Lodi, Wisconsin: A Peaceful Weekend Escape from the City
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Lodi is a small lakeside city located in the Madison metropolitan area. It’s a gorgeous small city with a year round population of just over 3000. It’s also a popular second home destination amongst urbanites in both the Milwaukee and Chicagoland metro areas. The scenery is beautiful with rolling green hills and tranquil views of the lake comprising the backdrop pretty much anywhere you go. You will not find too many chains or over commercialization here, so it maintains that low-key old fashioned vibe and the scenery is pretty much interrupted which is a rarity today.
Lake Wisconsin is a beautiful summer destination with endless opportunities for fishing, boating, and watersports. It’s a great weekend getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of nearby cities. Summertime is busy with both vacation home owners and tourists enjoying the amenities; oftentimes you need to book out hotels months in advance. This is not a surprise as sometimes we all need a break from the city traffic, congestion, and pollution every now and then.
Understandably, summer is the prime season for tourism with the temps perfect for any type of outdoor activity including fishing, hiking, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, and more. You can expect average highs in the low to mid 80’s and lows in the upper 50’s. If you are into hiking, you can explore Devil’s Lake State Park which offers 29 miles of trails and beaches. The 1000 mile long Ice Age Scenic trail also draws many avid fitness enthusiasts this time of year.
I have been vacationing with family members here for the past 15 years. We love escaping the city for a weekend of relaxation. It’s worth the drive in my opinion for the scenery and opportunity to spend time in uninterrupted nature. Lodi is located about 2 and a half hours from Chicago and a hour and a half from Milwaukee, so an easy roadtrip to escape the city drama for a bit. After numerous trips over the past decade or so, I have organized a guide of where to stay, what to eat, and what to do when vacationing in this quaint lakeside retreat.
Where to stay
There are not many lodging options which is a good thing as the low level of commercialization keeps the scenic beauty intact. If you want to go the more rustic route, Smokey Hollow campground is a nice family-friendly choice with a lot of amenities. For a bit more luxury, your best bet is Lucky’s Lodge. After a destructive fire back in 2021, this former motel reopened as a new modern 3 story building. I have stayed in both properties and prefer the new clean look. It’s a beautiful property overlooking Okee Bay.
They offer standard 2 queen rooms, a king suite, and 4 and 5 bedroom suites including one with a game room. The rooms are clean with nice new flooring (the old carpeting was pretty gross). There is a mini fridge and microwave included. The beds are surprisingly cozy although the pillows are a bit small (definitely bring your own). Best of all, I love the beautiful views of Okee Bay and Lake Wisconsin. In the summer months, you can enjoy your coffee via the patio while taking in the lake scenery. Here are a few pics from the King room which includes a full size kitchen and living area with a couch.
Amenities include:
- a shared firepit
- free boat parking
- boat trailer parking
- a fish cleaning station
- a grill
- an on-site bar and grill
- kayak rentals ($40)
- dogs allowed ($100 cleaning fee)
Where to eat lunch/dinner
One of our favorite things to do while vacationing here is indulging in some fresh seafood. There are 2 toursisty options conveniently walkable from Lucky’s Lodge.
My favorite, Fitz’s on the Lake, is a long running favorite of both locals and visitors. I have been dining at this restaurant for well over a decade. The interior is welcoming, cozy, and rustic – the perfect compliment for a weekend on the lake. On any trip to this area, we need at least one visit to the popular Friday Night Fish Fry – not a bad deal at $21 although they are really slow at refills and unfortunately potatoes are only included on the first round.
I also love the salad bar which is stocked with fresh vegetables, various pasta salads, and the best cheese. As a vegetarian, it’s a great choice for me. I also love the Reel it In which is basically cavatappi pasta in a spicy cajun sauce. Really, the salad bar is enough of a meal by itself (you can order the endless bar for $12 or add it on to the fish fry for a few extra bucks). Not many restaurants have salad bars anymore today, so it was fun to go back to the old days for one night. Also, if you are up for a real treat (I don’t have much of a sweet tooth), Fitz is known for their Okee-Dokey, which is basically a giant sundae.
Best of all are the wonderful views from the dining room. During the summer months, you can also opt to sit outside for a prime waterfront view. Live entertainment is usually on the lineup most weekends. Also, Sunday brunch is one of your best options in a town with few breakfast dining options.
Log Tavern Pizza Co was a new stop for me and I was pleased. This local gem offers all sorts of pizzas, appetizers, and beers in a cozy rustic dining room. The design is really cool and I love the canoe and lights up by the bar. Lots of cute woodsy touches and decor supporting Wisconsin sports teams give it that local charm. Overall, this is a great place to enjoy comfort food and catch a football game. The pizza here was not just good for a small town but really delicious. The style of pizza reminded me of some of my favorite places in Chicago. I also loved the Bosco sticks!
