One general caveat that may relate more to the California palate than local kitchens: dishes tend to be saltier than we are Braised Scallops, Paddock Club accustomed to, so be sure to check with your server. You'll need to work off some of that delicious food, so head for the 13,000-acre Sheboygan County Marsh Park and climb its 80-foot-tall observation tower. Or go just south of town, where the Organic kitchen garden at the Osthoff northern unit of the KetResort tle Moraine State Forest offers hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails. An observation tower on the 3.5-mile Parnell Tower Trail offers sweeping views of the glacier-carved terrain. In warm weather you can swim, kayak, fish, sail, paddleboard or pontoon on the lake. Golf and horseback riding are nearby, or get centered with a yoga or meditation class in the full-service Aspira Spa, ranked #3 in the Condé Nast Traveler spa poll. Redesigned to incorporate both feng shui and local Native American traditions, its menu includes such unique treatments as the Cedars Massage, using native cedar "to purify and protect"; and the signature Sacred Waters Massage, which uses the healing Elkhart Lake waters to assist in penetrating deep tissues. Leave time to relax in the co-ed Jacuzzi afterward, meditate in the sanctuary of the four-directions circle or sink into a comfy chair in the library. Looking for excitement? The nearby Road America racetrack is world renowned, and even if you miss the annual race, you can still do some offroading (try the Drop into Darkness tour) or take a course in high performance driving or SuperMoto. Elkhart Lake is ideal for a summer getaway or family reunion, and autumn's colors are glorious, but winter is also quite special here, and well worth a side trip if you're home for the holidays. December brings carriages and fairy lights, an Old World Christmas Market, hayrides and breakfast with Santa, plus caroling and sublime decorations. Truly, you can't go wrong in any season at Elkhart Lake. It's a three-hour drive from Chicago and in another state entirely, but don't let that fool you into slipping off for a secret rendezvous; it's deservedly popular, and as at least one startled visitor learned, you never know who else might be escaping to this not-so-remote resort in the heart of the heartland. TAKE HEART • Aspira Spa - 920.876.5843 • Lake Street Cafe - 920.876.2142 • Lola's on the Lake - 920.876.5840 • Osthoff Resort - www.osthoff.com • Paddock Club - 920.876.3288 • Siebkens Resort www.siebkens.com • Tiki Bar - 920.876.3645 • Victorian Village - www.vicvill.com october /november 2013 29

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