Arriving at Rhinelander Oneida County Airport in Rhinelander places you close to it all, with several nearby cities just a short drive away. Rhinelander is the hub of the Wisconsin Northwoods, a lake-and-forest region with more than a thousand lakes in Oneida County alone. The town is known for the Hodag, a mythical beast invented by a local prankster in the 1890s and now the city mascot. The mood is cabin casual, with supper clubs, bait shops, and pine trees in every direction.

Standout experiences around Rhinelander: - Snap a photo with the Hodag statue outside the Chamber of Commerce - Tour the Pioneer Park Historical Complex and its logging museum - Fish for walleye, musky, and bass on the Rhinelander Flowage and nearby lakes - Order a Friday fish fry or a prime rib at a classic Northwoods supper club - Paddle the Wisconsin River, which begins its long run not far north of town - Hike or bike the trails of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest - Ride the groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski trails in winter - Catch the Hodag Country Festival each July

Rhinelander sits in the middle of the lake country. Minocqua and its island downtown are about 30 minutes northwest, Eagle River, the self-declared snowmobile capital of the world, is 30 minutes northeast, and Three Lakes is just beyond. Wausau and Granite Peak ski hill are about an hour south, and the Michigan border is about an hour north. Try a brandy old fashioned sweet, the unofficial state cocktail, with your fish fry. Summer means lake days and fall means color, but winter is when the Northwoods really shows off.