Lucky’s Bar and Grill is located adjacent to the hotel, so super convenient. I have not dined here yet, but theard from some family members that it is decent enough. They offer your typical sports bar menu. Live entertainment is one the lineup frequently during the summer months. Also, they offer breakfast on Saturdays which is nice because Fritz is only open on Sundays for breakfast. I did walk up to their lighthouse to enjoy the scenic views of the lake (anyone can enjoy the view for free whether or not you are dining here.
Where to eat breakfast
Buttercream Bakery and Coffee Bar is the place to go if you are looking forward to a great cup of joe in the morning. I honestly do not like drinking room coffee (the machines are always crappy and I don’t like the chemical taste from the paper cups). Your options are limited in this town (no Starbucks for miles), so I recommend stopping by for a delicious pastry and coffee before starting your day. The coffee here is pretty decent and they also offer the full lineup of espresso and specialty drinks.
So far our party has tried and enjoyed a cinnamon roll, apple turnover, lemon tart, and various muffins. The pastries are pretty decent although the quiche and bagel we tried were just ok – the bagel didn’t have enough seeds and the quiche crust was a bit stale. They also showcase beautiful artwork from local artists (I love supporting the local community and bought a beautiful fall painting). This shop is located in the small downtown. You can walk to numerous shops and also a cute little park known for ducks (more on this in a bit).
Lucy’s Family Restaurant is the town diner alternative for those who prefer more of a sit down experience over an order the counter coffee bar. Here you can enjoy your typical big American menu of breakfast and lunch fare. We tried a bit of both on our recent visit. The veggie skillet I tried was delicious and filling and everyone at our table enjoyed a wrap which included french fries and the soup of the day.
What to do
Fishing is the main draw here. I come with family members who are fishermen every few years or so. I am not that into fishing so I come more for the views, dining, and relaxation. On our most recent trip, we caught mainly bluegill, perch, and largemouth bass. Summer is the popular tourist season, but September to October is prime for walleye fishing. Both residents and nonresidents need a fishing license. We paid around $30 for a 4 day non resident pass which isn’t too bad.
You can read more about Wisconsin fishing regulations before your trip.
There are docks behind the hotel that you can fish on, or you can take out your own boat or rent a pontoon for the day. There is a fish cleaning station at the lodge for your convenience.
For those who do not fish, the hotel also rents kayaks which I definitely would have considered had the weather been a bit warmer. I recommend checking out Burhop’s where you can rent jet skis and pontoons.
If you are into hiking, birdwatching, and exploring nature there are several state parks in the area including:
- Devil’s Lake – This large park is located in nearby Baraboo and offers 29 miles of trails of all difficulty.
- Parfrey’s Glen – At the state’s first natural area, you can hike amongst streams & see a waterfall.
- Lodi Marsh State Natural Area – At this large park, you can hike, fish, and birdwatch.
- Mirror Lake State Park – A great place for hiking and water activities (rentals available).
Learn more about the Wisconsin park system
My favorite thing to do here is take a cruise along the lake. We usually bring our own speedboat, but would like to rent a pontoon some time (it was really cold on our most recent visit in September so we cancelled last minute). Note that it can get really cold on the water anytime after August. On our September trip, the temps were in the 40’s throughout the morning and only topped 60 by later afternoon. While we planned on some walleye fishing and a longer lake cruise, it was way too cold and choppy on the water. We ended up limiting our time in the boat to a few afternoon cruises.
Here are a few pics we took of the beautiful lake. It’s such a clean and picture-perfect area to spend a summer day although this time felt more like fall (temps can drop dramatically after August so come prepared). Riding the Merrimac Ferry (which is free) is another idea for summer fun. Fitz’s and Lucky’s both have boat docks if you want to stop for lunch while on the lake.
Susie the Duck
Everyone who lives in or visits the city regularly knows about this annual tradition. In August each year, the Susie the Duck festival takes place. This family favorite includes a parade, run, and a duck derby. It all began back in 1948 when the sheriff’s daughter named a duck who nested in Spring Creek and returned each year. Susie is now considered the town’s mascot. You can access the creek from the downtown (it’s just steps away from the bakery). At Spring Creek park, there is a small walking path and you can feed the ducks and read more about the background story.
Beaches and Parks
The town is home to a number of pretty green parks. Lake Park features great views of the water and Okee Beach. There is a small stretch of sand here and it is open for swimming during the season. It was much too cold on this visit to even consider stepping foot into the water. Other amenities include a few picnic tables and grills. It would be a gorgeous place for a lunch out in nature. You can visit the Town website for more info on parks.
