Wisconsin is flush with rivers and lakes, making it a perfect spot to plan events with outdoor recreation in mind. Here are five waterfront destinations offering full-service event venues with plenty of opportunities for fun on the water or a relaxing day at the beach.

Lake Geneva

The city of Lake Geneva is a six-hour drive from eight states and is located about an hour from airports in Milwaukee and Chicago. Perched on Geneva Lake, the city is within 15 minutes of two other lakes, making it a popular waterfront destination.

There are 2,100 hotel rooms in the area and 178,000 square feet of event space for groups of 10 to 500. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is not on the water but is a five-minute drive or trolley ride from downtown Lake Geneva and the lakefront.

The property boasts several ballrooms that can host groups of up to 800 as well as the Forum Convention Center, which offers 13,000 square feet of pillarless space for receptions and tradeshows.

The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa is on the opposite side of Geneva Lake in the village of Fontana. It has 334 guest rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an arcade, a virtual reality entertainment center and a full-service marina with boat rentals.

The 271-room Lake Lawn Resort on Delavan Lake is a full-service resort with a spa, marina and 2 miles of shoreline. It also features 32,000 square feet of event space, much of which overlooks the lakefront with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Lake Lawn Queen is a 76-foot cruise boat that can be rented out for scenic cruises or events on Delavan Lake.

The resort’s Riviera Ballroom overlooks Geneva Lake, and Lake Geneva Cruise Line has several boats that can be rented out for dinner cruises, corporate retreats or cocktail hours.

visitlakegeneva.com

Wausau

Wausau brands itself as Wisconsin’s base camp. The city is in the middle of the state surrounded by ancient quartzite and volcanic rock formations. Rib Mountain is an isolated peak that stopped the movement of the glaciers during the last ice age, and the Wisconsin River cuts through the area.

Two national trails wend their way through the surrounding Marathon County. The “otherworldly” Ice Age Trail runs alongside the Dells of the Eau Claire River, which is one of the most visited county parks in Wisconsin. The Great Pinery Heritage Waterway is a navigable water trail that spans several counties and 108 miles along the Wisconsin River and its many tributaries.

There are 195 lakes in the area, many independent of the rivers, that are perfect for water sports, fishing and birding.

The Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center offers 55,000 square feet of continuous space that can host up to 4,000 attendees. The center is within walking distance of 575 hotel rooms. The 147-room Holiday Inn & Suites Wausau-Rothschild is attached to the Expo Center and has 5,000 square feet of event space for groups of up to 350.

The Jefferson Street Inn in downtown has 99 guest rooms and 14,000 square feet of event space, and the Cedar Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild has 10,200 square feet of event space. Bantr, a hotel in Rothschild, has 140 guest rooms; an 8,800-square-foot courtyard that can host up to 1,500; a large restaurant for up to 370; and several smaller spaces for 30 to 300 guests.

visitwausau.com

Elkhart Lake

Located in southeastern Wisconsin, Elkhart Lake is an inland resort village situated between Milwaukee and Green Bay, right along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The Osthoff Resort & Spa on the lake offers one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums for rent. The property has over 600 feet of lake frontage, a 38,000-square-foot conference center, a 20,000-square-foot spa, and multiple restaurants. Groups hosting events there can rent pontoon boats or individual watercraft, such as standup paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and Hydrobikes. The resort also has a cooking school that offers classes for small and large groups.

Siebkens Resort was established on Elkhart Lake in 1916. It offers traditional lodge rooms as well as one- to three-bedroom condos. The resort features a sandy beach, outdoor pool, hot tub and complimentary watercraft like kayaks and paddleboats. Located across the street from Road America racetrack, Siebkens has a historic tavern plastered with racing memorabilia. The resort can host meetings or events for up to 200.

Road America can accomodate events or team-building activities, such as go-karting and off-road UTV trail riding. The facility also offers geocaching and paintball, and groups can rent several unique spaces for meetings or events or corporate hospitality experiences during race weekends. Groups can do wine tastings or pairings, and there are several cheese makers in the area that offer group tours. There is also a 27-hole golf course and many hiking trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

elkhartlake.com

Oconomowoc

Oconomowoc sits between two metro areas, Madison and Milwaukee, making it convenient for meeting groups traveling from across the country. The city’s name means “Where the Waters Meet,” and Oconomowoc is surrounded by lakes, including Lac La Belle and Fowler Lake, which are divided by an isthmus.

The Oconomowoc Community Center is the main event space in the city. It sits on the shores of Lac La Belle and can host groups of 10 to 200. The center is about 10 minutes from local hotels, including Staybridge Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and TownePlace by Marriott. At the public beach right outside of the community center, attendees can reserve canoes, paddleboats, kayaks or pontoon boats. There is also a 2-mile-long boardwalk around Fowler Lake dotted with swing benches where visitors can sit and enjoy the water.

The Club Level at the Lake Country DockHounds baseball stadium can accommodate groups of up to 3,000 for events. The 5,000-square-foot space offers views of the stadium plus televisions, audiovisual services, catering options and a full-service bar. Groups can also rent suites during DockHounds games or book the ballpark for a corporate outing. Smaller groups of up to 100 can rent Bank Five Nine Docks for a lakeside gathering next to the ballpark or Fox Pier, which overlooks the field.

The Valerie is an event center with several rentable spaces, including Camden Hall, which offers space for 400 guests. It features two contemporary bars and access to an outdoor patio.

visitoconomowoc.com

Racine

Racine County is in the far eastern portion of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. It is consistently rated as one of the best beaches in the United States and has a large marina that is undergoing renovation to be able to accommodate mega-yachts.

Racine has several venues right on the water. Festival Park, which is steps away from the water, is the largest event venue in the area with 32,000 square feet spread across two buildings. Its largest space, Festival Hall, has a seating capacity of 1,500.

Hotel Verdant, an 80-room boutique hotel perched on a hill overlooking Lake Michigan, has event spaces for up to 100 guests.

Much of what makes Racine County special is the many small towns that each have their own personalities. There are farms, shops, restaurants and bars to explore, along with lakes and rivers where attendees can get out on a boat or break out their fishing rods.

Veterans Terrace in nearby Burlington is an 8,400-square-foot historic venue right on the Fox River and Echo Lake. The Liberty Hall Ballroom has nearly 6,000 square feet of event space with oversized windows overlooking Echo Park as well as the White River, which empties into Echo Lake. There is boating and water skiing on the lake and kayaking on the river. Delta Hotels in Mount Pleasant, which has 10,000 square feet of event space, is the second-largest event venue in the area. The destination features a total of 1,650 hotel rooms.

visitracinecounty.com